Stories from 17 March 2011
Pakistan: Sharia Law Saves CIA Agent
Adil Najam at All Things Pakistan has this question to ask to the US citizens and tax-payers: “Will the man who sometimes goes by the name of Raymond Davis reimburse the US taxpayers for the reportedly over US$2.25 million paid under Sharia law to save his skin?”
India: How To Avoid Writer's Block
Blogadda has some practical tips on how to avoid a writer's block.
Bhutan: The Prime Minister Speaks
The Bhutanese Prime Minister arranged an impromptu press conference to get his government’s views across on proceedings regarding the Supreme Court’s controversial verdict against the government on tax raise. I Am Drukpa has details.
Haiti: Winds of Change?
“It is not contentment that changes a nation, or a culture, or the history of the world; it is dissatisfaction with the status quo”: Throwing Down the Water thinks that change just might be possible.
Haiti: Aristide's Return
“Many believe that he still has the power to control the masses and disturb the current electoral process”: From New York City to Haiti thinks that “things just got a bit interesting.”
Pakistani vs. Indian Pressure Cookers
The Life And Times Of Two Indians In Pakistan compares Indian and Pakistani pressure cookers and guess which is the winner.
Cuba: The Malecón
“Territory of lovers. Rest-stop of Bohemians, drunks and nighthawks”: Iván's File Cabinet blogs about the Malecón.
Sri Lanka: The Lives In The North
Valkyrie at Groundviews has a detailed update on the state of affairs of the people living in the North of Sri Lanka, especially Jaffna and Vanni. A foreigner's entry is still restricted with required permission, militarization is taking place in complex ways, at multiple levels – these are a few...
Trinidad & Tobago: What Mothers Do
“For each decision I had to puzzle through on my own, I give them the tools and advice to make the best choices they can. I want them to be independent and powerful women, but I don’t think they need to learn those skills the hard way, as I did”:...
Cuba: Linares to be Released
Havana Times reports on the imminent release of political prisoner Ricardo Librado Linares “with which only two of the 75 Cuban dissidents sentenced in 2003 will remain in prison”; Uncommon Sense explains why his release is both “personal” and “a big deal”.
The Plights of Pakistani Workers in Bahrain Protests
Faisal Kapadia at Deadpan Thoughts reports on xenophobic attacks on Pakistani workers in Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain, by protesters who had laid siege to this complex.
Bangladeshi Workers Evacuated From Libya Faces Uncertain Future
Tasfiyah Jalil at BRAC Blog reports about the plights of the Bangladeshi workers evacuated from Libya, who had supposedly escaped death and endured weeks of near-starvation and now find themselves in native soil empty handed and people owing them money they borrowed to go abroad.
Haiti: Election Violence Escalates
Election-related violence in Haiti appears to be escalating. As Haitian presidential candidate and legal scholar Mirlande Manigat set out to begin a campaign rally in Mirebalais yesterday, her convoy was stoned by alleged supporters of opponent Michel Martelly, leading to a scuffle that resulted in gunshots and wounds.
Russia: Reaching Out to the President
Many projects have been recently created in Russia on the basis of crowdsourcing (or user-generated content (UGC)), when information on any particular topic is collected by internet users. Almost each one of these projects signalizes about a problem. Marina Litvinovich analyzed them and proposed a thesis that the success of these projects depends on their ability to establish their contact with the officials.
Libya: All Eyes on Benghazi (Video)
Benghazi is the Libya's second-largest city and the political heart and rebellious soul of the movement against Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi. With once fast-charging rebel forces now under considerable attacks by Gaddafi forces, however, Benghazi could become a last stand for Libyan freedom.
China: Day two of salt-buying panic
With supermarkets in many Chinese cities now out of salt, Roland Soong at EastSouthWestNorth has published a second post on the panicky salt buying spree, comparing discussion of the frenzy on Twitter and domestic microblog Sina Weibo. “To summarize Chinese reactions to the Japan earthquake: hoard salt, create rumors, scare...
Japan: Crisis Management PR Lessons from Cabinet Secretary Edano
PR professional Takashi Kurosawa appreciates Cabinet Secretary Edano's style of communication, detailing what he's doing right in the blog post "10 Things We can Learn from Cabinet Secretary Edano from the Perspective of Crisis management PR".
Peru: Civic-Mindedness During Election Year
Global Voices author and translator Gabriela García Calderón blogs [es] about civic-mindedness during this year's presidential elections in Peru. She argues that voting and working at polling stations shouldn't be considered a burden, but rather a way to fulfill a civic duty and play an active role in improving the...
Paraguay: One Laptop for Every Child
In Camino al Paraguay [es], Juan Carlos Rodríguez posts a video and a slideshow presenting a project led by the Ministry of Education and Culture to give a laptop computer to every child in Paraguayan public schools.
Latin America: Getting Ready for President Obama's Trip
Mike in Central American Politics lists several links to blogs and other sources (in English) discussing President Obama's upcoming trip to Latin America. President Obama will travel to El Salvador, Chile and Brazil at the end of March 2011.
Nigeria: StandUp Naija 2011
StandUp Naija, a project run by The Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI), is a series of videos highlighting the expectations of average Nigerians along with policy areas the 2011 elections should address.
