Stories from 16 October 2010
Puerto Rico: “80 grados,” A New Online Magazine
“80 grados is a publication open to a diversity of reflections”. The School of Communications of the University of Puerto Rico and the citizen media nonprofit Prensa Comunitaria have just inaugurated the digital online magazine 80 grados [ES].
Macedonia: TEDxSkopje Participant Selection Controversy
Many Twitter users voiced dissatisfaction with the preliminary selection to TEDxSkopje, which by the rules of the license is limited to 100 participants. In order to structure the debate, volunteer organizers submitted to an AskReddit-style group interview [MKD] through Ping.mk .
Sri Lanka: Artists Are Outcasts Of The System
Makuluwo at Cerebral Ramblings describes how the students pursuing creative arts and literature in Sri Lanka are considered an outcasts of the system and because of it many of them resort to a safe path.
Japan: Ancient anatomical illustrations
Pinktentacle published a series of anatomical illustrations [en] that date back to the Edo period (1603-1868). Each illustration is followed by a caption that describes the publication where it first appeared and its scientific value.
India: Manipur widows stand up for their rights
Anjulika Thingnam at Voices From The Ground narrates the plights of the widows in the Manipur state of India and mentions how they can claim pension benefits from the government.
France: First Case of Burqa Rage?
Allain Jules, blogging in centpapiers from Quebec, cannot wait for the impending decision of a French court in the case of a 63 years old former teacher who ripped off the burqa of a young female tourist from the United Arab Emirates in a Parisian shop back in February. She told...
Chile: 33 Miners Rescued Successfully
In northern Chile, efforts to free 33 miners trapped inside the San Jose copper and gold mine concluded successfully. All the men, including rescue workers, were brought back to the surface using a small capsule. Chileans have not only used blogs and social media to react to the accident and the rescue, but also to discuss related issues, like miner's working conditions.
Armenia: Blog Action Day
Writing on his official blog, the British Ambassador to Armenia, Charles Lonsdale, marks Blog Action Day by writing about Lake Sevan. Situated 1,900 meters above sea level, it is one of the largest high altitude lakes in the world. However, the diplomatic blogger notes, mismanagement and policies during the Soviet...
Tanzania: The Legacy of Mwalimu Nyerere
Elsie reflects on the legacy of Tanzania's first president Mwalimu Nyerere: “Speaking of legacy, Mwalimu would never turn down a presidential debate. Quite the opposite: he would relish the opportunity to crush his opposition with his nimble wit and oratory skills…”
Nigeria: What is the Solution for Road Safety in Nigeria?
Road Safety in Nigeria – Where Lies The Solution?, Fidelis Nnadi asks: “For years, prominent Nigerians have fallen victims of road traffic accident with no enforceable policies and regulations to tackle the carnage. Among major cause of road traffic accidents in Nigeria are drunkenness, poor quality drivers, fake and sub-standard...
Rwanda: Living in Rwanda 101
Living in Rwanda 101 by British blogger Jenny Clover: “1. Don't eat seafood in a land-locked country 2. Never put liquid soap on your hands before checking the water is running 3. Never get on a moto with a fat driver unless willing to do the splits 4. Don't turn...
Sierra Leone: The Vickie Remoe Show
Africa is a Country introduces his readers to the online and broadcast TV lifestyle show, The Vickie Remoe Show: “I’ve been following Sierra Leonean Vickie Remoe’s lifestyle and culture blog Swit Salone for a few years now. Blogging from Freetown since 2007, Vickie has been a consistent source of information...
Nigeria: Is better distribution the remedy for piracy?
Is better distribution of Nigerian movies the remedy for piracy?: “For whatever underlying reasons, the Yoruba-language film world – where the average film sells 50-100,000 copies – seems to have better distribution systems. Original films are produced in larger runs and often meet market demand before unauthorized copies enter the...
Sierra Leone: Supporters of Leone Stars in Action
Photos of supporters of Sierra Leone national soccer team Leone Stars by Sierra Leonean blogger Vickie Ramoe.
China: Anti-Japan demonstrations erupt in three cities
An anti-China protest held in Japan today has been known about for some time, but large anti-Japanese demonstrations which also took place today in three Chinese cities seemed to have taken a lot of people by surprise, and what exactly sparked them isn't yet clear.
India: Shashi Tharoor On The Ayodhya Verdict
“What the court has done is to craft a solution that no political process could have arrived at independently, but which takes the dispute off the streets,” comments Shashi Tharoor, a former Indian Minister of State for External Affairs and UN Under- Secretary General, while discussing on the recent court...
South Asia: Bloggers Discussing Water Issues
A number of South Asian bloggers have participated in the Blog Action Day 2010, which focuses on the theme 'water'. Let us look at what some of them are discussing about.
Big Corporations, South Korea's Human Rights Blind Spot
Hospitals, prisons and the army are three places spots where absolute authority is held by one side. In Korea, there's another human rights blind spot: big corporatations. Lots of information that handed over them are treated with inconsideration and direct insults are the norm during the interview process.
China: Riot Against Land Acquisition in Guangxi
On 13 of October, a riot broke out in Longxu town in Guangxi province. Around one thousand villagers confronted armed police against forced land acquisition. Citizen reports on the riot were originally posted at local online forums within Guangxi, but quickly deleted by web censor authorities. In order to spread...
China: netizens find humour in Nobel Peace Prize
China Digital Times has collected and translated a selection of Chinese Internet users’ jokes about dissident Liu Xiaobo's Nobel Peace Prize win. One netizen wrote, “News flash: At 5:00 PM, Beijing time, the phrase “2010 Nobel Peace Prize” was gloriously inducted into the list of ‘sensitive words’.” The original version is...