Stories from 17 February 2011
Equatorial Guinea: Mr Obiang, New Chairperson of the African Union and Human Rights Abuser
On January 30, 2011, the African Union elected Mr Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo as its new chairperson, succeeding Malawian President Mr Bingu wa Mutharika. However, the long-standing president of Equatorial Guinea has a record for human rights abuses.
Bangladesh: Ethnic Jumma People Living Under Fear
Saleem Samad at Bangladesh Watchdog informs that several ethnic Jumma people in Khagrachari, Bangladesh are still living in fear after attacks year ago.
India: Indusladies Blog Contest
Phoenixritu informs about the Indusladies 2nd annual international women's day Blog contest which offers a cash prize of Rs.10,000.
Bangladesh: Cricket World Cup 2011 Launched Today
Pakistani blogger Nabeel Arshed at Guppu.com comments on the launching of the Cricket World Cup 2011 in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh : “no opening ceremony for a cricket world cup has been filled with such colour, joy and passion as the one held at Bangabandhu National Stadium earlier today.”
Guatemala: Threats Against Journalist Oscar de León
“Last week, the CPJ reported on a series of threats against Oscar de León, a television journalist with the Guatevisión TV network. The CPJ is calling on Guatemalan authorities to investigate the source of the threats and to take steps to protect De León,” Mike reports at Central American Politics.
Uruguay: Ceremony Kicks Off Bicentennial Celebrations
Sebastián Chocca from El Informante [es] was present in the Legislative Palace in Montevideo, Uruguay during the opening ceremony of this year's Bicentennial celebrations. He details his experience and comments on different aspects of the event.
Costa Rica: Crowdfunding Costa Rican Film “El Regreso”
In Fusil de Chispas [es], Cristian Cambronero writes about how the Costa Rican film “El Regreso” (“The Return”) is using crowdfunding through Kickstarter to try to raise $40,000 USD by April 2.
Turks & Caicos: Using Social Media for Democracy
The tcipost wants fellow islanders to “remember that the people of Egypt this month used the internet to strengthen their voices and share information”, suggesting that they can use the same tools to have their voices heard when it comes to the new constitution “that will dilute our vote as...
Dominica: First Indigenous Lawyer
The Voice of the Taino People Online is proud to tell the story of “Pearl Diane Williams…the first indigenous Kalinago Carib person from Waitikubuli (Dominica) and possibly the Eastern Caribbean to be admitted to the Bar in the Commonwealth of Dominica.”
Cuba: Journalist's Home Attacked
Babalu and Uncommon Sense blog about Sara Martha Fonseca, whose “home was attacked last night…in reaction to the mass protest in Cuba scheduled for February 23, 2011, in commemoration of the murder of prisoner of conscience Orlando Zapata Tamayo.”
Cuba: New Technology, Old Ideas
“What century is Cuban television living in?”: Octavo Cerco is amazed by the claims of a television program, saying: “That the new technologies have arrived, there is now no doubt, because they themselves say it’s so. But it’s thanks to the tenacity of the Cuban people in accessing everything the...
Jamaica: Malaria Cases
YardFlex.com reports that the Ministry of Health has identified three imported cases of malaria.
Colombia: Truck Driver Strike Causes Road Chaos in Bogotá
Since February 2, 2011, Colombian truck drivers have been on national strike due to certain government reforms. On February 15, the issue became one of the most discussed on citizen media sites because of traffic congestion in the capital, Bogotá,
Morocco: ‘Movement for Dignity’ Planned for 20 February, 2011
Morocco has been deemed the 'unsusceptible exception' to the current unrest in the Arab world. Despite all this, there is talk on the Internet about a planned protest called the 'February 20, 2011, Movement for Dignity'.
Uganda: Uganda Elections 2011 on Twitter
Ugandans will go to the polls tomorrow for presidential and parliamentary elections. The main candidates for the presidential race are President Yoweri Museveni, Dr. Kizza Besigye and Norbert Mao.Twitter users are busy talking about the elections using the #ugandavotes hashtag.
Bahrain: Nicholas Kristof, An Eyewitness
Nicholas Kristof, the New York Times columnist, and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, is reporting the unfolding events taking place in Bahrain via his Twitter account. Kristof arrived Bahrain a couple of days ago when two protesters were reported dead, after thousands gathered in Pearl Square demanding democracy.
Bahrain: State TV Says Protesters Had Swords, Guns and Ammunition
Bahrain Television just aired the government's account of today's pre-dawn raid on protesters gathered at the Pearl Roundabout in the capital Manama, which left five people dead, scores injured and up to 60 people missing and still unaccounted for. The programme has raised more questions than answers.
Uganda: New video for Uganda Elections 2011
The National Democratic Institute partnered with popular Ugandan musician Bobi Wine to release a video encouraging young voters to avoid election violence and to encourage them to report any election irregularities to UgandaWatch2011.
Russia: Popular Social Network Opens Its Profiles to Everybody
Russian popular social network Vkontakte.ru prohibited its users from limiting access to their online profiles. Now everybody is able to view personal information of other users. People started protesting against the decision and threatened Vkontakte.ru to take it to court, Gazeta.ru reported.
Russia: New .РФ Domains Could Be Sold Illegaly
The Prosecutor General's Office in Russia expressed its interest in the fact that the biggest domain registration company in Russia “RU-Center” reserved 60,000 domain names within first hours after open registration and later sold 25,000 of those in closed auctions, newspapers Kommersant.ru reported.
Russia: Famous AI Specialist Says Election 2018 Will be Won Online
Famous Russian AI specialist and programmer Igor Ashmanov gave an interview to Banki.ru where he stresses the importance of the Internet in Russia and said that Russian presidential election 2018 would be won on the Net.
