Geoffrey Cain thinks that the economic woes faced by Vietnam can be partly attributed to the “rotten politics and in-fighting within the Communist Party.” The author also looks into the dynamics of decentralization and ‘recentralization’ of state power in the country
17 July 2012
Stories from 17 July 2012
Nigeria: Fury as Lagos State Government Demolishes #Makoko Slum
What is the reason behind the ruckus that has vibrated over the Nigerian social media platforms following the demolition of Makoko slum in Lagos? After all the hallmark of ‘development’ lies in substituting such 'ugly' urban spaces with more dignified habitable conditions. Our Nigerian author, Nwachukwu Egbunike, explains.
Maldives: Activist's Arrest During Protest Caught on Video
Two videos showing the July 13 arrest of activist Shauna Aminath in the Maldives during a peaceful protest calling for early elections have generated reactions all the way to Chile. While Shauna was released the following day after a court hearing, the Maldives Democracy Movement believes it is part of targeted arrests and intimidation of female protesters.
Spain: Controversy After Supreme Court Nullifies Catalan Immersion
The debate over language in Catalonia has heavily occupied the blogosphere, ever since Spain's Supreme Court nullified linguistic immersion for children between three and six-years-old. Linguistic immersion used to guarantee proficiency in Catalan for native speakers of other languages.
Israelis React to Self-Immolation at Social Justice Protest
Oמ Saturday evening (July 14), 56-year-old Moshe Silman attended the Aviv social justice protest, which marked a year since the beginning of the #J14 protest movement. Since the self-immolation, the discussions about it dominated the Israeli cyberspace. The initial reaction was shock, especially of the hundreds of people who witnessed the self-immolation. Many expressed the feeling that Silman's story could have happened to most Israelis due to the near total absence of a government safety net.
Mauritania: Remembering the Country's First Military Coup
July 10, 2012 marked the 34th anniversary of the first military coup in Mauritania, when the military overthrew President Moktar Ould Daddah. Mauritanian activists remembered the anniversary of the 1978 coup by blogging and tweeting about it, and criticising military rule in Mauritania.
Egypt: Conflicting News on Casualties in Cairo Train Crash
Information remains sketchy about the number of casualties from a train crash in a Cairo suburb earlier today. Reports on mainstream media ranged from deaths and injuries - to no deaths and just injuries, in the accident where a passenger train derailed and caught fire.
South Asia: First Pakistan-India Social Media Summit Wraps
The first ever Pakistan-India social media summit took place in Karachi during 13-14 June, 2012. This social media summit managed to include not just people from India but also a sizable contingent from Lahore, as well as Karachi. Faisal Kapadia reports.
Argentina: Starbuck's Public Apology Trending
Starbucks Argentina caught the attention of social networks after publishing an apology for using locally manufactured white cups instead of iconic cups with the Starbucks logo. Some attributed the lack of cups to the current restrictions on imports in Argentina and some took a satirical approach to the situation.
Jamaica: Half a Century of Independence
Come August 6th 2012, Jamaica will celebrate 50 years of independence from Great Britain. In this post, two bloggers - one from the diaspora and the other living on island - talk about how Jamaicans are preparing for the celebrations, how social media has had an impact and what the country has accomplished in the last half a century.
Panama: Minister of the Presidency Resigns
Demetrio Papadimitriu, Minister of the Presidency and right hand man of the president Ricardo Martinelli, resigned his office. The news was not assimilated easily and for many it was impossible. The government stirred up the controversy on Sunday 15 July during the celebration of El Día del Niño (Children's Day) when the president refused to make a statement.
China must step in to protect indigenous Mongoloid Asiatic native people & their lands, and...