Stories from 13 June 2011
Egypt: Exploring Twitter’s Potential on the Ground
Micro-blogging site Twitter has become an important discussion forum for young Egyptians since the start of the revolution, writes Lilian Wagdy. Activists recently hosted a Twitter forum (Nadwa) which brought users to discuss the issue of Islamists face to face. Lilian Wagdy sums up reactions to the event.
Egypt: The Story of the Israeli Spy in Cairo
Ilan Chaim Grapel, an American immigrant to Israel, was arrested in Egypt last Sunday. Grapel has now been detained for 15 days as he is being questioned by the State Security Prosecution over alleged espionage activities in Egypt. Many Egyptians have reacted to the story on Twitter and in their blogs.
Turkey: Election Results, Reactions and Hopes
The results of the Turkish general elections are in, drawing wide ranging reactions from Turkish bloggers. The campaign period for the elections had seen a change in rhetoric in many of the key parties and leaders of Turkish politics and results show a land-slide victory of 50 per cent of the votes for the Justice and Development Party (“AK Party” or “AKP”) in its third term.
Russia: Bloggers Discuss the Fall of Russian Newspapers
A spate of firings at the nearly century old Russian daily Izvestia as well as the online news site Gzt.ru has journalist appealing to the public for their jobs, as the blogosphere questions the merits of the “old guard” journalists.
Jamaica: “Dudus” Commission Report goes to Parliament
As the Manatt/Coke Commission of Enquiry Report goes to the Jamaican Parliament today, Girl With a Purpose is curious to see “if the report puts him [the Prime Minister] and other members of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, in political jeopardy.”
Cuba: Confronting Fate
“Death always makes you reflect. In front of the mirror you tell yourself, “You too are at the mercy of the same power that took the lives of those dissidents. What are you waiting for? What will be your fate?”: Laritza Diversent realises that her fate is “the same as...
Belarus: Crowdsourced DDoS Attack Attempts to Put Down President's Website
The website of Belorusian president Alexander Lukashenko is under attack by a crowdsourced DDoS attack hosted by PutinVzrivayetDoma.org, lenta.ru reported [ru]. @putinvzrivaet explained the purpose[ru]: “Because he [Lukashenko] had blew such a country.” Previously, Ukraine-based @putinvzrivaet scheduled attacks on many other commercial and political websites. So far, however, presidential website is accessible.
U.S.V.I.: Thinking About Transfer Day
“On March 31st of 2017, the territory will have been an American possession for exactly one century”: A Nation or Nobody suggests that as the U.S. Virgin Islands approaches this milestone, it must “not lose sight of the fact that we are not at the end of history and our...
Trinidad & Tobago: The Imagine Cup
TECHTT is “happy to see that Trinidad will have a representative team at Imagine Cup 2011…a student technology competition organised by Microsoft.”
Cuba: Farinas Ends Hunger Strike
Uncommon Sense confirms that Guilllermo Farinas has ended his hunger strike, which he began “to demand an independent investigation of the police beating death last month of dissident Juan Wilfredo Soto Garcia.”
Syria: Lesbian Blogger Amina is a Married American Man
Blogger The Gay Girl in Damascus turned out to be a straight married American man, who seems to have no issue in taking the world on a wild goose chase after claiming that Amina Arraf was kidnapped by Syrian authorities in Damascus a week ago. Netizens react to the confession.
Colombia: Getting Ready for Campus Party 2011
Bogotá is getting ready to host the fourth edition of Campus Party Colombia, which will take place from June 27 to July 3, 2011. You can read more about it in the event's official blog [es].
Ghana: Whose Land Is It?
Ghanaian blogger Kodjo looks at the problem of land ownership in Ghana: “The other day I spoke with one of the richest men in Ghana (founder of a large financial institution) and he told me he stopped buying land in Ghana because he has lost all faith in the land...
Singapore: ‘Save the World’s Saddest Dolphins’ Campaign
Twenty-five dolphins caught in the wild are being held in captivity in a Singapore gaming and spa resort. Animal lovers and netizens have launched a campaign demanding the release of these dolphins.
Kenya: The Death of Cinema
Njeri discusses the death of cinema in Kenya: “Rising Cost of Living: I would attribute this as one of the main causes of the Cinema's demise. With the price of bread at Ksh. 40, Maize meal at almost Ksh.100, most consumables have become a luxury. Thus we cannot even start...
Malawi/Jamaica: Malawian Blogger Visits Jamaica
Malawian blogger Victor Kaonga blogs about his recent trip to Jamaica: “When it comes to African countries, three seem to have a special place in the heats of Jamaicans. These are South Africa because of Nelson Mandela after is named the popular Nelson Mandela Highway, Zimbabwe because Robert Mugabe who...
Macedonia: Spreading the Word About Protest and Civic Journalism
IT.com.mk has published an interview [mk] about civic journalism with Vnukot, the blogger who is providing a consistent coverage of the protests against police brutality in Skopje. Also, Al Jazeera has scheduled [mk] an interview with him during the evening of June 13 (around 9 p.m. CET).
Puerto Rico: Uproar Over Blogger's Story
An anonymous blogger's post narrating how she was insulted by a public official spread through the Puerto Rican blogosphere and social media, and made waves in the mainstream media. The incident has been confirmed. Here is "Yuyu's" story and reactions from netizens.
Argentina: Quilmes Indigenous Community Faces Another Eviction Attempt
Intercontinental Cry reports that “Despite Argentina’s blanket ban on evictions of Indigenous communities, the Quilmes community of Colalao del Valle is facing its third eviction attempt in three years,” and posts Amnesty International's appeal to support the indigenous community.
Peru: Protesters in Puno Demand Cancellation of Inambari Hydroelectric Project
Isabel Guerra, Global Voices author and translator, writes [es] that protesters in Puno are demanding the cancellation of the Inambari hydroelectric project. She adds that on Saturday, June 11, 1,000 peasants from Puno blocked the road linking Peru to Bolivia.
Colombia: Cali’s Salsa Circus
Vicki Kellaway writes about Cali's salsa circus in her blog Banana Skin Flip Flops: “there are the clowns, the devils and the daring trapeze artists. Then there are the tiny sequin dresses, the winning smiles and the principal dancers whose feet move so quickly they almost cease to exist. Throw...
