Stories from 12 August 2010
Portugal: Blogging Against Military Action
Blog Anti-Nato Portugal [pt, es] denounces that the United States has denied making available, in the aid effort to Pakistan, the 19 helicopters destined to the war in Afghanistan. Bloggers cite a military high official, who in a press conference, confirmed that the decision was up to Washington and that the...
Iran:Political prisoners stopped hunger strike
Sight and several other Iranian bloggers reported [fa] that all political prisoners stopped their hunger strike after 15 days.
Tunisia: When the Singer Chants “Long Live Netanyahu”
The circulation of a video showing Tunisian singer Mohsen Sherif yelling “Long live Bibi Netanyahu!” and inviting Jews to come in droves to Djerba Island for El Ghariba pilgrimage, has triggered a wave of anger and disappointment among Tunisians. In geek speak, the video circulated on Facebook has now created a buzz.
Iran: Hamed Saber is out of jail
Aftab News reported on 9th of August that Iranian photo-blogger, Hamed Saber, was released on bail.
Egypt: Youth using social media to close the gap
Thirty young Egyptians joined hands to produce 10 social advertisements, aimed at social reform. Marwa Rakha takes a closer look at the “Closing The Gap” project, and shares some of the videos produced in this post.
USA: Deconstructing Media Coverage of the “Ground Zero Mosque”
The building of an Islamic community center in New York City, near the site of "Ground Zero," has polarized opinions across the media spectrum. In this post, bloggers share their thoughts.
India: Oil Spill Near Mumbai Threatens Beaches And Mangrove Forests
On 7th of August 2010, the container carrier MSC Chitra collided with MV Khalijia-III near Mumbai shore causing a massive oil spill. Bloggers fear that this will severely damage nearby mangrove forests and pollute the clean beaches of South Mumbai.
Kenya: Safaricom introduces Twitter customer care
Safaricom, a leading communications company in Kenya, has introduced Twitter customer care: “If you doubt that social media has already become an indispensable tool for communication and customer care here in Kenya, Safaricom’s recent activities on twitter should convince you otherwise…”
Tanzania: Lil’ Kim rocks Tanzania
Itchbay writes about Lil’ Kim's concert in Tanzania for an annual party called Fiesta organized by Tanzania’s leading media house, Clouds Media which owns a TV station and the biggest FM radio in Tanzania.
Tanzania/Kenya: Tinga Tinga Tales in animation
Hot Secrets writes about Tinga Tinga Tales, Tinga Tinga Tales, an African folk tales animation series:”The show’s images were hand-painted by Tanzanian artists, then computer animated in Homeboyz’s Nairobi studio before being shipped to the UK.”
Gabon: Gabon's press blossoms
Elisabeth Moumba discusses the blossoming of Gabon's press: “Until 1990, Gabon had only two public television channels and two radio stations–RTG 1 and RTG 2, along with Radio Gabon and Radio II–with one private pro-government daily, L'Union, and one pan-African radio station, Africa N1.”
Zimbabwe: Is Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Proudly South Africa?
Bev Clark wonders whether the Zimbabwean Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, is Proudly South African: “I’ve just received a copy of the Prime Minister’s weekly newsletter and I note that its printed by Cape Press.”
Nigeria: Musician writes song for BBC Africa
Nigerian musician Faze has written a song for BBC Africa titled Tomorrow’s Leaders. The song is about how to improve educational system in Nigeria.
Madagascar: FAO Warns of Locust Threat to Agriculture in the South West Region
On the blog of Organisation de la Presse Africaine, The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) states that $15 million USD is needed to mount a campaign on some 500,000 hectares of land threatened by locust plague [fr]. An average locust swarm consumes the equivalent amount of food as...
Jamaica: Refugee Status
The Caribbean Camera reports on the case of “a gay man from Jamaica [who] has been granted refugee status in Canada on the basis of discrimination against him.”
Bahamas: On the Caribbean
“What is the Caribbean? is not an unanswerable question. But there isn’t — will never be — a single, definitive answer that can encompass the complications of the geographic region named for the Caribs of half a millennium ago, its history and its culture”: So writes Bahamian blogger Nicolette Bethel...
Jamaica: Dudus’ Defence
Jamaica Salt notes that “after many many months, Christopher Coke finally gets himself a couple of defence lawyers.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Ramadan
Lifespan of a Chennette and Lily's Blog wish everyone Ramadan Mubarak!
Jamaica: Buju's New Album
“Buju Banton’s new album will hit the stores the same day he hit[s] the courts…on September 13″: YardFlex.com reports.
Hungary: Xenophobia, Homophobia, Crime
Hungarian Spectrum posts an update on the investigation into a series attacks on and murders of Gypsies that took place over a year ago, and writes about several recent murders and the discussion of homosexuality-related issues that they have generated online.
Hungary: Budapest's Subway
Hungarian Spectrum writes about Budapest's subway and the politics of its long-term construction: “The Budapest metro is very old, yet still unfinished.”
