Stories from 19 September 2012
Venezuela: Discussion and Debate on the Road to Election Day
With less than a month left before the presidential elections, the conversation online highlights the separation between the visions incumbent Hugo Chávez and opponent Henrique Capriles have for the future of Venezuela. A collection of statements helps us further understand the complexities that remain hidden behind a division that, on the surface, only has two sides.
Kosovo: Venice Biennale “Newcomer”
Facebook page “Southeast Europe: People and Culture” notes that “Kosovo is one of this year's newcomers to the [Venice Biennale]”: The pavilion allows visitors to share their views on Kosovo's...
Albania: Balkans Beyond Borders Short Film Festival
The Balkans Beyond Borders Short Film Festival 2012 opens in Tirana today. This is the third time that the festival is being held; this year's theme is “TALK TO ME...
Argentina: Why are Citizens Outraged?
Argentinians calling for "justice, freedom, security and currency exchange" marched on September 13, 2012, throughout the country. In this post, we have gathered citizen analysis which explain the reasoning behind these demands.
Romania: “Church and State”
At OpenDemocracy.net, Luke Dale-Harris writes about the Romanian Orthodox Church's “threatening influence on democracy in the country.”
India: Hurrah For Hornbills – Defence Project Stalled in Narcondam
A proposal from the Indian Coast Guards to install coastal surveillance equipments in the Narcondamm Island in the Andaman Sea, has been stalled by the Indian government. This news, coming after months of intensive campaigning against the proposal, has been welcomed by birders, ornithologists, ecologists, conservation activists and wildlife enthusiasts.
What's the Verdict on Uganda@50 Independence Song?
'Yoga Yoga' is the official celebration song for Uganda's 50th year of independence, featuring Ugandan artists such as Esther Nabaasa, Ruyonga, Barbara Kayaga, Hum Kay and Richard Kaweesa. Some netizens are praising it whilst others argue it neither represents Ugandans nor Ugandan culture.
Trinidad & Tobago: Not “Moving On” from Section 34
The Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago advised earlier this week that the country should “move on” from the Section 34 debacle; contrary to his request, thousands of citizens marched against the betrayal of trust and bloggers are refusing to let the issue go.
Puerto Rico: Corruption Ranking
Riding the crest of public corruption, Puerto Rico cements its place as #1 with an astonishing 130 corruption convictions–convictions, people–in 2011. Gil the Jenius blogs about this dubious honour.
Egypt: Artists Re-Paint Murals Destroyed by Police
Artists are back at work on Mohamed Mahmood street in Cairo, after authorities erased revolution graffiti. @RashaPress shares the photograph above of artists repainting murals on the street, off Tahrir...
Mexico: A Photographic Glimpse into Midwifery Around the World
Intercultural Midwifery is the topic of this Offbeat Mama guest photo blog post by Brooklyn based photographer Alice Proujansky. While 5 months pregnant she traveled to photograph a cultural knowledge exchange in Quintana Roo where students from the only government- accredited program in midwifery went to study with Mayan traditional midwives from rural area.
Egypt: 1.5km Human Chain Protest Outside Nile University
@Kandily shares this photograph on Twitter, showing a human chain which he says [ar] measures 1.5km made up of students outside Nile University, which has been appropriated to the Zewail...
Syria: The Revolution through the Designs of Wissam Al Jazairy
Wissam Al Jazairy is a young Syrian graphic designer. The suffering of his people is evident in art work he published online as part of his contribution to the Syrian revolution. Here is a selection of some of Wissam's designs.
Colombia: A Love Poem for Bogotá
British writer Vicki Kellaway shares a love poem for Bogotá (Colombia's capital) in her blog Banana Skin Flip Flops.
Iran: Government Offices Logging Off the Internet
Iran is planning [fa] to move the country's 42000 government offices away from the World Wide Web to “national internet” next week,according to the Iranian Minister of Communication and Technology,...
Tunisia: In Defense (sort of) of French Weekly on the Muhammad Cartoons
As the French ministry of foreign affairs decided to temporary shut down 20 embassies [fr] after the publication of Muhammad Cartoons by French weekly Charlie Hebdo, Linda Doufari in Nawaat takes a...
France: Study Shows GM Corn Fed Rats Display Higher Tumors Levels
Guillaume Malaurie reports that [fr] a team of French researchers led by Pr. Gilles-Eric Séralini found that laboratory rats fed with a steady diet of Monsanto genetically modified corn displayed...
Dominican Republic: The Crime of Being a Rocker
The murder of José Carlos Hernández (Chiva), a 23-year-old Dominican rock musician, has been one of the the country's most spine-chilling crimes in the past few years. While the traditional media spread stereotypes regarding the incident, netizens took to social media networks to debate the various taboos and prejudices that still dominate public discourse.
Anniversary Interview with Occupy Wall Street Movement Activist
David DeGraw, one of the early participants of the 99% movement explains about the birth and development of the Occupy Wall Street movement around its one year anniversary. He touches on the organization's pitfalls and challenges as well as the future of the movement.
Brazil: Internet Bill of Rights Vote Postponed Again
The progressive Bill of Rights for Internet users in Brazil, the Marco Civil da Internet, which was expected to be voted in Congress today, September 19, 2012, ended up being cancelled...
Syria: Happy Birthday Bashar?
Syrians marked the birthday of President Bashar Al Assad, who turned 47, on September 11, in their own way. With the Syrian Revolution reaching its bloodiest peak, many netizens took to their keyboards wishing it would be his last birthday. Others wished him a long life, a safety for Syria.
