Stories from 14 March 2011
Bahrain: Letter from a Blogger, as Saudi Troops Enter
Hundreds of troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates arrived in Bahrain on Monday to help the government quell protests. Television news is saying nothing about what will happen, and many fear the worst. Here is a letter from a Bahraini blogger.
Palestine: Demonstrations For Unity Begin
Palestinians were not at first mentioned on the Arab “revolution timetable“, but a date for protests was indeed set for 15 March. These protests are taking place in towns and cities throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and the focus is Palestinian unity – a stand against the political divisions that have riven Palestinian society for many years.
Pakistan: Letter Signing Campaign A Success
Teeth Maestro reports that the “Silence Means More Blood” letter signing campaign in Karachi arranged by Center For Democracy on Saturday, March 12, 2011 was a success with 10000 signatures collected at the end of the day.
Turkey: Still Considering Bid on Nuclear Plant from Japan?
Earthquake-prone Turkey is currently considering a bid on a nuclear power plant tender from a Japanese energy company. Selene Verri from Turkish Diary asks: “So, Turkey is going nuclear. Is it wise, knowing what just happened in Japan, a conscientious and prepared country?”
India Renewable Energy Innovation Awards
ThinkChange India informs that the last date for applications for the “atmosfair India Renewable Energy Innovation awards” is March 27, 2011. The goal of the awards is to promote the implementation of green low-end technologies to ensure a sustainable future.
India: A Poem For Japan
Raja Basu at Potpourri has this to say to the earthquake and Tsunami victim Japan: “Your ancestors faced Hiroshima bombing, and constructed a new Japan from the rubble of that devastation. Repeat that valour of your ancestors, and prove once again the resilience and buoyancy of your great nation.”
India: Equations For Cricket World Cup
Giri at Pen The Game chalks out the equations required for the Indian cricket team to progress to the next round.
Haiti: Election Threats
The long-awaited Haitian election is finally scheduled to take place on March 20; the most recent political controversy involves presidential candidate Michel Martelly's threats to the media, accompanied by general references to grabbing power via “the streets”. Netizens are keeping a close check on developments…
Yemen: A Life-Threatening Message to Blogger Afrah Nasser
Yemeni blogger and journalist, Afrah Nasser, received a threatening message on Facebook on March 13 and decided to post it on her blog “so the entire world reads it“. The original message was in Arabic and she translated to English, provoking many concerned responses from online friends.
Russia: Fukushima Plant Disaster Triggers Nuclear Power Debate
The natural disaster unfolding in Japan after the 8.9 magnitude earthquake on Friday 11 March, 2011, is currently the one of the most widely discussed topics in the Russian blogosphere. One of the most worrying impacts of the quake and related tsunami has been at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Here, Russian bloggers discuss the question of nuclear energy.
Cuba, U.S.A.: Gross Sentence
Bloggers discuss the sentence handed down to U.S. citizen Alan Gross, who was convicted “of distributing equipment to connect to the Internet.”
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Heroes Day
Today is National Heroes Day; Abeni explains why “the challenge…is to play our part in educating others on [Carib Chief] Chatoyer and why he is important to our sense of self.”
Trinidad & Tobago: The Meaning of Equality
Coffeewallah thinks that women “the latest trend in female performers, to debase themselves or perform lyrics that are denigrating to women” does nothing for gender equality.
Cuba: Letter to Dr. Biscet
“Your release is rightfully considered a victory for all who fight for a free Cuba and most of all, for you and your family”: Uncommon Sense writes an open letter to Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet.
Jamaica: Skin Bleaching Perspective
Dancehall artist Vybz Kartel gives a talk at the University of the West Indies; Active Voice comments: “Kartel is on the cutting edge of research and thinking about this phenomenon when he argues for the changing role skin bleaching plays in this society today.”
Jamaica: Enquiry Stalemate?
Jamaican bloggers discuss the latest developments in the Manatt Dudus Enquiry.
Africa: Increasing Female Participation in Science and Technology
Gamel looks at practical ways to increase female participation in Science and Technology in Africa: “I disagree with attempts to “level the playing field” through the practice of admitting females into science and technology programmes, in high schools and universities, at lower grades than males.”
Africa: Of Africans and misogyny
Lady Jaye discusses Africans and misogyny: “It would seems Africans (yes, yes, I know I am generalizing) – both men and women – hate women. I can't think of any other explanations for it.
Africa: Database of Social Conflicts Launched
A database of Social Conflicts in Africa has been launched, Mac-Jordan reports: “The Social Conflict in Africa Database (SCAD) will provide information on over 6,300 social conflict events across Africa, including strikes, riots, protests, coups and communal violence dating from 1990 to 2009.”
Nigeria: Vote for “Umblerra”
Nigerian First Lady asks Nigerians to vote for “umblerra”: “An audio recording has emerged of Mrs Jonathan speaking at a rally of the ruling party. She was “trying to persuade her listeners to vote for the ‘Umbrella’, the unmistakable symbol of the Peoples’ Democratic Party.”
Japan: Earthquake, “how to protect yourself” in 30 languages
TUFS students launched a website with advices on risk management translated in more than 30 languages. The website provides “a basic guide in several languages to what to do when you have to evacuate because of the earthquake.”
