7 November 2012

Stories from 7 November 2012

Reading Suggestions on Brazil in English

  7 November 2012

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, its culture and people, and earlier this year she published a Brazil Blog List featuring 60 websites about the country...

Save The World's Best Bank

  7 November 2012

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

Every Day Is A Holiday For Some Nepali Government Officials

  7 November 2012

In November, 2012, the home ministry of Nepal has proposed a two-days holiday per week plan for all government offices to address the problem of energy crisis and black-outs. Guffadi claims that everyday is a holiday for some Nepali govt officials who come late in the office and loiter around.

A New Start for Barack Obama in Africa?

  7 November 2012

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.

Red Alert in Guatemala After 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake

  7 November 2012

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.

Hay Festival Dhaka Is Back Again!

  7 November 2012

The 2nd edition of Hay Festival will be held on 15-17 November 2012 in the historic grounds of the Bangla Academy, Dhaka. It is hoped that through this event the new generation of Bangladeshi writers in English will be promoted to the global literary community.

Egypt to Ban Porn Sites

  7 November 2012

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.

Language Divide in Malaysia

  7 November 2012

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

Bride Kidnappers in Kyrgyzstan to Face Harsher Penalties

  7 November 2012

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.

Yet Another Political Status Referendum in Puerto Rico

  7 November 2012

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.

Iran: Blogger's Family Asked To ‘Prepare A Grave’ For Him

  7 November 2012

Sources close to Iranian opposition say Sattar Beheshti, blogger and netizen, possibly died ‘due to tortures’ while he was in detention. Beheshti got arrested last week in his home. His sister says “authorities asked us to prepare a grave for him and take his body tomorrow”.

Iran: Imprisoned Women Journalists And Netizens Risking Death

  7 November 2012

Reporters Without Borders is ‘very worried about the state of health of eight women prisoners of conscience who began a hunger strike five days ago in protest against inhuman and degrading jail conditions’. These prisoners include three journalists and netizens; Mahsa Amrabadi, Jila Bani Yaghoob and Shiva Nazar Ahari.