Stories from June, 2012
Thailand: Google Asked To Remove 374 YouTube Videos in 2011
According to Google's Transparency Report, the Thai Ministry of Information requested Google to take down 374 YouTube videos in 2011 for allegedly insulting the monarchy in violation of Thailand’s lèse-majesté...
Cuba: Papal Mass Dissident Still Protesting
Pedazos de la Isla reports that “Andrés Carrión Álvarez, the Cuban who shouted ‘Down with Communism’ during the papal mass in Santiago de Cuba this past March…is still on hunger...
Brazil: Fortaleza City Dwellers Demand Liberation of Green Area
Inspired by the massive “Veta, Dilma” campaign to protect the Brazilian forests, Fortaleza city dwellers launched “Libera, Luizianne“ urging Mayor Luizianne Lins to free a green area for the creation...
China: An Account of Citizen Disappearance
Cao Yaxue from Seeing Red in China has translated civil rights activist Xu Zhiyong's account of his recent disappearance – a more than 24 hours interrogation and illegal detention.
China: Bridge Blogger List
DANWEI has presented its annual Model Worker Awards 2012, a list of the best specialist websites, blogs and online sources of information about China.
Egypt: Introducing the MorsiMeter
After 32 years of Hosni Mubarak, Egypt has a new president and a new application to monitor the performance of its newly elected president Mohamed Morsi and the progress in the achievement of the 64 main promises he made during his election campaign.
Senegal: Inaugural Use of Gender Parity in Upcoming Elections
This July 1, the Senegalese will be called again to the polls for parliamentary elections. These forthcoming elections are a first for West Africa as the law on absolute gender parity in electoral lists will be applied for the first time.
5 Web Sites on Chinese Philanthropy in English
If you are interested in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and desire to know more of Chinese philanthropy, Helen's “5 Web Sites on Chinese Philanthropy in English” might be a good start...
South Korea: Broadcasters’ Battle for Fair Journalism Continues
In South Korea, an indefinite strike by broadcasters has continued for almost five months in the nation's largest TV network, MBC. Journalists and producers are urging the company president to step down, accusing him of incapacitating investigative new programs that criticize the government by firing or reprimanding reporters and producers.
Brazil: Anti-Corruption Bill Revoked
The Brazilian anti-corruption bill known as Ficha Limpa (No Criminal Record), had its immediate effect revoked by the Supreme Federal Court with 6 votes against 5, as Marcos Bahé, from the...
Brazil: Second Round of Occupy Belo Monte Started
Marcelo Salazar, a Brazilian engineer who works for the [river] Xingu Program of the Instituto Socioambiental, posted on Facebook a series of photos from the second round of “occupy” Belo...
Puerto Rico: Artist Nora Maité Nieves
The digital magazine that covers issues of the Puerto Rican diaspora in the United States, En Punto, interviews artist Nora Maité Nieves [es], who lives in Chicago.
Puerto Rico: Impunity Island
Blogger Ed Morales comments on recently released American Civil Liberty Union's (ACLU) report (PDF) on police brutality in Puerto Rico: “The report echoes a previous, scathing one on police brutality and abuse...
Puerto Rico: Goodbye, Mara Negrón
The digital magazine 80 Grados dedicates [es] it's edition to scholar and professor of the University of Puerto Rico Mara Negrón, 51, who died in Paris due to a very recently...
Egypt: The New President of Egypt is Mohamed Morsi
Mohamed Morsi was named the new president of Egypt. Netizens were on their toes awaiting the announcement of Egypt's next president.
Cuba: Havana Hosts Social Networking Festival
The Festival Clic or "Click Festival" was hosted last week in Havana, Cuba, organized by bloggers on the island, most notably Yoani Sánchez, author of the blog Generación Y.
UAE: Dress Code Campaign Urges Extra Inches of Clothing
Two female Emirati nationals have launched a Twitter campaign to urge expatriates and tourists to respect the cultural sensibilities of the Emirates regarding dress. Their campaign has pushed the Federal National Council to propose a law regarding dress code.
Lebanon: Protesting Shalala's Honorary Degree
Rami reported and posted a video of demonstrators who disrupted the Master’s graduation ceremony at the American University of Beirut to protest against awarding an honorary degree to Donna Shalala. The...
Kenya: Human-Wildlife Conflict in Urban Jungle
Angry residents of Kitengela, an outskirt of Nairobi, killed two lions and four cubs on 20 June who attacked a dozen of livestock. A pride of lions invaded a homestead the following day killing goats and sheep. We took a trip around Twittersphere to find out interesting reactions about the incident.
Egypt: The Problem with Sharia
Just An Egyptian discusses his problem with Sharia – Islamic law – in this post.
Bahrain: After Twitter
Bahraini blogger Ahmed Habib tweets [ar]: “They have completed the stage where we have become birds who tweet on Twitter. They are now in the next stage and that is...
