Stories from 18 May 2011
Malaysia: Tweets on the Acid Splasher
More than 20 cases of acid attacks have been reported already in Malaysia since March. Many residents are scared to walk in the streets. Netizens were quick to spread information about the 'acid splashing' cases but some reports turned out to be false.
India: Lessons Learnt In The Assembly Elections
Rajesh Jain at Emergic writes about the lessons learnt after the results of the assembly elections in five Indian states.
Bhutan: Why The High Tourist Fee?
Bridge To Bhutan explains the reason behind Bhutan’s unique and long-standing system of requiring tourists to spend at least $200 a day.
Sri Lanka: Buddhism And Its Impact On Governance
A Concerned Citizen at Groundviews criticizes the Sri Lankan leadership’s aggressively defensive behaviour on many issues, which do not represent what the Buddha taught.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Eurovision Diplomacy?
Global Voices’ Caucasus Editor rounds up opinion to the possibility that winning this year's Eurovision Song Contest could contribute to change in Azerbaijan. The post looks at the situation in terms of LGBT and political rights, in addition to the ongoing conflict with Armenia over the disputed territory of Nagorno...
Brazil: Alert as 473% jump in deforestation is confirmed
“Events are moving quickly in Brazil's epic battle over a new national Forest Code. The struggle has has reached a critical stage full of both danger and opportunity. Please take action“, asks Lou Gold, as Brazil's national monitoring agency confirms 473 percent jump in deforestation.
Nepal: Social Media As A Civic Activism Tool
On Saturday May 7, 2011, hundreds gathered at a public square in Kathmandu demanding that the constitution be drafted by the May 28 deadline. This event was unique to Nepali activism and political scene because social networking site Facebook played vital role in organizing and encouraging the participants.
Costa Rica: Day Against Homophobia
Costa Rica celebrated the International Day Against Homophobia on May 17, and both online and offline people celebrated sexual diversity.
Russia: Pictures of Skolkovo Center Design Projects
Popular photoblogger Ilya Varlamov (zyalt) posted pictures of design proposals for Skolkovo research center, Russian equivalent of Silicon Valley. English Russia has English translation of zyalt's post.
Azerbaijan: Eurovision-induced sexual revolution?
Turkhan's blog [AZ] posts video and photos of a woman celebrating Azerbaijan's Eurovision victory in a less than expected way considering the otherwise traditional and patriarchal nature of local society. Stripping to her waist in the center of the capital, Baku, the blog wonders about the likelihood of a sexual...
World: FIFA Election – House of Knaves or Knights?
Football fans have been treated to some really interesting times in the last few months. The latest is the FIFA election, which comes at a time when one of the most powerful non-governmental bodies in the world has suddenly has started looking vulnerable.
Egypt: I Unfollowed Ghonim Because …
Egyptian cyber activist Wael Ghonim, who shot to international fame after being arrested at the beginning of the Egyptian revolution, is facing criticism from the very same Egyptians who earlier championed for his release. In a series of tweets today, Ghonim urged the protesters to put their country's economic prosperity ahead of their revolutionary agenda, sparking a flurry of reactions on Twitter.
Puerto Rico: A Cry for Justice, No More Violence Against Women
This year in Puerto Rico, 15 women (two more cases are under investigation) have been murdered by their partners or ex partners. In the context of a population of almost 4 million people, the Caribbean country has one of the highest rates in the world of women murdered by their partners, spouses, ex partners or ex spouses.
Cuba: The Capital's Chinatown
Iván's File Cabinet blogs about the evolution of Havana's Chinatown.
U.S.V.I., St. Vincent & the Grenadines: The Caribbean Through a Camera
A Nation or Nobody admires the work of Nadia Huggins, whom he describes as “one of the artists who is bringing an authentic Caribbean voice to digital photography.”
Cuba: Feelings Toward “Foreigners”
Yenisel Rodriguez, blogging at Havana Times, tells of an incident of xenophobia that made him “recall stories of the discrimination that Haitians suffer in the Dominican Republic.”
Chile: Massive Protests Continue Against Hidroaysén Power Station
After the approval of the construction of the Hidroaysén hydrolectric power station in the Aysén region of the Patagonia of Chile on May 9, 2011, there have been many protests around the country. Netizens have been using social media networks to share and spread information on the demonstrations.
Barbados: Sir Hilary's Gaffe
Sir Hilary Beckles recently compared cricketer Chris Gayle to Jamaican drug don Christopher “Dudus” Coke, provoking action from WICB Expose and causing Barbados Underground to comment: “Sir Hilary has engineered a gaffe of colossal proportion…the decent thing to do is to press home his apology with a resignation letter from...
Bermuda: Gay Rights = Human Rights
Wishful Thinking says that “discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation” is a human rights issue and asks compatriots to “send a message that we've waited long enough and leave no doubt in the minds of our parliamentarians that we expect action now.”
India: Kerala Election Results With A Subtle Warning
As the new seven member state cabinet of Kerala is to be sworn in on Wednesday the 18th of May 2011 there are no obvious signs of celebrations across the ranks. People are fed up of the usual gimmicks of money and muscle power; they are rejecting corruption and speaking up finally for their rights.
South Korea: Cartoons Commemorating the Gwangju Massacre on May 18
May 18 is the day a mass democratization movement took place in Gwangju city, South Korea. The military regime ruthlessly clamped down the movement and over a hundred innocent civilians were killed. The nation's famous cartoonist, Kang Pull drew cartoons commemorating this tragic history in order to enlighten youth with...
