October, 2010
Stories from October, 2010
14 October 2010
Myanmar (Burma): The Plight of the Karen
The ethnic minority of the Karen are one of the groups that have been targeted by the Burmese army in its effort to defend the military regime. Burma Matters Now brings us a few videos that speak out about the plight of the Karen people as they try to survive in a violent environment.
Brazil: The Xingu River is no place for Belo Monte
On August 26 the President of Brazil, Lula da Silva, signed a decree that transfers the concession to harness the hydroelectric potential of the Belo Monte Dam on the Amazon Xingu River. Indigenous people and river dweller have been organizing themselves into social and environmental resistance movements against the construction of the dam for their present way of life and means of survival will suffer a disastrous impact if the dam is built.
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Zambia: Are Journalists Dogs or Watchdogs?
Zambian journalists have recently been in the news not as reporters and editors but as victims after an opposition parliamentarian, Mumbi Phiri, labeled those working for state-controlled media organisations as Lt-Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha's dogs. Lt-Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha is the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services. Zambians online discuss her statement and apology.
Greece: Life Sentence for Officer who Shot Teen Sparking 2008 Riots
After two years of deliberations, a court has delivered a sentence of life in prison for the police officer who shot and killed 15-year old Alexandros Grigoropoulos in December 2008. His killing led to mass rioting and protests in several cities across Greece, fueled by rage over police brutality, and impunity and corruption in the Greek political system.
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13 October 2010
Mexico: Blogosphere Previews United Nations Climate Change Conference- COP 16
The next United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 16) will take place from November 29 to December 10, 2010 in Cancun, Mexico. Bloggers are analyzing whether the conference will bring the usual disappointment about a lack of action, or if this time it will provide a new perspective and a new opportunity where failure is not an option.
I think the reason it stuck with me is that I was fired from my first real job--teaching at a...