Global Voices Online » Governance

Kazkahstan: The Arrival of Kazakhbashi?

Adil Nurmakov — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:04:03 +0000

Alexander Visotzky writes about the opening of a monument in Astana, the new capital of Kazakhstan, where the authorities uncovered a 15-foot high bronze statue of incumbent president Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Ukraine: Flu and Politics

Veronica Khokhlova — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:32:03 +0000

Jamestown Foundation Blog and Ukrainiana - on the politics around the flu situation in Ukraine.

Trinidad & Tobago: Flag It!

Janine Mendes-Franco — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:47:43 +0000

Trinidadian bloggers continue to weigh in on the exorbitant cost to taxpayers for a massive national flag: “The point is not only the credibility of the cost of the monster-flag and associated concrete but the reason we need a monster-flag during a recession and a white collar crime wave.”

Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados: Yuh Lie!

Janine Mendes-Franco — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:31:35 +0000

As Trinidad and Tobago's National Security Minister makes an inaccurate statement about the processing time for machine-readable passports, B.C. Pires is irritated that the media did not ask questions: “I’ve seen Trinidadians in action so I understand ‘boldfacity'. I don’t understand the people on the other side going along with the lie; because they are then themselves dishonest.”

Russia: Markelov's Alleged Killers Arrested

Veronica Khokhlova — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:49:54 +0000

Russia Blog reports on the arrest of the alleged killers of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasiya Baburova.

Ukraine: “Political Flu”

Veronica Khokhlova — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:22:42 +0000

Today's updates on the flu situation: Greetings from Kyiv chronicles Day 5 and Day 6 of the epidemic; Chernobyl and Eastern Europe writes about the precautions taken at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant; Foreign Notes, What's up, Ukraine? and Wu Wei discuss president Yushchenko's address to the nation and other political aspects of the epidemic.

Kosovo, Hungary: More on the Tisza River Tragedy

Veronica Khokhlova — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:02:05 +0000

A Fistful of Euros discusses the story of tragic death of 15 Kosovo Albanian illegal immigrants, who were trying to cross the Tisza River into Hungary and the EU. More about it - in Marietta Le's Oct. 28 GV post.

CEE: “20 Years After the Fall of the Berlin Wall” - a Poll

Veronica Khokhlova — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:42:17 +0000

Foreign Policy Association's Russia blog writes about the results of a Pew Research Center's poll on poverty, wealth and attitudes in Central and Eastern Europe “20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.”

Russia: Drug Abuse and Alcoholism

Veronica Khokhlova — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:22:10 +0000

OpenDemocracy.net writes about Russia's drug abuse problems. The NYTimes' The Lede and Eternal Remont write about the Russian government's attempts to fight alcoholism.

Iran: Green Movement defies regime again

Hamid Tehrani — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:23:19 +0000

Iran's Green Movement opposition organized mass street protests on the 4th of November (13th of Aban), taking advantage of the official rallies being held on the same day to mark the 30th anniversary of the occupation of the US embassy in Tehran. The opposition protests were met with a violent crackdown by security forces.

As has come to be expected, Iranian citizen media recorded “history” on their mobile phones.

Protesters in Tehran trampled on a portrait of the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, an act that would have been unimaginable a few months ago.

A message to Obama: Either you are with us or with them.

Mehdi Karoubi, an opposition leader, among the people.

Security forces attack protesters

St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Referendum Predictions

Janine Mendes-Franco — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:40:00 +0000

With 20 days to go to the Constitutional Referendum, Vincentian Life says: “It looks like Vincyland’s turned totally upside-down! A foreigner has predicted a tsunami, a local bishop has predicted heart attacks and I predict deeper divisions…”

Thailand prison blog

Mong Palatino — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:29:25 +0000

Thai Prison Life chronicles the life of prisoners inside the prisons of Thailand.

Bermuda: Key Reports

Janine Mendes-Franco — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:39:58 +0000

As two critical reports are released in Bermuda, Wishful Thinking says: “Both key reports…will dictate much of the policy as Bermuda moves forward…the important thing is that these reports are actually acted upon.”

Bermuda: The Sound of Music

Janine Mendes-Franco — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:24:41 +0000

Vexed Bermoothes is of the opinion that the Bermuda Music Festival “exemplifies the political tinkering, self-interest, and distraction that has left Bermuda’s tourism sector as a ruined economic basket-case.”

Iran: Guards attacking people

Hamid Tehrani — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:08:59 +0000

A video film showing security forces attacked protesters today in Tehran.