Global Voices · Citizen media stories from 2009 September 21

21 September 2009

Daily archive · 7 posts

Stories from 21 September 2009

Can social media help make microfinance sustainable?

Written by John Liebhardt · China, France

Microfinance agencies provide loans to small businesspeople who often can’t meet the strict credit terms of large banks. Either these entrepreneurs don’t have the capital or the cash to back the loan. Or as the large banks argue, their credit needs are too small.

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Omani Bloggers Take the Streets To Combat Swine Flu

Written by Riyadh Al Balushi · Middle East & North Africa

Omani bloggers have started their Swine Flu Awareness Campaign yesterday by going through Souq Matrah to spread the message and educate people.

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Puerto Rico: Debate on Censorship

Written by Firuzeh Shokooh Valle · Latin America

The Department of Education of the government of Puerto Rico recently eliminated five books from the eleventh grade curriculum of the public school system. Numerous writers and artists in Puerto Rico publicly voiced their concerns and described the government's action as censorship. The Puerto Rican blogosphere reacts to the controversy.

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USA: Eid Postage Stamp Provokes Hate in Tennessee

Written by Jillian C. York · North America

A chain e-mail that falsely claims President Obama has issued a new postage stamp commemorating the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr has even reached a Tennessee mayor who forwarded it to employees encouraging them to boycott the stamp.

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Thailand: Three Years After The 2006 Coup

Written by Markpeak · East Asia

Last September 19 Thailand marked the third year anniversary of the Coup D'etat which forced the ouster of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who is now in exile. Bloggers also remembered the coup anniversary.

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China: Beijing students protest against parade rehersals

Written by Andy Yee · East Asia

In the upcoming October 1 celebration of the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing will be mobilizing over one hundred thousands secondary and university students for parades....

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China: Mainland Blogger’s ironic review of shabby government buildings in Taiwan

Written by Robert Woo · East Asia

Blogger Lv Se De Shou Cang recently ran a photo journal titled 'A look at some of the administrative buildings in Taiwan', which has also generated interesting comments.

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Updates from 21 September 2009

Iran

Pendar writes about International Day of Peace.Pendar adds [fa] that ‘I as a blogger think that first [Iranian] regime should reconcile with [Iran's] people and then it can join the international community.'

• Fred Petrossian

Bangladesh

Leetlegirl's Big Adventures blog posts some telling pictures of the mass exodus from the mega city Dhaka during the Eid holidays, which answer why the capital of Bangladesh is so quiet and free from traffic jams now.

• Rezwan

Republic of Congo

Elie Smith blogs about the new government in Congo-Brazzavile: “Why it has taken 63 days for Mr Denis Sassou Nguesso to form his government is a mystery, especially that, no major changes has been noticed. While there is no major change of faces, one will note that, the 37 member cabinate has 10 new entries.”

• Ndesanjo Macha

Cameroon

Francis Nyamjoh writes about the Cameroonian blogger, Dibussi Tande: “Dibussi Tande established JimbiMedia in 2004 with the primary objective of using affordable blogging technology to give a solid online presence to powerful African voices – creative people, trendsetters, academics, journalists, etc.”

• Ndesanjo Macha

Pakistan

Owais Mughal at All Things Pakistan writes about the origin of railways in Pakistan. “The first line from Karachi to Kotri (1861) was constructed primarily to reduce the journey time on the final stage of long haul from Britain to Delhi and Calcutta,” the blogger informs.

• Rezwan

Suriname

Celebrated Surinamese playwright and theatre director Henk Tjon died in Paramaribo on 18 September, 2009. The Bahamas-based Ringplay Productions blog remembers “his passion and his eloquence on the subject of the role of the arts in Caribbean society.”

• Nicholas Laughlin

Sri Lanka

“Did you know that Sri Lanka holds the world record for the highest number of global amphibian extinctions?” informs Sri Lankan animal watcher blog Gallicissa.

• Rezwan

Bermuda

21 Square joins the debate over decriminalising cannabis in Bermuda. “Our present stance on cannabis has created a black market intent on fulfilling demand that is consuming our island and causing our crime rates to soar…. we maintain a punishment scheme for users which outweighs the actual crime.”

• Nicholas Laughlin

Jamaica

Active Voice reflects on how the Jamaican government has honoured star athlete Usain Bolt, and shares information about a new documentary film called Why Do Jamaicans Run So Fast?

• Nicholas Laughlin