18 December 2009

Stories from 18 December 2009

Haiti: Marching for Aristide

  18 December 2009

Repeating Islands reports that “supporters of former Haitian President and liberation theologian Jean-Bertrand Aristide marched through Port-au-Prince…this week calling for his return from exile and protesting his [Fanmi Lavalas] party’s exclusion from upcoming elections.”

Trinidad & Tobago: Climate Responsibility

  18 December 2009

Blogging from Trinidad, Coffeewallah says of the climate change talks: “In Copenhagen world leaders debate over what they will and will not sign, but truthfully, it is all about commerce and making money…we are given the gift of life and the loan of the earth but we have yet to...

Trinidad & Tobago: Poor Packaging

  18 December 2009

Trinidad and Tobago's This Beach Called Life is livid that a brand of silicone is being sold in bottles best known for packaging a popular children's soft drink: “I have no idea if the OHS Act in Trinidad and Tobago covers household chemicals and food but Act or no Act,...

Jamaica: Stealing Christmas

  18 December 2009

“Instead of being merry and enjoying the upcoming season, Jamaicans have been plunged into a solemn mood, by a picture painted with more hardship for the poor and the struggling working class of this island”: Stunner says a new tax measure by the Golding government “will definitely put a serious...

Jamaica: Shock Over Buju

  18 December 2009

Annie Paul republishes a Facebook post by Sarah Manley about why Buju Banton is Jamaica: “After reading this you will hopefully understand better why this country is reeling with shock in the aftermath of Buju's imprisonment in the United States.”

Uganda: Can the media force a country to mourn?

  18 December 2009

Can the media force a country to mourn? This it the main question that the Ugandan journalist and blogger, Rosebell Kagumire, raised in a lively conversation that took place on her blog and Facebook page following local media coverage of the death of Uganda's Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya’s son.

Morocco: Another Blogger Imprisoned

  18 December 2009

On Monday, December 14th, Blogger Bashir Hazzam and Internet cafe owner Abdullah Boukhou were sentenced to four months and one year, respectively plus a fine of MAD 500 (USD 63) each, in a Goulmim court.

Sri Lanka: Evidence Of War Crimes

  18 December 2009

A new debate on the war crime allegations against Sri Lankan army has surfaced as the former army chief and presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka had mentioned that he knew that unarmed people were shot dead, in cold blood, “pursuant to a premeditated decision by government leaders.” Kumar David at Groundviews...

Ecuador: Debates Over New Communication Law

  18 December 2009

In Ecuador, there is an ongoing debate about a proposed Communication Law, which would require practicing journalists to hold degrees, require journalists to reveal sources, and other changes. Opponents are calling this a new 'Gag Law.'

Russia: “Anti-crisis” is Word of The Year

RuNet Echo  18 December 2009

Three most popular words dominated Russian society in 2009 according to a well-known “Word of the Year” contest on Imhonet.ru. Those words are “antikrizisniy” (anti-crisis), “zomboyashik” (zombie-box) as a description for TV, and “Medveputiya” (Medvedev and Putin).