Global Voices · Citizen media stories from 2011 July 08

8 July 2011

Daily archive · 4 posts

Stories from 8 July 2011

Egypt: Why July 8?

Written by Tarek Amr · Middle East & North Africa

Egyptians are back in full force in Tahrir Square, the epicenter of their revolution, once again today. But why are they still demonstrating now that their revolution is over, Mubarak is not in power any more, and many pillars of his regime are behind bars?

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The Disputed Reputation of Portugal's Former Political Police Chief

Written by Jose Preto · Translated by Ionela Bodrug · Western Europe

Major Silva Pais, the last director of Portugal's repressive PIDE police force - operative during the country's “New State” period - has been implicated in a play, in the 1965 assassination of democratic opposition politician General Humberto Delgado. A controversial criminal case is underway by Pais' nephews against the play's author and the directors who staged it.

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Zambia: Who Do We Believe Online?

Written by Gershom Ndhlovu · Sub-Saharan Africa

A highly incriminating email purportedly written by a senior member of an opposition party to his secretary general was leaked to and published by the online investigative news website Zambian Watchdog. However, netizens have taken it with a pinch of salt.

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China: Exploding Watermelon Is Safe?

Written by Oiwan Lam · East Asia

Local state media exposed that farmers in China's Jiangsu province are experiencing a problem with “exploding watermelons” due to the overuse of growth enhancing chemicals. The Ministry of Agriculture has recently asserted that the chemical growth enhancer for watermelon is safe, but Chinese netizens are doubtful.

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Updates from 8 July 2011

Russia

At OpenDemocracy.net, Yelena Fedotova writes about Dmirty Prigov - “‘great Russian poet', postmodern artist, incarcerated ‘madman'.”

• Veronica Khokhlova

Ukraine

Foreign Notes writes about Ukraine's pension reform, which was passed by the parliament yesterday, highlighting the “breathaking arrogance” and disrespect for law by the people who run the country: “248 deputies voted in support of today's [pension reform] motion even though it seems only 143 deputies were actually registered to vote in the parliament building. Multiple voting by deputies is a blantant contravention of the country's Constitution, but takes place with numbing regularity.”

• Veronica Khokhlova

Honduras

The Honduras Truth Commission has ruled that the removal of President Manuel Zelaya on June 28, 2009 was a coup, something Boz on Bloggings by boz says is no surprise: “There remain some points of contention on the history of the coup […] Even with disagreements, this report should help make the historic record clear that it was a coup and that the Micheletti regime was illegal and undemocratic.”

• Silvia Viñas

El Salvador

Voices From El Salvador blogs about a police raid in “PROCOMES, the Center for Training for Local Development and Economic Solidarity, […] a civil society organization that works with at-risk youth.” 35 individuals were arrested. The post concludes: “The Salvadoran government has taken steps in the past to fight police corruption, however, the reality of police abuse and disregard for human rights is still a reality in the country.”

• Silvia Viñas

Kenya

Bankelele looks at e-government trends in Kenya: “This week the, the National Council for Law Reporting - [NCLR, a state corporation charged with publishing the law and judicial opinions of the High court and Court of appeal) in partnership with Google Kenya launched digital versions of the Kenya Parliamentary debates - or Hansards dating back to 1960.”

• Ndesanjo Macha

Ghana

Abena is fascinated with the proliferation of grass-root pressure groups taking part in the hotly-contested race between the incumbent president of Ghana, Professor John Evans Atta Mills and an unlikely contender in the person of the former first lady of Ghana, Mrs. Nana Konadu Agygeman Rawlings.

• Ndesanjo Macha

South Africa

Skyllie introduces South African musician Prinston: “The producer rapper straight out of Durban South Africa known by his fans as Prinston, is really an artist to be reckoned with lately. Having spent some time in the USA in Florida and experienced some international and local exposure, Prinston has built up enough momentum to take his music career to new heights with a constant grind from producing most of his album, to writing, rapping and singing his own hooks.”

• Ndesanjo Macha

South Sudan

A new journey begins in South Sudan: “South Sudan has been born at time when Africa has made substantial steps in development unlike the 60s. With a population that is not even half that of my country Uganda, South Sudan will need its neighbours who are already a step ahead in all sectors and am optimistic they will be a good asset. Women in Sudan are more than 60 percent of the population, yet 80 percent of them are illiterate.”

• Ndesanjo Macha

Russia

A translation of the pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi spokeswoman's “rant exploring everything from the death of Osama Bin Laden to the curiously specific and virulent homophobia” - at Robert Amsterdam's blog: “Read below to see the kind of talent and hate speech Russia is spending its taxpayer money on.”

• Veronica Khokhlova