Global Voices · Citizen media stories from 2010 March 23

23 March 2010

Daily archive · 8 posts

Stories from 23 March 2010

Is Russia an Enemy of Internet?

Written by Gregory Asmolov · Eastern & Central Europe

The degree of freedom on the Russian Internet is an issue for debates. Some put Russia on the same list of "Internet enemies" with China and Iran. Others strongly oppose this kind of generalization and claim that Russian Internet is the most liberal and unrestricted public sphere in the country.

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Nepal: Death of a polarizing 'statesman'

Written by Bhumika Ghimire · Nepal

Former Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala passed away on Saturday March 21st, after prolonged illness. The legacy of this often controversial and polarizing figure is being discussed by Nepali bloggers.

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Pakistan: Child Abuse On The Rise

Written by Halima Khan · South Asia

The term ‘child abuse’ covers a wide array of very diverse kinds of crimes subjected towards the minors. Bloggers discuss the disturbing rise in child abuse cases in Pakistan.

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USA: In Census, Only Some Races Count

Written by Jillian C. York · Middle East & North Africa, Latin America

Census forms are being delivered to all U.S. households this month, but some citizens complain that the question on race does not offer enough answers to give an accurate picture of their ethnicity.

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China: Google.cn migrated to Hong Kong

Written by Oiwan Lam · East Asia, North America

Finally Google has decided to leave China. Soon after the announcement, Google stopped censoring the search result of google.cn by redirecting the site to google.com.hk. In Google's official blog, David...

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China: Singing farewell to Google

Written by John Kennedy · East Asia, North America

Google has formally closed its mainland Chinese search engine and rival Baidu will not need long to pick up the slack; nonetheless, former users of Google.cn search braved the cold air to show their support outside the company's Beijing headquarters, singing an anti-Internet censorship protest song while they were at it.

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Ghana: Accra Twestival 2010: Social Media Activity With Substance?

Written by Linda Annan · Sub-Saharan Africa

If social media is changing communication patterns in the West, it sure has not fallen short of touching interesting places on the African continent. So it is no surprise that MacJordan, one of Global Voices’ own, is collaborating with Rodney Quarcoo to bring Accra Twestival in Ghana.

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Venezuela: Concerns About Controls on the Internet

Written by Laura Vidal · Latin America

Debate is heating up in Venezuela after decrees and statements from President Hugo Chávez, who questioned how the Internet is being used in the country. Many are interpreting these statements and policy proposals that the government wants control the Internet in Venezuela.

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Updates from 23 March 2010

Guatemala

Luis Figueroa of Carpe Diem [es] writes about the blockades placed by public transport drivers in Guatemala City, who are protesting the lack of security and crime often targeted at them. However, Figueroa writes that all people have a right to protest, but not with blockades.

• Eduardo Avila

Spain

The BBC's video contest My World Video has come to a close, and from the hundreds of submitted entries, they've selected their winner: Frederico Teixeira of Samapayo in Spain who made a 2 minute video on the unemployment situation in his country. The simple video shows his reflection in a front-loading washer and explains how he deals with frustration of not finding a job. You can view other winners here.

• Juliana Rincón Parra

Nepal

Dinesh Wagle at United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal compiles Twitter and Facebook reactions on the death of former Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala.

• Rezwan

Kenya

Erik writes about crowdfunding and seed funding in Africa: “We’re starting to see a few angel investors like Sean Murphy of Chembe Ventures making their way around the continent, but they are not nearly enough to fulfill the capacity of ideas and individuals who need startup capital.”

• Ndesanjo Macha

Pakistan

Faisal Naqvi Monsoon Frog writes about the economics of judicial interventionism in Pakistan.

• Rezwan

Kenya

Is Makmende Kenya's first Internet sensation: “Unless you’ve been offline for the better part of two weeks its Kenya’s first viral Internet sensation, and his name is Makmende! Yes. Makmende is something to smile about! He is Kenya’s first super hero and boy does he rock!”

• Ndesanjo Macha