17 January 2011
Stories from 17 January 2011
Haiti: Duvalier Visit Political Red Herring?
A little more than a year after a debilitating earthquake practically leveled the Haitian capital and destroyed innumerable surrounding towns, killing thousands and leaving survivors homeless (tent cities are still full, despite millions of dollars in relief aid pledged), exiled dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier returned to his homeland. Many bloggers are still stunned at this latest political development and remain unclear as to the motive behind his visit.
Venezuela: Discussing a New University Law
Venezuelan public and student opinion is divided once again in the face of a new University Law. The reactions and results have been intense, complex and unexpected; citizen media users have reflected several of the turns the discussion has taken.
China: Tense days and nights in Tunis
Excerpts of a series of blog posts this week from a Chinese woman living and working in the Tunisian capital.
Libya: Gaddafi Wages War on the Internet as Trouble Brews at Home
Libyan leader Muammar Al Gaddafi managed to offend both Tunisians and netizens from across the world wide web in his address to the Tunisian people, following the fall of the Zine El Abidine Ben Ali regime. With trouble brewing at home and Libyans taking to the Internet to vent off, could Gaddafi be foreseeing his doom as a “victim of Facebook and YouTube”?
Zambia: Restless Western Province Erupts Over Independence Agreement
The Western Province administrative capital, Mongu, on Friday erupted when Lozi tribal loyalists who want to secede from the rest of Zambia fought running battles with police on the day they “declared independence.” Two people were shot dead by the police, a number of people were injured and over 200 arrested and are likely to be charged with treason. Zambian netizens share their opinions on the subject online.
North Korea: Drugs Rampant, Even Among Teens
North Korean insiders and defectors have testified that drugs are widespread in North Korea. Most recent reports told that drugs are popular gifts among teens and even ordinary middle-class citizens are frequently abusing them.
El Salvador: President Funes Prohibits Campaigning by Government Officials
Taking into consideration that 2011 will be a pre-electoral year and that during 2012 El Salvador will be in full presidential campaign mode, President Mauricio Funes has said he will not allow his officials to campaign. This has caused diverse reactions in the Salvadoran blogosphere.
Cameroon: Inventors, Makers and Creators
Creativity, ingenuity and entrepreneurship are vibrant in Cameroon as we see in the following videos showing blacksmiths at work, bamboo cellphone and laptop cases and home made egg incubators.
China: No more award and prize!
It is clear that the Chinese government is not happy about the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. However, it is beyond normal people's imagination that the propaganda machine would turn its resentment into the censorship of the terms "award" and "prize".
Venezuela: Reactions to Comments by OAS Regarding Enabling Law
Venezuelan Twitter users and bloggers have reacted to the Enabling Law that concedes President Hugo Chávez the power to rule by decree on certain matters for the next 18 months; they have also given their opinion about declarations regarding the Enabling Law given by the Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza.




































==> As Africans we need to let go of our victimhood, inferiority complex & acceptance of the mediocre. We deserve...