Stories from 6 November 2012
Mexicans Weigh in on US Presidential Election
Romney? Obama? Does it matter? Is the American electoral system a model to follow for other countries? Here we have compiled some reactions shared by Mexican netizens regarding the November 6, 2012 elections in the USA.
Puerto Rico Votes Today
The website of the State Elections Commission of Puerto Rico (Comisión Estatal de Elecciones-CEE) will be constantly offering updates on today's elections in the Island.
Zimbabwe: Hashtag #263Chat to Crowdsource Opinions on Pressing Issues
Zimbabean blogger Sir Nigel introduces on his blog the hashtag #263Chat, an informal chat organised weekly on social network Twitter, to allow zimbabwean users to discuss pressing issues related to the country: Earlier this year, I suggested we organise a regular informal chat on Twitter regarding our beloved – Zimbabwe....
Ugandan Prime Minister Interacts on Twitter Using #AskthePM
#AskthePM is a hashtag created for online users to interact with the Prime Minister of Uganda, Amama Mbabazi. The fourth #AskthePM took place on 27 October, 2012. Tweets by Ugandan netizens show deep division over the structure and the significance of #AskthePM.
Jamaicans Debate Gay-Bashing Incident
The beating of a gay student at the University of Technology in Jamaica has continued to be a subject of discussion online. While the exact details of the incident are still not completely known, much of the discussion has centered around homophobia and the culture of violence in Jamaica.
Banks Shut Down to Protest Insecurity in Madagascar
Bill on Madagascar Tribune reports that [fr] banks will close for one afternoon on November 6 to protest the lack of security in Madagascar. Last week, a branch of Accès Banque was robbed of 502 millions Ariary in the borough of Andraharo, Antananarivo (The capital city of Madagascar).
Cameroonian Twitter Users Celebrate Biya's 30 years Anniversary with Sarcasm
“@JeanYvesMorio [fr]: November 6, 1982, I woke up without running water nor electricity. November 6 2012, I woke up without running water nor electricity #30anssansmourir ,!–more–> On Twitter, Cameroonian Jean Yves Morio makes light of the fact that president Paul Biya has been in power for thirty years to this day and yet...
Spain: Catalan Unionist Party Launches Controversial Viral Video
One of Catalonia's minority unionist parties, Ciutadans, made a splash on the Web with a viral video citing a controversial essay written by former nationalist president Jordi Pujol, containing derogatory statements against Andalusians.
Bolivia's Ruling Party: A Growing Presence on Twitter?
Global Voices contributor Pablo Andrés Rivero monitors how politicians in Bolivia use Twitter. In his latest report on his blog [es] he shows that members of the ruling party (MAS, Movement for Socialism) have started to participate more on Twitter and are growing their list of followers on that social...
A Glimpse into a Yemeni Wedding
Ali's day is a fascinating short musical video by Juan Herrero (@dustweare), a freeleance photographer currently living in Yemen. It captures a traditional Yemeni wedding which took place somewhere in the Northern mountains of Haraz.
Anonymous Twitter Account Leads Major Protests in Kuwait
Tens of thousands showed up in the areas of Mishref and Sabah Al-Salem protesting the Kuwaiti Amir's amendment of the voting law which allows a citizen to vote for one candidate instead of four. What is interesting though is that an anonymous Twitter account is the one deciding dates of marches and meeting points. Mona Kareem shares Twitter reactions to the march, in addition to photographs and videos.
Covering Nicaragua's Municipal Elections via Storify
Citizen journalism site Huella Libre [es] put together a Storify post [es] on Nicaragua's municipal elections, which were held on Sunday, November 4. The post curates news articles and citizen reports from before, during, and after the elections.
China: Intellectuals Debate Politics of Nobel Prize in Literature
Chinese writer Mo Yan won the Nobel Prize in Literature with the Chinese government's blessing. The achievement has stirred debate among Chinese intellectuals, with some believing that literature should be detached from politics, while others having pointed out that when it comes to China, literature is always about politics.