Stories from 19 March 2009
Martinique, Dominica: Mount Pelee
Repeating Islands’ Blog takes us to Martinique's Mont Pelée volcano and also offers a glimpse into the work of the Dominican/Martinican poet “whose verses…commemorated the tragedy of Mont Pelée…when the town of St. Pierre was destroyed by the 1902 eruption.”
Dominica: Imitation as Flattery?
“At a time when Twitter is beginning to make serious inroads into the social networking sphere…Facebook comes up with a ‘redesign’ that places more emphasis on the Twitter-like 140-character stream-of-consciousness…”: Steve's Dominica blogs about imitation as opposed to innovation.
Bermuda: Answers and Questions
Vexed Bermoothes finally gets some answers about the government's plans “to protect Bermuda’s interests amidst the tax-haven scapegoating going on amongst global leaders”, but maintains that it “must begin some concerted steps to mend bridges with the international business community here.”
Azerbaijan: Referendum results
Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines says that the votes from yesterday's controversial referendum in Azerbaijan have now been counted. The blog sarcastically remarks on the high turnout and approval rate for the changes to the constitution and says that friends advise being patient for change to come. However, the blogger...
Azerbaijan: Bloggers react to controversial referendum
Yesterday Azerbaijan went to the polls to vote on amendments to the country's constitution less than six months after its president, Ilham Aliyev, won re-election to a second term in office. With the changes — and especially one lifting the two-term limit on the presidency — stirring up controversy from the very beginning, local and foreign bloggers alike comment on the conduct and outcome of the referendum.
Omid Reza Mir Sayafi, Iranian blogger Dies in Prison
Omid Reza Mir Sayafi, a 29-year old Iranian blogger and journalist died in Evin Prison in Tehran on March 18. In December, he was sentenced to two and half years in prison for allegedly insulting religious leaders, and engaging in propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
China: 10 handy tools to bypass GFW
Ya, I Yee has translated Essential Blog's post on 10 handy tools to bypass GFW.
Hong Kong: Ng-hao big-naug or you are dead!
On Tuesday, March 18, a local police shot at a Nepali homeless man twice at close range and one of the bullets end up in the head, leading to the man's death. The police report soon after the shooting said that the police officer went to check out the hillside...
Pakistan: The Way Ahead
The whole Pakistan is overjoyed with the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and a happy end to the Lawyers’ Long March movement. Although apparently president Zardari is in back foot by giving the nod to to reinstate Chaudhry, it had prevented the possible chaos and anarchy if the protesters’...
Madagascar: Fear of More Strife After President's Resignation
The power struggle that has plagued Madagascar since January may have come to an end. Yesterday, after attempts by Andry Rajoelina supporters to remove President Marc Ravalomanana from office, the army, which has now sided with Rajoelina, took control of the presidential palace in Ambotsirohatra. Bloggers were divided between joy over Ravalomanana's exit and anxiety over what Rajoelina's leadership will bring.
