March, 2009
Stories from March, 2009
24 March 2009
South Africa: Uproar over visa refusal for Dalai Lama
The South African government has denied the Dalai Lama a visa to attend a Peace Conference that will be held in South Africa. The government decision has sparked an uproar online on Twitter, Facebook and blogs.
Brazil: A Private Nature Reserve – Is It Possible?
Society demands green action and Brazil’s policy that motivates land onwers to join the National Conservation Units Systems is having a great impact on society. Under the program known as RPPN, land onwers receive investments and credit too. Land use is restricted to research, environmental education and ecotourism. Blogs are one of the tools used to report experiences and document the work being carried out to keep Brazil green.
23 March 2009
Maldives: Free Speech Under Threat
In early March Mohamed Nasheed, the new President of the Maldives, met with Frank La Rue, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression. In the meeting Nasheed...
Fiji: ‘It was stones, now it's molotov cocktails'
At least six people in Fiji who could be termed “public opponents” of the country’s military-backed government have been targeted by unidentified individuals who late at night have thrown large stones at their houses and severally damaged their cars. During the stonings, much of Fiji’s political blogosphere have claimed the rock attacks were perpetrated by members of the country’s military.
Is Egypt on the verge of a cultural revolution?
Between Bahaa Taher's first Arabic Language Booker Prize, bloggers' books, Youssef Zidan's Azazeel's Booker prize, writing competitions on Facebook, the Sawiris Foundation Competitions, and new creative initiatives to nurture new blood, Egypt's literary scene has been revived over the past few years. Marwa Rakha digs up even more projects being discussed on the blogs.
Ecuador: Barcamp and Sunday Morning in Quito
The Ecuadorian digital community has been organizing and participating in various events in the capital city of Quito. On March 21, the first BarCamp took place, which followed a web entrepreneurial meeting called Sunday Morning held in February. Participants and organizers alike comment on the events and reflect on what they took away from meeting with like-minded people.
































I think the reason it stuck with me is that I was fired from my first real job--teaching at a...