17 July 2012

Stories from 17 July 2012

Vietnam: Bad Politics and the Economy

  17 July 2012

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

Brunei: ‘Heart of Borneo’ Project

  17 July 2012

The ‘Heart of Borneo’ Project “aims to protect the ecological and cultural richness of the rainforests of Borneo.” The island, shared by Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, is the third largest in the world

Nigeria: Fury as Lagos State Government Demolishes #Makoko Slum

  17 July 2012

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

  17 July 2012

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

  17 July 2012

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.

Japan: Photos of Mass Anti-Nuclear Protest

  17 July 2012

Tens of thousands Japanese citizens held a protest on July 16, 2012 urging their government to abandon nuclear power. People reportedly expressed rage over Japan's culture of obedience and the government's shirking responsibility towards worsening natural disasters. Totgazet, which is published by JVJA, a group of freelance photojournalists posted amazing photos...

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.

Argentina: Starbuck's Public Apology Trending

  17 July 2012

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

  17 July 2012

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

  17 July 2012

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.

Brazil: Middle East Economic Policy Under the Radar

The current search for new trading partners in unexpected geographic areas demonstrates the extent to which Brazil has changed its foreign policy the last few years. With an agenda that has focused primarily on global business performance, the Middle East has emerged as a key area for Brazilians.