Stories from 3 October 2012
Bangladesh: ‘One Billion Rising’ Campaign Starts
Bangladesh has joined the global initiative to end the violence against women and children by launching the 'One Billion Rising' campaign. The word “billion” in the campaign refers to the one billion women on the planet who are survivors of abuse.
Hungary: Cycle Chic Summit in Budapest
Representatives of Amsterdam Cycle Chic, Berlin Cycle Chic, Copenhagen Cycle Chic, Vienna Cycle Chic and Vitória Cycle Chic gathered for a mini-summit in Budapest. This cycle chic event, organized by Hungarian Cycle Chic bloggers, was tied to a street fashion show. More photos are available here [hu].
Turkmenistan: An Introduction to Dutar
One can’t think of Turkmen art and culture without thinking about the dutar. Khan on the NewEurasia.net blog offers an ‘introduction’ to the traditional musical instrument that is also widely used in other Central Asian countries, Iran, and South Asia.
Kyrgyzstan: ‘I Am Gay and Muslim’ Banned
How is this possible that a movie title angered so many people? Kyrgyz blogger reacts [ru] to a recent court ban on the screening of “I Am Gay and Muslim,” a Dutch documentary about homosexual Muslims, at an international human rights film festival in Kyrgyzstan.
Egypt: Is the New Muslim Brotherhood Logo Aggressive?
The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt has a new logo. Netizens share their thoughts - as well as tips - to the group whose former member is Egypt's new president Mohammed Morsi.
Venezuela: ‘Hangouts’ for the Election's Final Stretch
Blogger and journalist Luis Carlos Díaz organizes conversations and debates over the Presidential elections that will take place on October 7, 2012. First via Twitcam and now via Google Hangouts, a space has opened to discuss the campaigns, evaluate government management, risks and opportunities; and to review what people think days before the most contested elections in the last 14 years.
Mauritania: Destructive Gold Mining
From Mauritania, Ahmed Jedou writes [ar] about the the abuse of multinationals of gold mining in his country. Despite having the world's second largest gold mine, he says government corruption means Mauritanians benefit very little from the operation. Jedou also highlights the environmental impact of mining.
Colombians Demand 24 Hours Free From Violent Killings
On October 2, 2012, and as part of the International Day of Non-Violence, several Colombians beckoned other citizens to celebrate 24-0, an initiative that aims to hail this day as one free from any violent deaths.
Russia: Apple Logo Branded As Unchristian by Orthodox Activists
Interfax new agency reported [ru] today that a fringe group of Russian Orthodox activists (including some priests) has “on a number of occasions” staged public protests against the maker of the iPhone and iPad, Apple Inc., on the grounds that the company's logo (a monochrome “bitten” apple) constitutes an anti-Christian symbol.
Egypt: Two Children Detained for Blasphemy
Two Coptic children, aged nine and 10 years, are being detained in Egypt, for allegedly tearing up pages from the Holy Quran and urinating on them. The incident happened in a village in Beni Suef, in Upper Egypt, and the complaint against the children was filed by a Salafi clergyman. According to the Egyptian Penal Code, insulting Islam is considered as a crime in Egypt and the children are being held on blasphemy charges. On Twitter, netizens react to the development today.
Will Iran's Regime Collapse Along with its Currency?
The Iranian rial hit a record low on Tuesday October 2, 2012, yet Iranian authorities appear confused and powerless face to this financial tsunami. Sanctions are being blamed for the national currency's drop to 34,500 rials against the United States dollar.
Peru: Questioning the Death Toll Caused by Terrorism
An investigation [es] by economist and blogger Silvio Rendón on the numbers of dead and missing given by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CVR [es]) became a front page headline [es] and a feature article [es] in the daily Correo.
The United States: Structural Violence on the Global Frontier
La Asociación de Estudiantes Latinos y Latinoamericanos (AELLA) del Graduate Center, City University of New York los invita a participar en la conferencia gratuita "Violencia estructural en la frontera global: Centroamerica, México y Estados Unidos", la cual se celebrará el próximo 4, 5 y 6 de octubre del 2012 en John Jay College of Criminal Justice, The Graduate Center, CUNY y St. Mary's Church, respectivamente. Las repercusiones de las políticas agresivas anti-migratorias, las deportaciones, los desaparecidos, las amenazas y la inseguridad que atenta contra las vidas de los miles de migrantes son algunos de los temas que se discutirán durante los tres días repletos de actividades. La conferencia será transmitida en vivo en el portal de Asuntos del Sur: www.asuntosdelsur.org. Para más información escriban a aella.gradcenter@gmail.com.
Spain: Ryanair (aka Adventures in Flying)
Ryanair, the low-cost, no-luxury Irish airline is coming under fire once again. This time for the various incidents that have occurred in Spain and other countries in the last few weeks. The issue has not left netizens indifferent.
Venezuela: A Final Look at the Polls
In the blog Venezuelan Politics and Human Rights, Iñaki Sagarzazu analyzes the final polls before the October 7 presidential elections in Venezuela. As it stands the race is extremely close. A six point difference is not only very close to the margin of error of most polling firms but is...
Mauritania: Quran Teachers Turn Children to Beggars
Across the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott, you will see children known as Al Mudat, aged between 4 and 14 years, begging for money. These children are not asking for themselves - instead they want the money to pay their Quran teachers.
African Viewpoints on the US 2012 Election
The US presidential election will be held on November 6 and the campaign is entering the home stretch. African bloggers have various takes on how the election will unfold and what they can expect from each candidate.
Tehran's Bazaar Goes on Strike as Iran's Currency Collapses
Tehran's Bazaar went on strike on Wednesday, October 3, 2012 as merchants and shopkeepers protest against the free fall of the national currency.
Algeria: Petition to #FreeYacine Zaid, Human Rights Activist
Yougourthen AYAD has started an online petition [fr] to demand that Yacine Zaid, a human rights activist be set free after he was arrested by the police in Ouargla, Algeria [fr] on October, 2nd. Yacine Zaid was allegedly hit on the face and the neck when taken. He is accused of contempt and...
China, Japan: Japanese Writers Urge End to Nationalistic Hysteria
A number of famous Japanese novelists and intellectuals have called for an end to the vicious cycle of nationalistic hysteria in Japan and China over the territorial dispute regarding the Diaoyu Islands (also known as the Senkaku Islands).
