Stories from 14 June 2011
Pakistan: The Beasts Kill Again
“The beasts in Pakistan have made it a habit to kill. Kill in the name of sect. Kill in the name of religion. Kill in the name of tribe. Kill in the name of Islam – They are not aware that in Islam killing one person is like killing the...
Pakistan: Religious Racism Spotted
Farhan Janjua captures the photo of a banner situated in Garden Town, Lahore, Pakistan which reads: “Christian’s Graveyard in Muslim Population is Not Acceptable! Not Acceptable!.”
Bhutan: The Wind In Wangdue Phodrang Dzong
“Legend has it that the Wind in Wangdue comes from a hole in the elephant hill,” – so describes Passu about the “man-blowing” wind at the southern end of the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong in Bhutan.
India: Attack On Journalists
Sans Serif reports that in India there have been 17 instances of attacks on journalist in the last six months and at least three journos died.
Lebanon: New All-Male Government Formed Amidst Continued Wrangling
After almost five months of protracted negotiations and political bickering, Lebanon's Hezballah-led March 8 alliance finally announced a new exclusively male, 30-minister government to be headed by Sunni billionaire Najib Mikati.
Peru: Reactions Following Ollanta Humala's Electoral Victory
More than a week following the close victory of nationalist candidate Ollanta Humala in the Peruvian presidential elections, reactions of all sorts continue to arise in the press, blogosphere, and Peruvian social networks.
Puerto Rico: Barack Obama Visits the Island
Netizens can follow the discussion on US President Barack Obama's flash visit today to Puerto Rico under the hashtags #obamapr and #obamaenpr.
Guinea Bissau: A Step Forward Towards Women's Rights
On June 6, the Parliament of Guinea Bissau passed a bill that forbids female genital mutilation [pt], known as “fanado”. For journalist and blogger Helena Gouveia [pt] “although the law alone is insufficient, this is an important step to combat a barbaric ritual that violates the basic rights of women.”
Sao Tome and Principe: Hip Hop to Provoke Thought
Abri os olhos São Tomé (Open your eyes Sao Tome) [pt] is an intervention mixed song with “controversial lyrics” by santomean rapper PekaGBoom. On the blog Nação hip Hop (Hip Hop Nation) [pt], PekaGBoom's message is described as an invitation “to meditate”.
Argentina: 25 Years Since the Death of Jorge Luis Borges
June 14, 2011 marks 25 years since the death of Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges. Blogger Juan Carlos Lynch pays homage [es] to the author recommending “The Gospel According to Mark“, a short story that helped Juan Carlos get rid of that common ‘fear’ associated with reading Borges.
Chile: Mapuche Demand Compensation for Flooding Caused by Hydroelectric Dam
Indigenous News reports that “More than sixty Mapuche families from Panguipulli are banding together to demand compensation for flooding that occurs on their lands each year caused by a nearby hydroelectric dam.”
Honduras: Policies to Improve Agriculture
“What is the appropriate mix of policies regarding agriculture in Honduras?” asks blogger Jose Falck Zepeda, who then argues that Honduras “need[s] to look for innovative approaches to improve smallholder productivity, to improve medium and large scale agriculture, promote exports and to develop the non-farm rural economy.”
Cuba: Worry About Hunger Striker
“The regime cracked down on him once against after he assumed the posture of NOT ceasing his anti-government activities”: Pedazos de La Isla blogs about the hunger striker Jorge Cervantes Garcia.
Cuba: Actress Recognized
Havana Times reports that “Cuba’s coveted National Cinema Award for 2011 was received by actress Eslinda Nuñez.”
Trinidad & Tobago: Planning for an iPhone 4?
“There is no mention of local access to iTunes or the app store and no mention of trinidad or bmobile on the apple website”: TECHTT has the details on the iPhone 4 plan options, while Triniberry adds: “The Bmobile 4g My Hotspot plans for iPhone has been structured in a...
China: Lawyer Li Zhuang Released From Prison
One of the defense lawyers in the case against Li Zhuang, the lawyer who has just been released after serving a prison sentence of 1.5 years for defending a mob boss in a politically-motivated crackdown on corruption, Chen Youxi, updates us on Li's situation, and more.
Singapore: Anger Over Mistreatment of Elderly Patient
It’s called Nightingale Nursing Home but it seems some of the nurses there are far removed from the real Florence Nightingale. Singaporeans are shocked and upset after a spy video exposing the mistreatment of a 75-year-old lady in that nursing home was uploaded in the web. Bloggers also discuss the quality of healthcare in the country
Africa: Should Africa be ruled by monkeys?
4thLetter reacts to a map suggesting that Africa is “ape controled”: “Seriously DC Comics: get a black friend. Male or female, it doesn’t matter, just get one. We’re easy to find. Get one and then ask him if it’s cool to have Africa ruled by a monkey. Just run it...
Africa: New Media Tools For Africa's Development
Watch a video showing why New Media tools are so popular and how they can be used to contribute to African development.
Macedonia: Reasons for Protesting
Bloggers from Macedonia consider the historical significance of the current protests against police brutality, in the context of democracy development.
Russia: New Initiative to Enforce TV Morality
An initiative to create a Public Oversight Board for media control in Russia may seem like a passage from Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four but it is a reality in the country, which still struggles to accept the concept of democracy and free speech.
