Stories from 25 November 2012
Brazil to Portugal and Back Again: Interview With Izabel Pimentel
Léa Promaja, the alias of an independent journalist working in the Balkans, posted an audio interview [in Portuguese, with English and French subtitles] with Izabel Pimentel, “the first Brazilian woman...
A South Korean Received 10 Month-Jail Term for Retweeting North Korean Tweets
Park Jung-geun, a South Korean photographer/activist, was arrested for retweeting North Korean official Twitter account's messages back in January. He received a suspended 10 month jail term last week.
Rise of Bulgaria's Tomato Revolution
On November 24, people gathered in front of the Bulgarian Parliament in the capital city of Sofia, thus officializing what has become known as the 'Tomato Revolution.' Rayna Stamboliyska reports.
Spain: Minor Beaten by Catalonia's Police, Call for Minister to Resign
The use of force by Catalonia's police force, during November 14, 2012's general strike has brought about a wave of online condemnation. The events, which took place in the middle of an historic electoral campaign, has caused four of the region's political parties to petition for Catalonia's Interior Minister Felip Puig, to resign. One of the more controversial cases is of two minors who were attacked by the police.
Spain: Catalan Newspaper Censors Blog for Reporting Hunger Strike
Catalan journalist and Global Voices contributor Lali Sandiumenge recently decided to disassociate her blog on digital activism, Guerreros del teclado or "Keyboard Warriors" from Catalonia's leading daily newspaper, La Vanguardia . The decision came after the publication's editorial staff decided to delete a post explaining a hunger strike in Barcelona by six workers of Telefónica, a telecommunications company in Spain.
Spain: Catalan Elections – “We are all Garcia”
This Sunday, voters in Catalonia head to the polls . The electoral campaign, which has honed in on the question of independence, began last week with a polemic video posted on the Youtube channel of the unionist Catalan People's Party (Partit Popular de Catalunya or PPC). The video rapidly generated a negative reaction among Catalan netizens on Twitter, who created the hashtag #totssomgarcia or "we are all Garcia", expressing solidarity with "Spanish" Catalans and criticizing the divisive content of the PPC campaign spot.
Bangladesh Protests Against Open Pit Coal Mining in Phulbari
In Phulbari, 350 kilometers northwest of the Bangladesh capital Dhaka, local communities have come together to raise their voices against the proposed Phulbari open pit coal mining project. If implemented, it will evict almost 100000 inhabitants from more than 100 villages within a 59 sq. km radius and will create a long term impact on the environment.
Widespread Elephant Poaching in Mozambique Reserve Uncovered
A news report published by the newspaper @Verdade at the end of October 2012, unmasks illegal hunting of elephants in the Mareja Reserve, in the Northern region of Mozambique, in Cabo Delgado. According to the article, the "massacre" has taken on "gigantic proportions".
Brazil: More Dialogue Needed to Solve the Conflict of the Guarani-Kaiowá
The Youtube account A Luta Guarani released a video interview [pt] with the Guarani-Kaiowá anthropologist Tonico Benites. He comments on the attacks by farmers of the state of Mato Grosso do...
Bangladesh: Disappearing Playgrounds
The Bangladesh Capital Dhaka has seen one of the largest price-booms in the real estate sector which resulted in the decrease of the number of open fields in the city....
Pitak Siam Rally Turns Violent in Thailand
The anti-government rally organized by Pitak Siam or “protect Thailand” network turned violent as protesters clashed with the police in Bangkok. Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd which was trying to enter a restricted zone. The protesters were demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister whom they accused of being corrupt and undemocratic.
Blogirame Award Distinguishes Macedonia's Top Bloggers and Twitter Users
Macedonian blog aggregator Blogirame ["We blog"] published the results of their first annual awards, as well as videos from the ceremony held on November 23, 2012. Filip Stojanovski reports.
United Russia MPs Object to Online Satire
United Russia MPs threaten to take humorous website to court for libel. The outrage, however, was likely provoked by an internet tabloid.
