Global Voices · Citizen media stories from 2009 December 22

22 December 2009

Daily archive · 8 posts

Stories from 22 December 2009

Mexico: Marriage and Adoption for Gay Couples in the Capital

Written by Issa Villarreal · Latin America

Both gay marriage and adoption for gay couples are now legal in Mexico City after approval by the Legislative Assembly on December 21. The community celebrates, but remains skeptical about the effectiveness of the changes.

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Iran: Death of Top Dissident Cleric, Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri

Written by Fred Petrossian · Middle East & North Africa

Iranian citizens posted photos and videos of clashes with pro-government militamen during the funeral of the country's top dissident cleric, Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri.

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South Africa: A nation in conversation with itself 140 words at a time

Written by Ndesanjo Macha · Sub-Saharan Africa

“Was news of Manto’s death the Hudson plane crash of South Africa? Did the passing of the controversial former minister of health mark a coming of age of Twitter in this country?,” asks South African blogger and author Sarah Britten in her post on Thought Leader titled, “How Twitter broke the news about Manto.”

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Copenhagen summit: Nepalese Ministers Miss The Point

Written by Bhumika Ghimire · South Asia

The Nepalese cabinet held a meeting near Everest base camp days before Copenhagen summit to emphasize that effects of global warming on Nepal. However, bloggers are criticizing the bulky Nepalese ministers delegation to Copenhagen and questioning their effectiveness.

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Uzbekistan: Criminal Charges Filed Against Documentary Photographer Umida Akhmedova

Written by Alexey Sidorenko · Central Asia & Caucasus

Umida Akhmedova, photo by Fergana.ru Umida Akhmedova, the Uzbek [EN] documentary photographer, has been accused of insult and slander against Uzbek people and traditions, reports Fergana.ru [EN]. The maximum penalty...

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We are Global Voices. Five years on.

Written by Rebecca MacKinnon · Announcements

As Global Voices celebrates this fifth year of existence, co-founder Rebecca MacKinnon reflects on how far the we've come—and how far we still have to go.

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Russia: Livejournal Vs. Tor and New Battle for Anonymity

Written by Gregory Asmolov · Eastern & Central Europe

Livejournal.com preventing users from accessing its site via an anonymizer caused panic and anger among global online community. It also showed the importance of anonymizers and revealed vulnerability of online privacy tools.

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Poland: ‘Arbeit Macht Frei' Sign Stolen from Auschwitz

Written by Sylwia Presley · Eastern & Central Europe

Last Friday morning, the sign ‘Arbeit Macht Frei‘ ('Work Sets You Free') was stolen from the gate of former Nazi death camp in Auschwitz, near Krakow. The theft caused many speculations but also serious reactions from the Polish government, museum authorities, Jewish organisations and the public online.

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Updates from 22 December 2009

El Salvador

In El Salvador, Willian Marroquín writes about the role of the media as watchdogs for the new programs of the administration of President Mauricio Funes [es], including those from the Ministry of Education. He writes that hopefully the media would stop being 'spokespersons' for the government as had been the case in past administrations.

• Eduardo Avila

Peru

Two residents of the Peruvian province of Huancabamba were killed during a recent protest against mining activity, and Caviar de Cianuro [es] writes about the recent investigation findings that they were shot in the back.

• Eduardo Avila

Bhutan

Jurmi Chhowing announces the launch of a new Bhutanese monthly news magazine, called “Drukpa”. He informs that: “the monthly magazine was born as discussion after discussion highlighted the lack of a proper bridge to gap the difference between all sections of our society.”

• Rezwan

Pakistan

Sana Saleem at Mystified Justice discusses about the recent cases of negligence in medical service in Pakistan and urges everyone to be more vigilant.

• Rezwan

Sri Lanka

A Voice In Colombo criticizes two state owned TV channels for being biased to the “governing party” and discusses how it can affect the upcoming presidential elections in Sri Lanka.

• Rezwan

South Africa

Truth without venom is impossible when it comes to South Africa's former Minister of Health: “To be honest, I did not wish to reflect on the life of Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, as I have been taught that it is not proper to speak ill of the dead. But as the crocodile tears flowed this week, I felt compelled to be true to history.”

• Ndesanjo Macha

Ethiopia

Lucas Liganga writes about Ethiopian Prime Ministers's betrayal: “Unfortunately, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi who is the spokesman of Africa on climate change uncharacteristically teamed up with France and heavily doctored the African document, a move that shocked the African negotiators.”

• Ndesanjo Macha