7 November 2012

Stories from 7 November 2012

Reading Suggestions on Brazil in English

Deep Brazil blog, from the journalist Regina Scharf, provides valuable resources about Brazil in the English language. She recently published one more list of books in English related to Brazil,...

7 November 2012

Save The World's Best Bank

Sabine Kurjo McNeill highlights an Avaaz campaign to save Grameen Bank, a Nobel Peace Prize winning microfinance organization and community development bank.

7 November 2012

A New Start for Barack Obama in Africa?

Following the November 6, 2012, re-election of Barack Obama as President of the United States, Africa questions his legacy after four years in charge of an America more concerned with the economic crisis than by its international relations, especially those within the African continent. The expectations of Africans were high, however many believe that a second term for Obama will allow him greater manouevrability on African issues.

7 November 2012

Red Alert in Guatemala After 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake

Reports on the damages caused by the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that hit off Champerico on the Pacific coast of Guatemala are coming in quickly on Twitter. Netizens are sharing photos and reports with the hashtags #TemblorGT, #TiemblaenGuate, #TerremotoGT, #FuerteSismoGT, #TiemblaenGuate and more.

7 November 2012

Egypt to Ban Porn Sites

Egypt has announced [ar] today that access to all porn sites will be banned. Netizens discuss the move on Twitter, saying any kind of censorship will have dire consequences on free speech - as it opens the door to abuse by the authorities and the muzzling of voices online.

7 November 2012

Language Divide in Malaysia

Jerrenn Lam ponders upon the issue of language differences in Malaysia and how the schooling process can reinforce cultural divisions in the country.

7 November 2012

Bride Kidnappers in Kyrgyzstan to Face Harsher Penalties

Although bride kidnapping is a crime in Kyrgyzstan, many men continue abducting the girls they want to marry. Under pressure from women's groups, the Kyrgyz Parliament has recently introduced harsher penalties for this practice. Now kidnapping a girl and forcing her into marriage is almost as serious a crime as stealing sheep.

7 November 2012

Yet Another Political Status Referendum in Puerto Rico

In the fourth political status referendum in its history, Puerto Rico is prepared to choose whether to be annexed to the United States, independent, or a sovereign US commonwealth. Given that the vote, regardless of the results, does not bind Congress to act in any way, —and the failure of three previous referendums—, there is little hope that any change in political relations will be achieved between Puerto Rico and the United States.

7 November 2012