Stories from 18 November 2010
Iran:World’s youngest detained blogger on trial
Reporters without Borders (RSF) reports The world’s youngest detained blogger, 18-year-old Navid Mohebbi, is currently being tried behind closed doors before a revolutionary court in the northern city of Amol. His lawyer is not being allowed to attend the trial, which began on 14 November.
Pamela Fever Grips India
Hollywood actress and model Pamela Anderson is creating ripples in India as she arrived in Mumbai a few days ago to take part in a TV reality show. Netizens reflect on what the Indians think of Pamela.
Haiti: Misrepresenting the Facts
The Haitian Blogger takes on the U.S. media, which “is playing fast and loose with the facts…painting a misleading picture of the situation in Haiti.”
Haiti: Elections, Cholera & Aristide
“As the date for Haiti holding its General Elections approaches, more political leaders speak out over the credibility of the upcoming Elections”: Wadner Pierre explains.
Trinidad & Tobago: Infringement on Privacy
KnowTnT.com argues that the fundamental issue surrounding the illegal wiretapping controversy is that “while we need electronic surveillance as a security option, it needs to be properly regulated because of its impact on individual privacy.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Regional Resolution
Globewriter is “disgusted with the ill-informed piss poor states who supported the removal” of a reference to sexual orientation from a resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, adding: “The Caribbean has good reason to be ashamed…LGBT people should have a look at the list at the bottom of the...
St. Lucia: Lots To Do After Tomas
Sun, Rain, Or… says that there is still a tremendous amount of work to do when it comes to hurricane relief.
Russia: Oleg Kashin is Back Online
Oleg Kashin, recently recovered from artificially inducted coma, published the first post [RUS] entitled: “I have nothing to say now but I will thank everyone later.” A post with just a YouTube video for the song played by Russian rock-band Aquarium gathered almost 450 wishes of faster recovery.
Gambia: Climbing Kilimanjaro to build a school in Gambia
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to build a school in Gambia: “In August 2010 Hannah Braye climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in memory of her friend Lucy raising over £1,000. This will go to help build a school in Dairuharu in Brikama and the first classroom being built will be dedicated to...
Gambia: Against Gambian monarchy
Against Gambian monarchy is an essay written by Gambian bloggr and writer Amran Gaye: “Our so-called “Opposition” is an almost useless entity. They resort to hyperbole, the last refuge of the desperate, on and off the Internet. They bicker with each other, like little ganaar chicks over mere scatterings of...
Pakistan: The Cost Of Sacrifice
Five Rupees is surprised to learn about the large number of animals slaughtered in Pakistan during the Eid-Ul-Azha festivities and the huge cost associated with it.
Guinea: Government declares state of emergency
The military government in Guinea declared a state of emergency and imposed an overnight curfew following violence that trailed the announcement of results of the country's first democratic vote, Samuel Okocha reports.
Colombia: Mayor of Bogotá isolated amidst corruption allegations
Bogotá Mayor Samuel Moreno Rojas faced criticism even before taking office in 2008; as the mayor, he has been regarded mostly as an "incompetent" who "lacks leadership", and is routinely mocked with nicknames as "bobolitro" ("dumb"). In the last few weeks, a corruption scandal has added to this criticism.
Guinea: Is this what democracy looks like?
Is this what democracy looks like in Guinea?: “Reports from Pita, Mamou, Labe, etc. continue to come in regarding the brutality of state security forces against Guineans of the Peul ethnic group. The forces are entering homes, beating up the occupants, ransacking and stealing personal property.”
Azerbaijan: Video blogger Adnan Hajizade released
In a surprise decision, an Appeal Court in Azerbaijan today ordered the conditional release of video blogging youth activist Adnan Hajizade. The news, as well as reaction, quickly spread on Facebook and Twitter.
Nigeria: Podcasts to remember Ken Saro-Wiwa
To mark the 15th anniversary of the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa by the Nigerian government, Remember Saro-Wiwa has launched a new series of podcasts, “Fifteen Years On” which you can listen to or download for free.
Bangladesh: Traveling On The Roof
Hundreds of thousands of people left Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh for the Eid holidays. There is usually a mad rush in the public transport systems during this time and photo-blogger Monirul Alam caught the exodus on camera which shows hundreds of people traveling on the roofs of a train.
Bangladesh: Discrimination In The Middle East?
“Would there be any lashing if they were white Europeans or Americans?” – so reacts Jyoti at Unheard Voice on the news that a Filipina maid and her Bangladeshi lover had received punishment of 100 lashes and deportation for having sex out of wedlock in Sharjah.
Azerbaijan: Video blogging youth activist released
Threatened Voices has changed the status and updated the profile page of video blogging youth activist Adnan Hajizade following news that an Appeal Court in Azerbaijan ordered his conditional release earlier today after 16 months in detention. Despite significant international outcry, however, Emin Milli, an associate of Hajizade arrested at...
India: What Is Beauty
“Beauty is what you have within, in your heart and in your soul, beauty is how you look and behave towards other fellow humans, how you respect the other, how much love and care in your heart to give to the one who needs it,” comments Debolina Raja Gupta.
Philippines: Zamboanga, “Asia's brownout city”
Because of regular power outages in the city, Zamboanga residents describe their place as “Asia's brownout city.” Zamboanga is located in the southern part of the Philippines