10 February 2009

Stories from 10 February 2009

Egypt: More activists and bloggers arrested

  10 February 2009

Two more Egyptian bloggers and activists have been detained by authorities, sparking calls and campaigns by bloggers and human rights activists for their release, in the latest series of arrests targeting online activists. Lasto Adri reports from Cairo.

Haiti: Fanmi Lavalas and the next elections

  10 February 2009

Last weekend, the Haitian blogosphere was buzzing about the exclusion of political parties from the April 2009 Senatorial elections by the Conseil Electoral Provisoire or Temporary Electoral Council - and on Friday January 6th, the CEP published a list of the candidates for the next democratic parliamentary elections in Haiti. Bloggers share their thoughts about the rejected candidates.

Uganda: Behind The Mirror

  10 February 2009

Sokari writes about the documentary Behind the Mirror, which investigates and advocates for responses to the many challenges faced by the LGBTI community in Uganda.

Trinidad & Tobago: Dead Dead Wine

  10 February 2009

“It has never before struck me how much wining was a thing of beauty until I am confronted with its recently acquired ugliness”: Attillah Springer is afraid that “the death of the wine is a dire and desperate indication of the weakness of our collective Trini backbone.”

Trinidad & Tobago: Love of Pan

  10 February 2009

“Today Carnival belongs to all Trinidadians – each year it expands and breathes a healing breath into the nation's pysche”: My Chutney Garden attends Panorama and offers a glimpse into the history of steel pan music.

Cuba: Human Rights

  10 February 2009

Diaspora blogger Child of the Revolution calls “shameless” the Cuban justice minister's suggestion that all is well when it comes to human rights, while Uncommon Sense links to the trailer of a new documentary about Cuban political prisoner Oscar Biscet.

Trinidad & Tobago: Be Advised

  10 February 2009

As five developed countries issue travel advisories for Trinidad and Tobago, This Beach Called Life says: “Government’s Vision is clear and that is what is so frightening.”

Bahrain: A ban on pork?

  10 February 2009

Bahraini blogger Ammaro cannot believe some MPs have called for banning pork: “Banning something doesn't make people more religious…Oh, and this may shock you MPs, but the people who usually purchase pork AREN'T USUALLY MUSLIM.”

Ecuador: Correa Stops in Loja

  10 February 2009

President of Ecuador Rafael Correa made a stop in the region of Loja as part of the traveling cabinet meeting. Voces Lojanas [es] wrote about the visit.

Italy: In Defense of the “Right to die”

  10 February 2009

A legal battle over a young woman's 'right to die' after 17 years in a coma has spurred both vast online commentary and activism in Italy. Mostly in defense of "Eluana Englaro's choice", Italian netizens have signed petitions, organized protests, and made YouTube videos of their own 'living will' testimonies, in defiance of both prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and the Vatican.

Azerbaijan: Plouffe visit not on Obama's Behalf

  10 February 2009

Following the recent fallout from this week's visit to Azerbaijan by Obama campaign manager David Plouffe as well as news that his $50,000 speaker's fee will be donated to civil society groups in the region, the New York Times’ The Caucus blog says that the White House denies the controversial...

Armenia-Azerbaijan: LGBT roundup

  10 February 2009

With the traditional media in the South Caucasus rarely reporting on sexual or religious minority rights maturely, blogs have stepped in to fill the gap and Unzipped: Gay Armenia continues to post LGBT news from the region. Following recent homophobic remarks from local politicians and civil society activists as well as in articles in the local press, the blog says there is actually some good news for a change.

China: Can Paper Wrap the Fire?

  10 February 2009

Last night CCTV's new building's extension caught fire because of nearby fireworks celebrating the Chinese Lantern Festival (元宵). Blogger Anlei recorded the whole process with a series of photos. Even though the fire is an accident, the propaganda department still decided to harmonize / censor the news. A notice has...