Stories from 17 January 2012
U.S. Bills Could Threaten the Global Internet
Ignoring the warnings of citizens and technologists, United States lawmakers are considering two bills, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA), that are a real and dangerous threat to the openness of the web everywhere in the world. In response, the Global Voices community has decided to join websites such as Wikipedia, Reddit and BoingBoing in “going dark”, and will black out the Global Voices Advocacy site for 12 hours on January 18, and display a banner on other Global Voices sites that provides more information about the proposed laws.
Nepal: Evolution Of Export Destination
Chandan Sapkota depicts how Nepal's export destinations evolved over the years.
South Korea’s Richest Conglomerate Criticized for Environmental Pollution
An activist organization, Public Eye Group nominated Samsung, South Korea's richest and most powerful conglomerate, for the People's Award 2012. The award is given to raise public awareness on corporation's decades of environmental pollution, trade union repression, corruption and tax flight.
Iran: Gender based books for schools
Iranian authorities announced that school books to be changed and written based on gender. Azar Todnar says gender discrimination becomes institutionalized in Iran.
Iran: Another Blogger in Jail
According to confirmed reports from Tehran, Parastoo Dokouhaki, Iranian blogger and journalist, is arrested by authorities. Parastoo is a women activist as well. She writes in her blog “Zan-Nevesht” and in its English version “The Remains of the Day“.
Brazil/Portugal: “Word of Mouth” Launches Online Channel
On January 16, Portuguese-Brazilian independent media collective Passa Palavra (Word of Mouth) [pt] launched the website PassaPalavra.tv – an online channel that brings together independently produced audio-visual materials. Through sharing video, audio and image, the website aims to collaboratively report on “social struggles and denounce oppression and abuse by public...
Belgium, D. R. of Congo: Miss Belgium 2012 on Gay Marriage
The website Congo LOL reports that “On twitter, the hastag #plusoumoins (#moreorless in english) has created quite a buzz (in DR of Congo). The reason ? The answer given by Miss Laura Beyne (Miss Belgium 2012) on a question on gay marriage. “I think they [homosexuals] are human beings (…) they can do “more or less” whatever they want. I am “more or...
Liberia: Lawmaker in the Web of Nudity
Netizens discuss the recent revelation of a scandalous episode of nudity widely known in Liberia as ‘Snoweleaks' or ‘Snowegate' which involves Edwin Melvin Snowe, Jr., a very popular lawmaker.
South Africa: The Blogosphere's Take on ANC's 100 Years
The African National Congress (ANC) has just celebrated its 100 years in existence in South Africa, moving from a radical resistance movement to the leading political party in the country. Bloggers' views are as diverse as the country itself.
Mexico: Netizens Mobilize for the Tarahumara Indigenous People
Netizens organized food drives for the Tarahumara indigenous people of Chihuahua after a video, reporting the alleged suicide of 50 natives to avoid starvation, spread online. Although there is insufficient evidence to prove the suicides, the alarming state of malnutrition and poverty among the Tarahumara indigenous is a reality.
Venezuela: Interview with Luis Carlos Díaz on Cyber Attacks
The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas [es] has published an interview with journalist and Global Voices contributor Luis Carlos Díaz, who has been repeatedly harassed and threatened by hackers.
Bolivia: New Judges Face Systemic Challenges
The 56 judges elected during the October 2011 judicial election in Bolivia were sworn in on January 3, 2012. Emily Achtenberg, from the NACLA blog Rebel Currents, writes about the election process and the obstacles the new judges will face.
Black Women in European Politics: from Struggle to Success
Nowadays, it is a common to witness African-born women with successful careers in Europe. Despite the evident challenges, many have also distiguished themselves in politics. Still, it was not so long ago that such success would have seemed impossible.
Responses to AP's News Bureau in North Korea
The Associated Press has opened a news bureau in North Korean capital, becoming the first western news agency to have its office inside the hermit kingdom. North Korea Tech blog consolidated some of the Twitter responses to the news.
Russia: Moscow Population Cuts
Kyle Keeton of Windows to Russia reports that the Moscow government is planning to reduce the number of people residing in over-crowded central Moscow, hoping for people moving to suburbs and surrounding cities.
Russia: Making A Run For It
Andy Young of Siberian Light reports that opposition politicians Mikhail Prokhorov and Grigory Yavlinsky have now collected the two million signatures needed for running for Russia's presidency in the upcoming 4 March elections, and portrays the complexities of collecting signatures in support of a candidacy.
Ukraine: Bandera on the Move
Leoš Tomíček of Austere Insomniac draws attention to and criticizes an increasing popularity of historic Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan Bandera.
Poland: Martial Law 30 Years On
Polandian writes about the 30th anniversary of the introduction of martial law in Poland 1981, and argues that repression became a positive trigger for the popular movement against communist rule.
Costa Rica: I'm Happy In That Water
This wordless short film follows Doña Norma, a 78 year old woman who goes to swim every day at a local swimming pool outside of the capital city of San José.
Malaysia: Ministry Blames Google Translate for Website Errors
Don’t wear “clothes that poke eye” and remember the “Mongoose fight” uniform for official functions. These are some of the funny English translation errors in the website of Malaysia’s Ministry of Defense. The errors have been removed already but not before netizens were able to discuss them thoroughly in various social networks
Myanmar: Welcome Party for Freed Blogger
Htoo Tay Zar posts pictures from the welcoming party for freed Myanmar blogger Ko Nay Phone Latt. The blogger was one of the 600 political detainees who were released from prison in Myanmar on Friday, January 13, 2011.
