4 August 2011

Stories from 4 August 2011

Mozambique: Behind the Detention of MC Azagaia

  4 August 2011

MC Azagaia, a controversial activist musician from Mozambique, had been arrested for possession of cannabis on the same day that he was going to present his latest hip hop work. Netizens have been wondering about real motivations for his arrest while discussing the limits of freedom of expression. Azagaia has been released and the presentation took place on August 4.

Lebanon: Abolition of Reduced Sentences for Honor Crimes

Lebanese Tweeps and bloggers are congratulating themselves for the abolition of reduced sentence on crimes of honor on August 4th, 2011. Roy Tohme, tweets: ” Finally, we're catching up with humanity” while Tarekhs can't help but wonder why did a certain parliamentary bloc oppose the ban and says: ”Good Thing...

Poland: Story of a Bazaar

  4 August 2011

Michael Dembinski of W-wa Jeziorki tells the story of the Warsaw Bazar Różyckiego – once one of the few marketplaces in communist Poland where sought-after western goods could be purchased

Iran: Water Fight in Tehran Leads to Arrests

Everyone knows not to play with fire. In Tehran, it seems, even playing with water can cause problems. At least this a ‘lesson' that several Iranian youngesters learned when they were arrested last week by security forces for taking part in a game of water war in the streets

Latin America: Should News Broadcasters Provide More English Content?

  4 August 2011

Robert Valencia from My Humble Opinion blogs about a couple failed attempts by Latin American news organizations to provide content in English. He argues: “If Latin American broadcasters wish to keep up with other international networks that have incorporated high-quality English programming, now is the time to deliver real content...

Ukraine: Pulling off Medals

  4 August 2011

Leoš Tomíček of Austere Insomniac writes about two Ukrainian historical nationalists, Stepan Bandera and Roman Shukhevych, who have been deprived of their posthumous distinctions as heroes of Ukraine by President Yanukovych.

China: When the Concept of Tibet Enters the Stock Market

  4 August 2011

Tibet 5100, high-end mineral water brand, makes its profit by hooking with the China Railway Bureau and is now listed in Hong Kong's stock market. Michelle from interlocals.net translates the story originally written in Chinese at inmediahk.net.

Chile: Starbucks Baristas Hunger Strike for Higher Wages

  4 August 2011

Chilean Starbucks workers have revealed that their country's baristas are paid less per hour than the cost of a cup of coffee. Three employees are now on hunger strike demanding better working conditions, but Starbucks has yet to even respond to their requests.

Russia: Police violence towards journalists and bloggers

RuNet Echo  4 August 2011

Russian journalist and photoblogger Ilya Varlamov was threatened and attacked by Russian policemen when he covered oppositional demonstration in Moscow. He posted his story and photos [ru] of the attacker on his blog. Another story of police violence against a photoblogger during the same demonstration was told [ru] by Dmitriy...