Stories from 4 January 2012
Mexico Wake Up! Artists United for Peace Go Viral
The violence and impunity Mexico has been facing these past years have prompted artists, creators and media to join forces and launch a campaign to change statistics into names and stories. Through a collaborative project they are asking viewers to research other casualties and give voices to the victims of violence.
Cameroon: Violent Clashes Between Motorbike Taxi Drivers and Douala Citizens
On December 31, 2011 in the popular district of Deido in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon, riots broke out between the inhabitants of the district and motorbike taxi drivers, also know as "benskiners". Here are testimonies and videos from local bloggers.
Mozambique: Stand-up comedy show gains online following
Mozambique's first stand-up comedy show Improriso shares jokes on one of the most popular tweets in the country (@ImprorisoMoz) and posts videos on its Youtube channel. Newspaper O País published a photo album of an improv performance in 2011.
Chile: Controversy Over Change from ‘Dictatorship’ to ‘Military Government’ in School Textbooks
Greg Weeks explains the controversy over a decision to use ‘military government’ instead of ‘dictatorship’ in school textbooks: “Even if children don't bother reading them, their teachers will be using them to frame their own discussions in the classroom. They are a critical part of the construction of national identity,...
Bolivia: Women Weaving Hope in El Alto
In Americas Quarterly [es], blogger Cecilia Lanza praises the artisan women of El Alto who have created their own workshops and small businesses.
Chile: Would Cheaper Books Promote More Reading?
Enzo Abbagliati blogs [es] about a recurring discussion in Chile: removing or decreasing the IVA (value added tax) on books to promote more reading.
Bahamas: Remembering the Zybines
Blogworld pays tribut to Alex and Violette Zybine, “dancers who worked in The Bahamas during the 1960s and 1970s”, who died in a tragic accident.
Cuba: Protest & Confrontation
Pedazos de La Isla reports on a New Year's Day protest by Cuban dissidents and the response by the authorities.
Cuba: Adios, 2011
Generation Y explains why she's relieved to see the end of 2011.
Bermuda: Wishing for Change
“This year will be an eventful one. We will have our elections as will our American friends. The power of the people to make progressive change was demonstrated with fervor last year and this year shows no sign of abating”: Respice Finem hopes for change in 2012.
Jamaica: Portia's Driving the Bus
“It’s an obvious thing but one that only a leader who inspires and moves the people can achieve. If anyone is capable of doing this it’s Portia Simpson-Miller”: Active Voice republishes the account she wrote of the new Prime Minister's swearing-in.
Africa: Startups in Africa 2011 and Beyond
Erik believes that 2011 was a great year for startups in Africa: “The past few years have been about building an infrastructure that improves the chances of the technology startups in Africa to succeed. Seeing this buildout in action in 2011 was exciting, but it should be recognized for what...
Paraguay: Children use Computers as Instruments in Christmas Orchestra
The children of Caacupé in Paraguay were part of a unique Christmas concert: they played Silent Night using their special “one laptop per child” program laptops as musical instruments. They learned how to play music on their XO computers during their “Vacations with Technology” program.
Africa: A Mashable Anthology of African Modernity
Bunmi Oloruntoba and Emmanuel Iduma come up with 3bute: “3bute [pronounced: tribute] is an online anthology devoted to the question of African modernity. Along that theme, we look on the web for what writers–especially African bloggers–have written and we recycle/ adapt selected writing into 3 pages of narrative art.”
Nigeria: To The Streets, Oh Nigerians!
The June 12 Coalition of Democratic Formations in Nigeria reacts to the increase in the price of fuel: “We are hereby calling on all Nigerians to rise up together to challenge this illegal and inhuman policy of petrol price hike by the Goodluck administration by joining forces with the organized...
Zambia: Meet Chibwe Katebe – Zambian Comedian
Alumanda Shakankale blogs about Zambia's leading stand-up comedian: “Finalist in the MNET talent show “Stand up Zambia” Chibwe is no stranger in the international spotlight. He has performed at different forums locally and internationally.”
South Africa: Remembering Henry Nxumalo
M. Keita remembers Henry Nxumalo, the pioneer of undercover investigative journalism in South Africa: “Just over 55 years ago, on New Year's Eve 1957, trailblazing South African journalist Henry Nxumalo was murdered while investigating suspicious deaths at an abortion clinic in Sophiatown, a suburb west of Johannesburg.”
Kuwait: The Stateless Find A Voice Online
Writing on openDemocracy, Bidoun activist and Global Voices author Mona Kareem, profiled here, says that social media is providing the stateless with a voice online.
Singapore: Ministers to Take a Pay Cut
Singapore politicians are among the highest paid leaders in the world but they will receive salary cuts this year after a government committee has recommended hefty cuts to the pay of the city-state's leaders. Netizens react using the #ministerpaycut hashtag
Iran: Site displaying currency exchange rate got filtered
Mesghal, a site displaying currency exchange rate got filtered as rial, Iran's national currency, continues to fall. 2lar writes [fa] it seems Islamic Republic's economists find the best way to control dollar's rise, is filtering Mesghal.
Iran:Identity card control and cameras in internet cafe
Iranian police ordered [fa] internet cafes to install cameras and ask clients to provide identity card and phone number.
