12 January 2012

Stories from 12 January 2012

Global Voices Aymara: Experiences in Translation in 2011

  12 January 2012

Some members of the Global Voices in Aymara translation team write about their experiences in 2011, which for them reached a milestone for growth in terms of the number of translators and articles translated. It was also the year where it became an official Lingua site and first indigenous site on Global Voices.

Haiti: Two Years, Today

  12 January 2012

Today is the second anniversary of the Haiti earthquake. Regional bloggers post remembrances, here, here and here.

Trinidad & Tobago: Drum Culture

  12 January 2012

In a guest post at Trinidad and Tobago News Blog, rapso artiste Brother Resistance remembers one of the country's “musical pioneers”, percussionist Ja Jah Oga Onilu, who recently passed away.

Guyana: All Kinds of Cowards

  12 January 2012

“I’s afflicted with the kinda cringing-minging-tiptoeing timidity that people don’t take seriously”: Guyana-Gyal “decide[s] to embrace [her] Inner Coward.”

Madagascar, Ethiopia: Arable Lands on Sale

  12 January 2012

The association “Collectif  TANY” for the Protection of Land in Madagascar has published an exhaustive list of the instances of Land Grab by foreign entities in Madagascar [fr]. They warn the public opinion that sales or leasing of arable lands at discount prices are still taking place in Madagascar (2...

Venezuela: The Impact of Social Networks

  12 January 2012

In an essay for Centro Gumilla [es], researcher Raisa Urribarri analyzes the impact of social networks, online citizen participation and other changes in the field of alternative communication in Venezuela.

Greece: Criticism of Politicians During Theophany Celebrations

  12 January 2012

In Greece, January 6 is the national holiday of Theophany. Every year, government and civic officials attend the celebrations and make official statements. However, due to the economic, political and social crisis in Greece, this year's celebrations were marked by strong expressions of disapproval and criticism of politicians.

Yemen: January 12, a Day Without Qat

  12 January 2012

Today has been declared a 'No Qat Day' by Yemeni netizens, who hope their call will deter their countrymen and women from chewing Qat, an addictive narcotic leaf, chewed by the majority of Yemeni men and women. Noon Arabia sums up online reactions to the day in this post.

Moldova: New Presidential Candidate Enters the Scene

  12 January 2012

Zimbru of Morning in Moldova draws attention to the candidacy of centre-left politician Oazu Nantoi for the post of President of Moldova – a post which is indirectly elected by parliament and has proven impossible to fill since the 2010 parliamentary elections, leaving the country with merely acting presidents.

Philippines: Unvisited Corners

  12 January 2012

Two weeks after coming back from a journey to her motherland Philippines after travelling thirty cities, nine countries, and three continents, Justine Abigail posts about her travel adventures in 2011: “I don't think I've left any part of myself there, but rather I've found pieces of myself”.

Panama: Tropical Hummingbirds feeding

  12 January 2012

Jane Ellis publishes a video of hummingbirds at the feeder, shot at Pipeline Road in Gamboa town, Panama. She says: “For me, seeing birds like this on my doorstep is one of the major highlights of living in this tropical paradise.”

China: Transformation Snare

  12 January 2012

China Media Project has translated a news article on an academic report, authored by sociology professor Sun Liping, the former doctoral adviser to now vice-president and successor apparent Xi Jinping (习近平), which argued that China was in the midst of a “transformation snare” in which the energy and impetus to...