1 August 2012

Stories from 1 August 2012

UK: Empty Seats at London 2012?

  1 August 2012

As the games enter their 5th day, Olympic fans are struggling to find tickets to the various venues in London. Many were shocked to see empty seats during the early days; forcing the London Organising Committee of the Olympics & Paralympics (LOCOG) to defend themselves.

Costa Rica: ‘We Are All Karina’ Campaign for Dismissed Vice-Minister

  1 August 2012

Men and women are getting their picture taken with hand-written signs saying, "We are all Karina" to show support for Vice-Minister Karina Bolaños, who was dismissed after a video surfaced where she appeared in underwear speaking to a lover. Karina was black-mailed for years regarding the video, and once she stopped paying, the video was distributed to media and social networks, leading to her dismissal by President Laura Chinchilla.

Armenia: Activism or Slacktivism?

  1 August 2012

Contributing a guest post to The Armenian Observer, local blogger Uzogh criticizes Facebook activism in Armenia, considering it more akin to slacktivism engaged in by a minority and not backed up by concrete actions in the offline world. A small discussion follows in the comments section.

Indonesia: Young Athlete Late for Olympic Debut

  1 August 2012

Indonesia's debut in the 2012 London Olympics became controversial after the youngest member of the contingent arrived late for the shooting competition. The 16 year-old athlete explained the ordeal on her twitter account. Netizens react with frustration and bewilderment.

Trinidad & Tobago: Central Bank Governors

  1 August 2012

Afra Raymond responds to Dr. Terrence Farrell's  critique of Jwala Rambarran's appointment as Governor of Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago [Farrell is a former Deputy Governor] and they engage in an email exchange.

Myanmar: Claims of Media Bias Towards Rohingya

  1 August 2012

Opinion is divided in Myanmar about the status of the Rohingya living in the western part of the country. Human rights groups have condemned the violence against the Rohingya and ethnic Rakhine. But some Myanmar netizens feel that international news networks have been distorting information about the situation in their country.

Caribbean: Marking Emancipation

  1 August 2012

Today, many Caribbean territories celebrate Emancipation Day, which commemorates the abolition of slavery. Each year, bloggers mark the occasion, but this year, online attention to the holiday is rather low-key, with only a handful of netizens mentioning it in their posts or tweets.

Bolivia: Anti-US Rhetoric Harming its Diplomatic Relations?

  1 August 2012

Bolivia took a radical turn in its foreign policy six years based on an anti-US agenda giving it more leverage in the region. But since then, changes in relations with key player Brazil and lingering strategic issues have raised the question of how well the country is actually surviving in the regional system.

Spain: How Many Advisors Are Really Necessary?

  1 August 2012

In the full throws of an economic crisis, while families tighten their budgets to face the cuts recently announced by President Mariano Rajoy, Spaniards are beginning to worry about the proliferation of advisors in the country's political sphere.

Mexico: Embroidering for Peace

  1 August 2012

Men and women of all ages have come together in cities like Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City, to embroider the names of the victims of Mexico's Drug War onto white handkerchiefs.

Trinidad & Tobago: Who's Policing Us Now?

  1 August 2012

The Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago recently announced the resignations of the Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs, and Deputy Commissioner Jack Ewatski, whose tenure was marked by several controversies. Bloggers react to the news.

Tanzania: Teachers’ Strike De-stabilizes the Nation

  1 August 2012

Teachers in Tannzania have been on a strike to urge the government to pay their unpaid dues and to improve their benefit and salaries. The strike followed, after the Teacher's union (Chama Cha Walimu-CWT),through their president Mr.Gratian Mukoba, gave the g0vernment a 48 hours notice on 28thJuly,2012

Haiti: “Dear Ayiti”

  1 August 2012

The Fanm Kanson Network posts the first video from its “Dear Ayiti” project, which asks a simple question: If Haiti were a person, what would you say to her? Two Haitian Americans, one Haitian and a Grendadian share their thoughts.

Mexico: Photo Essay Documents March Against Election Results

  1 August 2012

Upside Down World posts a photo essay by Clayton Conn titled “National March Against the Imposition of Nieto as President in Mexico.” The photo essay covers the march held on July 21, “to decry the outcome of the July 1 presidential elections, which gave Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) candidate Enrique...

Guatemala: Peoples’ Health Tribunal Declares Goldcorp Guilty

  1 August 2012

For years, the community of San Miguel Ixtahuacán in Guatemala has been denouncing the negative consequences of Goldcorp's Marlin gold mine. On July 14 and 15, 2012, members of the San Miguel Ixtahuacán community joined other international organizations in a 'Peoples' International Health Tribunal.' This second post in a two-part series coverst event and some of the cases presented there.

Jordan: Internet freedom – the beginning of the end?

Advocating for personal freedoms and a continued open Internet in Jordan, Ahmad Humeid, designer, brand architect and web entrepreneur, blogged at 360east: “Over the past decade, Jordan has been steadily building a reputation in the region as the Silicon Valley of Arabia. Scores of web and mobile start ups are...

Georgia: Philanthropic Blogging

  1 August 2012

Net Prophet interviews Givi Avaliani, a Georgian blogger [GE] focusing on online campaigning and charitable activities, and who says that human rights protection and highlighting the poverty around him are his main inspirations. The Transitions Online blog says that more than 120,000 people have visited Avaliani's blog in the past...