Global Voices · Citizen media stories from October 2011

October, 2011

Monthly archive · 215 posts

Stories from October, 2011

30 October 2011

Thailand: Floods and Social Media

Many parts of Thailand are still flooded as the country continues to face the worst flooding disaster in the past half century. But some bloggers believe the flooding disaster has been exaggerated by the media - social media in particular.

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Brazil: Police Restrain Students at the University of São Paulo

Written by Adriano Rangel · Translated by Melissa Mann · Latin America

Military police launched a blitz operation at the University of São Paulo after approaching three students smoking marijuana on the night of October 27. Adriano Rangel reports.

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Egypt: Blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah Detained for 15 Days

Written by Amira Al Hussaini · Middle East & North Africa

Egyptian activist and blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah has been detained for 15 days, after refusing to be interrogated. He appeared at the Military Prosecutor, along with fellow activist Bahaa Saber, today as supporters gathered outside, denouncing military trials.

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Japan’s IT Exodus: A Personal Perspective (Part 1)

Written by Chris Salzberg · East Asia

37-year-old software architect Ryo Asai writes at his blog “Becoming a Master Programmer” about his reasons for leaving his previous job, a Japanese system integration company, to work at Amazon Japan. In explaining his reasons for the move, Asai provides a unique perspective on the underlying roots of Japan's failure to keep up in the new digital economy.

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Kyrgyzstan: There Is No Silence Day in Internet

Written by Elena Skochilo · Central Asia & Caucasus

Yesterday, October 29, was the so-called “Silence Day” in Kyrgyzstan, the last day before the presidential elections. At this day any political agitation is prohibited in the traditional media. But...

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29 October 2011

Trinidad & Tobago: Celebrating Anya's Project Runway Win

Written by Janine Mendes-Franco · Caribbean

The Trinidad and Tobago blogosphere has been extremely active over the past week as Season 9 of Lifetime's hit reality show, Project Runway, drew to a close. Home-grown design hopeful, Anya Ayoung-Chee eventually walked away with the coveted title of Season 9 designer.

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Brazil: Niobium, National Mineral Wealth at Knock Off Prices?

Written by Fernando Sapelli · Translated by Fernando Sapelli · Latin America

Niobium, also known as columbium, is among the most utilized metals in the world, and Brazil has the great majority of global deposits. However, exploitation of niobium within Brazil raises questions about the profits being generated.

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Yemen: VP Hadi Leaves to the US for Treatment!

Written by Noon Arabia · Middle East & North Africa

Today's main headline in Yemen was the sudden departure of Vice President Abdu Rabbu Mansoor Hadi to the US for medical treatment. Hadi's absence adds a new snag to the signing of the unpopular GCC deal, which Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh has been putting off for months. Noon Arabia has more.

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Myanmar Netizens to BBC: Apologize Now

Written by Chan Myae Khine · East Asia

Some Myanmar netizens are asking BBC to apologize for publishing an ‘inaccurate' map of Myanmar's ethnic groups. BBC has already updated the map but netizens still want a formal apology

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Israel: Netizens Prepare to Take to the Streets in a New Social Justice Protest

Written by Elizabeth Tsurkov · Middle East & North Africa

Rallies are planned across Israel tonight - in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Rishon LeTzion, Kiryat Shmona, Haifa, Modiin and Eilat. Elizabeth Tsurkov checks out netizen reactions before the protests.

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Updates from October, 2011

31 October 2011

Honduras

Two university students were killed on October 22; La Gringa's Blogcito reports that four police suspected of killing the students were taken into custody but later “escaped”. “Even in this high profile case, it appears that police still attempted cover up and still felt free to intimidate reporters. What should also be clear to everyone is why citizens are afraid to report crimes or abuse or corruption on the part of the police”, she writes.

• Silvia Viñas

Russia

Habrahabr-user uhaby writes [ru] about otdamgolos.ru, a web-portal that offers users to propose alternative parliamentary and presidential candidates as well as to vote for them. The author claims that within 10 days his website attended 137,500+ visitors. In the virtual parliamentary election three parties received most votes: 1. The Pirate Party, 2. Yabloko (social liberal), 3. CPRF (communists). Most popular presidential candidates are: blogger Alexey Navalny, imprisoned oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, “Against Everybody.”

• Alexey Sidorenko

Russia

Udmurtia.tv publishes a video [ru] of Denis Agashin, Izhevsk city manager, telling the representatives of veteran organizations that the next year's financial support will depend on the results of “United Russia” party in their district. As Alexander Kynev, a prominent political analyst, points out: “Progress it's not only forcing students to make pictures of their signed bulletins [to ensure ‘proper' voting], it is also a risk to be recorded.”

• Alexey Sidorenko

Russia

11-minute headcam video [ru] of a story that could end up with a human casualty. Russian paraglider pilot making his first flight in Himalayas was attacked by three eagles, one of which got trapped into the paraglider strings. Thanks to the second parachute the pilot could land and then - to release the eagle.

• Alexey Sidorenko

Russia

LJ-user dedmaxopka publishes [ru] pictures of himself placing a pirate flag over Novosibirsk city administration. “We just wanted to make nice pictures of the city,” explained the blogger to the police that identified him the same day. Blogger was charged with ‘petty hooliganism' and had to pay a small fine.

• Alexey Sidorenko

China

C Custer wrote an open letter to Relativity Media, a Hollywood Film Producer, criticizing its plan to cooperate with the Linyi government to shoot a movie there. Linyi government has illegally detained Blind activist Chen Guangchen from leaving his house and stopped others from visiting him since his release in September 2010.

• Oiwan Lam

China

Tom Lasseter interviewed Wang Xuezhen, a woman activist beaten by local thugs when she tried to visit Chen Guangcheng. She was slapped by a police officers when she reported on the violence she faced in the village.

• Oiwan Lam