Global Voices · Citizen media stories from March 2011

March, 2011

Monthly archive · 316 posts

Stories from March, 2011

11 March 2011

Largest Earthquake in Recorded History in Japan

On Friday, March 11, 2011 at 2:46:23 p.m. local time, an 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck Japan, the largest in recorded history.

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Yemen: Did Government Use Nerve Gas on Protesters? (Videos)

Written by John Liebhardt · Middle East & North Africa

Doctors say the protesters attacked by Yemen's security forces on Tuesday (March 8) showed different symptoms than those usually exhibited by victims of tear gas. Some of the protesters had convulsions, they lost muscular control and some were even temporarily paralyzed. It begs the question: Did Yemen's government use some form of nerve agent on its own people?

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Gabon: Two Rival Presidents, One Accused of Embezzlement

Written by Julie Owono · Sub-Saharan Africa

As the power struggle between two opposing presidents continues in Gabon, Ali Bongo (the official president) now stands accused of "misappropriation of shares for personal profit" in a World Bank suit. Supporters of the opposition led by Mba Obame anxiously await his next move.

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10 March 2011

Russia: The Dead Journal

Written by Marina Litvinovich · Translated by Ekaterina · Eastern & Central Europe

Social networks strongly tie a person to themselves. The person opens a page under his/her name, puts out photographs, indicates interests, joins groups and communities, writes notes, shares impressions and thoughts. What happens to this page when the person dies?

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Guatemala: First Lady Announces Her Candidacy for President

Written by Renata Avila · Latin America

On March 8, First Lady Sandra Torres announced she would run for president. Her critics on social networks reacted to the news with harsh comments. Bloggers are focusing on two main issues related to her presidential bid: an Article in the Constitution which prohibits her candidacy, and her work in social cohesion projects.

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Iran: Female Police for International Women's Day Protests

Written by Fred Petrossian · Middle East & North Africa

On Tuesday, March 8, 2011 - International Women's Day - Iranian protesters (both men and women) went to the streets in defiance of their country's Islamic regime. Female security forces were spotted by one blogger.

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Updates from March, 2011

20 March 2011

Lebanon

Isqat Al Nizam (Bringing Down the System) is a blog (Ar) dedicated to the rallies and demonstrations aiming at dismantling the Lebanese sectarian laws and system.

• Moussa Bashir

Lebanon

“Let no one be fooled, these people know no humanity, nor should we want their selective humaneness.” Writes Rami Zurayk in a post criticizing the Western intervention in Libya.

• Moussa Bashir

Lebanon

Mustapha criticizes politicians and media who champion some revolutions and ignore others without losing their sense of moral superiority. He concludes: “There is no such thing as independent and balanced media.”

• Moussa Bashir

Japan

Ilan Noy, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Hawai'i, elaborated a theory on the macroeconomic aftermath of the magnitudo 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11.

• Scilla Alecci

Honduras

Honduras Culture and Politics blogs about “the death of a striking teacher, Ilse Ivania Velásquez, who Vos el Soberano reports was hit in the head by a tear gas canister, then run over by a vehicle described as a ‘tanqueta'.”

• Silvia Viñas

Brazil

Israel Sassá comments [pt] on the criminalization process that is taking place against the leaders of the indigenous Guarani Kaiowa community in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. According to him, members of the community are accused because they have been camping along federal roads after illegal farmers have stolen their lands.

• Raphael Tsavkko Garcia