22 February 2012

Stories from 22 February 2012

Russia: Navalny vs Kadyrov

RuNet Echo  22 February 2012

At Jamestown Foundation Blog, Valery Dzutsev reports that Ramzan Kadyrov, the President of Chechnya, has called politician and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny “a real chatterbox” – and Navalny retaliated by publishing (here and, later, here; ru) “the results of his investigation of the Chechen police’s car inventory acquisitions, naming and...

Brazil: Quilombo Community in Bahia About to Be Evicted

  22 February 2012

One of the oldest slave descendent communities in Brazil, Quilombo Rio dos Macacos, has a date for its eviction: March 4, 2012. The claim for the land comes from the Navy of Brazil, that intends to broaden a condo for its officers in that territory, in the state of Bahia.

One Day on Earth: Global Screening of Worldwide Collaborative Film

  22 February 2012

The collaborative film One Day on Earth was filmed all on the same day, October 10, 2010, with more than 3,000 hours of footage sent in from all corners of the world. The Global Screening will take place on Earth Day (April 22, 2012) in every country of the world, with the assistance of World Heritage Sites and the United Nations.

Saudi Arabia: Facebook Page Calls for Protest

  22 February 2012

A Facebook page [ar] has been created calling on Saudis to protest tomorrow (Thursday) and on Friday against financial and administrative corruption, the jailing of activists and the lack of justice, among other grievances. The page details are being circulated via Twitter by bloggers. Previous calls for protests in Saudi...

Tunisia: Court Quashes Verdict Ordering the Filtering of Pornography

  22 February 2012

Today, the Cassation Court of Tunis (highest court of appeal) threw out a verdict to censor pornography on the Internet. On May, 26, 2011, a court of first instance issued a ruling ordering the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI), to filter X rated websites. At the time, the decision was criticised by by bloggers, and free speech advocates, who believed that such step could limit freedom of speech, and thus pave the way for the return of censorship. Today's decision received a more favourable response online.

Syria: Call to Free Human Rights Detainees

  22 February 2012

Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi appeals to supporters to exert pressure on the Syrian government to release her colleagues at the Office of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression in Damascus. Ghazzawi herself was among those detained when the centre was raided on February 16. She has since...

Sahel: Islamic Fundamentalist Organisations Tighten Their Grip

  22 February 2012

For a few months now, two religious Islamic fundamentalist organisations, Boko Haram and AQIM (Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb), have intensified their war against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the surrounding nations. The regional blogosphere has quickly reacted, showing concern and providing thorough analyses.

Colombia: Impunity, a Documentary About the Victims of the Armed Conflict

  22 February 2012

In 2011, journalist Hollman Morris and filmmaker Juan José Lozano released the documentary Impunity, an audiovisual tour through the history of armed conflict in Colombia through the voices of victims of armed groups. Due to its theme, Impunity has generated all kinds of opinions, and reactions on the Internet are proof of that.

Brazil: Global Act “We Are All Pinheirinho”

  22 February 2012

A global act in solidarity with the population expelled from their homes at the Pinheirinho community has been called on Facebook for Thursday, February 23. The idea is to demonstrate in front of Brazilian consulates and embassies all over the world.  

Brazil: “Massacre of Pinheirinho”, One Month Later

  22 February 2012

Blogger Giambatista Brito recalls [pt] the one month anniversary of the “Massacre of Pinheirinho“. On the morning of Sunday, January 22, 2012, thousands of families where expelled from their homes with violence by the military police, in the city of são José dos Campos, state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Guatemala: Speaking Out on the Genocide of Indigenous Women

  22 February 2012

The 36 year civil war (1960-1996) that ravaged Guatemala left more than 200,000 people dead and at least 100,000 women raped: most of the victims were Mayan. Finally, the sexual violence perpetrated against Mayan women is being investigated as part of the genocide proceedings taking place in Spanish tribunals.

Trinidad & Tobago: Carnival Damage

  22 February 2012

Plain Talk suggests that Trinidad and Tobago Carnival “is no longer an expression of culture but an exercise in excess set to music…no longer something to be proud of but two days of decadence that undermines our society a little more each time.”

St. Vincent & the Grenadines: White Collar Criminals

  22 February 2012

“Recently, stories of theft at government agencies have been making the news”: Abeni says that “[people get sent] off to jail…for the petty crimes while the big league thieves strut about the place as happy as could be. Something has got to be wrong with that picture!”