22 August 2011

Stories from 22 August 2011

Trinidad and Tobago: Debating a State of Emergency

  22 August 2011

On Sunday 21 August, the government of Trinidad and Tobago declared a national state of emergency to deal with the violent crime that has afflicted the Caribbean nation in recent years. This legal move — which affects citizens' civil rights — triggered debate and concern among Trinidadians online.

Armenia: Artificial smiles and a beauty pageant

  22 August 2011

Unzipped comments on the closing ceremony of this year's Pan-Armenian Games, an irregular sporting competition intended to bring together young Armenians from all over the world. The blog criticizes what it says was “the most boring, pathetic and tasteless ceremonies I have ever seen in Yerevan.

Nepal: The Taslima Nasreen Controversy

  22 August 2011

Bangladeshi writer in exile Taslima Nasreen was drawn into a controversy and had to cancel her trip from India to Nepal after she tweeted to her Nepali friends that she didn't consider Nepal a foreign country. Read more about the debacle at Ushaft's blog.

Chile: New Partnership Between Global Voices and Mi Voz

  22 August 2011

Global Voices and Mi Voz - a Chilean network of online citizen newspapers - recently launched a content partnership. With this partnership Global Voices will enhance its coverage of Chilean news from a hyperlocal citizen perspective focused on news outside the capital, Santiago.

Trinidad & Tobago: Dr. Pat Bishop Passes On

  22 August 2011

Netizens of Trinidad and Tobago are coming to terms with the loss of one of its patriots: artist and musicologist Dr. Pat Bishop, who collapsed during “a meeting with a cabinet appointed committee of high level experts on culture and the arts” this past Saturday. Online tributes soon started to pour in.

Bolivia: An Indigenous March Against an Indigenous Government

  22 August 2011

Sueños para Atar [es] says Bolivians are wondering “Why are indigenous people marching against an indigenous government?” and “Why does an indigenous government refuse to listen to indigenous people?” as indigenous groups march towards La Paz protesting a road threatening the Indigenous Territory National Park Isiboro Sécure (TIPNIS).

Peru: Spanish Media and Prostitution in Iquitos

  22 August 2011

Global Voices author and Spanish Translation Manager Juan Arellano comments [es] on recent reports about the Amazon from Spanish media. He shares Peruvian's reactions to an article from Spanish newspaper La Razón [es] which describes Iquitos as a “brothel city”.

U.S.V.I.: The Power of Film

  22 August 2011

“Is there any artistic medium that raises more ugly questions of representation and power than film?” In the context of this, A Nation or Nobody blogs about film and neo-colonialism.

Pakistan: Islamic Televangelist Caught Out by Behind-the-Scenes Video

  22 August 2011

Dr. Amir Liaquat Hussain, a Pakistani Islamic televangelist and host of numerous religious shows, has been criticized after a behind-the-scenes video was released. The video depicted Dr. Amir, a notable religious scholar who otherwise poses as a humble, moral man, uttering abuse and profanities as well as religious blasphemy.

Peru: Customers Show Support for Ripley Department Store Employees

  22 August 2011

Peruvian social networks are buzzing with talk about the temporary closing of a Ripley department stores. Although the closing of the store is officially in accordance with the lack of a security certificate issued by the Civil Defense, it has come about in the middle of a long conflict with its employees.