Stories from 2 April 2009
Mexico: Next US Ambassador Speculation
Ana Maria Salazar writes about US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to Mexico and speculation on the next US ambassador and what it might mean for relations between the two countries.
Lion Poisoning causes FMC to Withdraw Furadan from Kenya Market
The American chemical manufacturer, FMC, has withdrawn the pesticide, Furadan, from the Kenyan market after CBS News aired a documentary on '60 Minutes’. The documentary depicts how Furadan has become the preferred product for herders who poison lions suspected of killing livestock in and around the Masai Mara National Reserve....
Egyptian Baha'is under attack
Earlier in March, Marwa Rakha wrote a post congratulating Baha'is in Egypt when the Supreme Administrative Court removed any grounds for preventing them from receiving proper official identity documents. Today she reports that after a television appearance featuring Baha'is, Baha'i houses were burnt down in Upper Egypt's governorate - Sohag.
Israel: Teen Killed, Child Hurt in Terror Attack
Breaking news in Israel – Two boys were attacked with an ax yesterday (April 2) in the West Bank community of Bat Ayin. Thirteen year old Shlomo Nativ died from his injuries, while 7 year old Yair Gamliel was rushed to the hospital with a fractured skull. The incident, deemed to be a terrorist attack, lead the Israel Defense Forces to the nearby town of Khirbet Safa, where the attacker is believed to be hiding. In the Jewish tradition of burying the dead, Nativ's funeral was held on the same evening.
Egypt's First Adult Graphic Novel on Trial
In April 2008, freedom of speech and creativity in Egypt was hit in its core with the confiscation of Magdy El Shafee's adult graphic novel - Metro. Marwa Rakha sums up reactions from the blogosphere about the court case awaiting Shafee and the book's publisher Mohamed El Sharkawy.
Global Voices partners on G20Voice project
As part of the G20Voice project, 50 bloggers from around the world have gathered in London to act as our “eyes and ears” as world leaders convened today (April 2) in London for the G20 Summit. The bloggers come “from 22 different countries, and between them represent a global audience of over 14...
Indian General Elections and Nepal
For centuries, India and Nepal have shared a very close relationship. Geographic proximity supplemented by cultural and religious similarity have helped the two neighbors remain friendly. Now winds of change have swept Kathmandu and New Delhi is not too thrilled about it. After the Maoists came to power, Indian press...
Colombia: National Police Force has YouTube Channel
The Colombian Police Force has a new strategy to share the inside workings of their work: a YouTube channel where they are uploading videos showing new technologies they are applying, videos of citizens thanking them for their assistance, new safety campaigns and shots of them in action.
Sudan: Surviving without the help of NGOs
On March 4th, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan. In retaliation, 13 NGO’s were banished from the country the day after, a number that rose to 16 within the week. As a result, a handful of projects have halted operations: those offering drinkable water supply, food distribution, health care and teaching systems among others.
Madagascar: Security forces harass bloggers and twitterers
Bloggers and twitterers continue to tell the world about the political crisis which has gripped Madagascar since January, but face increasing harassment from security forces.
Sri Lanka: National Flag And Minorities
Lionel Bopage at Groundviews comments: “The National Flag of Sri Lanka represents the country and her heritage, but is also a rallying device that integrates the races within a majority and minority design framework.”
India: Every Day We Observe Earth Hour
View of My World comments on the observation of Earth Hour in India: “Bangalore, and large parts of India, have been observing earth hour / earth day / earth night for many many years now. Even this morning there was no power supply to my home between 9 AM –...
Fiji's chief system debated
After a local academic argued that Fiji's chiefly system holds back the country's democratic progress because it could allow certain people to grab resources for themselves, Luvei Viti: Children of Fiji counters the organization of chiefs binds society together and offers solutions for handling disputes, especially at the village level.
Bangladesh: Shadow of Militancy
An Ordinary Citizen is concerned about the signs of militancy activities in Bangladesh.
Guinea : A Memorial for the Camp Boiro Victims
The truth about the Sekou Touré regime's repression in Guinea has long been overshadowed by his Third World leader aura. Abdoulaye Bah, a translator for GV in French, tells us about the efforts of the Association of victims of Camp Boiro towards justice and reconciliation.
Puerto Rico, Cuba: Artist to be Honoured
“Puerto Rican artist Antonio Martorell will receive the Haydee Santamaría Medal for his artistic production through the last five decades”: Repeating Islands Blog has the details.
Dominican Republic: Book Fair
Repeating Islands Blog notes that among this year’s honorees at the Santo Domingo International Book Fair is “fiction writer and cultural critic José Alcántara Almánzar, who will receive the Dominican Republic’s most prestigious literary award.”
Cuba: Supporting Sanchez
“Hopefully, the silly, but dangerous rhetoric will provoke greater scrutiny of the dictatorship, and greater support for Sanchez and the others. Sanchez is not defenseless. She is guarded by the power – and truth – of her words. And more importantly, by the attention of the world”: Uncommon Sense shines...
Barbados: How Many More?
“Last weekend, yet another Barbadian woman lost her life to domestic violence”: Cheese-on-bread! wants to know “how many more women are going to die before the authorities and all of us take this issue of domestic violence seriously.”
Guyana: Apology Owed
Guyana 360 links to a mainstream media report confirming that a government minister suggested that former First Lady Janet Jagan should receive an apology for “heinous acts perpetrated against her…in the wake of the December 1997 polls.”
Brazil: Reporting from the G20 Summit in London
“While G20 leaders chat and take pictures, the photographers and bloggers at the G20 Voice table battle to talk to Bob Geldof”. Rodrigo Alvares has been updating this post at A Nova Corja, the Brazilian blog chosen to cover the G20 Summit, live from London. Follow him on twitter: @novacorja...
