24 September 2012

Stories from 24 September 2012

Kyrgyzstan: Court Bans Anti-Islam Film

The recent ban on the anti-Islam film 'Innocence of Muslims' in Kyrgyzstan has triggered lively debates among the country's internet users. While some netizens support the ban on the "offensive" video, others argue that restricting access to the film limits their freedom.

24 September 2012

Iran Blocks Access to Google and Gmail

Iran has blocked Google and Gmail from the Internet for nearly all users, allegedly to protest against an anti-Islam film on YouTube. Others say it's part of a plan to prepare the country for a new "national Internet" that offers less access to the outside world.

24 September 2012

Saudi Arabia: Families of Uncharged Prisoners Protest on National Day

Imprisonment without charges is the top human rights issue in Saudi Arabia. Families of uncharged prisoners, estimated to be around 30,000 detainees, took the risk to raise awareness about the cause, with a sit-in outside the al-Turfiya prison, near Buraidah. Here's how that sit-in was dispersed.

24 September 2012

Trinidad & Tobago: Continuing Fallout from Section 34

The fallout from Section 34 and the firing of Justice Minister Hubert Volney continues to be discussed via social media, with netizens weighing in on the (in)adequacy of the Prime Minister's actions, the scope of responsibility for the legislation, Volney's fitness to sit in Parliament and the long-term political implications of the situation.

24 September 2012

Peru: Hydrocarbons Exploration Threatens Iquitos’ Water

The amazonian city of Iquitos, strategically located on the banks of three rivers and blessed with a tropical weather with copious rainfall, shouldn't have problems with the drinking water supply. However, the reality is quite different. In this first part in a series of three posts we will look at how hydrocarbons exploration threatens Iquitos' water supply.

24 September 2012

Mauritania: March to Commemorate the Passing of Rights Activist

Civil rights organisation Touche pas à ma nationalité TPMN ( in English: Do not interfere with my citizenship) has called for a large march to commemorate the passing of anti-racism activist Lamine Mangane, killed a year ago by authorities in the town of Maghama during protests against a census that marginalized black citizens of Mauritania.

24 September 2012

Japan: Citizens Respond to New Nuclear Power Policies

Individuals with vested interests in nuclear power have been named to lead a regulatory commission of the Japanese government that will play crucial role in determining whether to phase out nuclear power during the 2030s and how. While environmental groups welcome the government's statement of intent to end nuclear power, citizens are calling for commission members with a conflict of interest to be declared ineligible.

24 September 2012

United States: Occupy Wall Street, One Year Later

September 15-17 2012 marked the first year anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Scenes that took place during the inception of the movement repeated themselves: hundreds of arrests were reported on Saturday the 15th amidst the protests that culminated on Monday the 17th in the neighborhood near the stock exchange.

24 September 2012

Myanmar: Cheers and Jeers for Peace Day Rally

Despite threats from the police, various groups in Myanmar staged peaceful actions to celebrate the International Day of Peace last September 21. The participants demanded an end in the civil war which has caused a lot of suffering in the north part of the country. Many people supported the rally but others questioned the effectiveness of holding protest actions

24 September 2012

Singapore: Charity Group Targets Poor Children in Laos and Vietnam

A group of seven professional Swedish women based in Singapore have formed the charity organization Together for Charity. Today, the group gathers donations to support an orphanage in Laos and an English school in Vietnam. The group's founders discussed with Global Voices how their charity work is helping poor children in the region

24 September 2012

Afghans Show Restraint Over Anti-Islam Film

In spite of fears, Afghanistan saw relatively muted protests a result of the anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims. On the internet front, YouTube was blocked and Afghan hackers targeted a Christian website.

24 September 2012