Global Voices · Citizen media stories from October 2009

October, 2009

Monthly archive · 167 posts

Stories from October, 2009

9 October 2009

Egypt: Niqab Ban Stirs Controversy

Written by Marwa Rakha · Middle East & North Africa

Egypt's top leading Islamic leader, Sheikh Mohammed Tantawi told a 13-year-old student to uncover her face, saying it was not part of the religious obligations of Muslim women. A few days later, Egypt banned female undergraduates from wearing the niqab in the country's public universities. Bloggers join in the debate.

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8 October 2009

USA: Native Americans' long battle against racism

Written by Bernardo Parrella · North America

Racism and discrimination in the USA still affect Native Americans particularly hard, as it has in the past too. But now Native Americans are fighting back with online media.

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Kenya: Waiting for El Niño

Written by Samuel Maina · Sub-Saharan Africa

Kenyans are waiting for the El Niño rains anticipated between now and December with mixed feelings. Although in it's ‘moderate' form El Niño is expected to displace at least 100,000 people, most Kenyans actually want this El Niño.

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Singapore: More Cash ≠ More Babies

Written by Daniel Chandranayagam · East Asia

Will a cash incentive make women want to have a child? Going by recent figures under Singapore’s recent Baby Bonus initiative, a government plan to raise declining birth rates in the country, the answer is “no”.

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Will Egypt import Chinese Hymens?

Written by Marwa Rakha · Middle East & North Africa

An artifical hymen kit is now available in the market. Egyptian law makers have banned the product while bloggers continue to debate the cons and pros of this Chinese 'invention' - and question its morality.

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Oman: Swine Flu Campaign Update

Written by Riyadh Al Balushi · Middle East & North Africa

The recent initiative taken by Omani bloggers to help raise awareness about the spreading swine flu in the country managed to attract media attention and raise money to help take the initiative further.

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Updates from October, 2009

23 October 2009

Pakistan

Talkhaba opines that both civil and military establishments of Pakistan are responsible for the present deteriorated situation of the country.

• Rezwan

Trinidad & Tobago

“Every day that I go through the news I become more convinced that I want to quit the ‘I am a Trini' club and head off to somewhere else”: Coffeewallah has had it with everything from crime to taxes.

• Janine Mendes-Franco

Trinidad & Tobago

“Trinidad and Tobago is a wealthy small island developing nation rich in oil and natural gas. But we are also seeing the damaging effects of aggressive industrialisation on our islands. This is an opportunity for women’s voices to be heard”: Attillah Springer is getting involved in 350's climate action tomorrow.

• Janine Mendes-Franco

Haiti

As an ex-priest is extradited to Canada to face charges of sexual abuse of minors in Haiti, The Haitian Blogger says: “The international community has evidently concluded that there is no justice in Haiti. Sexual predators who have been operating with impunity in Haiti are being extradited to their countries of origin to face criminal charges.”

• Janine Mendes-Franco