Stories from 14 August 2012
Saudi Arabia: Reaching the Line of Gender Equality
While saluting the decision of Saudi Arabia to send two female athletes to the London Olympics, the Saudi Women Driving deplores the fact that Saudi women cannot drive. “The whole world has been watching Saudi women and their triumphant appearance at the Olympics, and most news stories about them mention that...
Global Voices Podcast: More From #GV2012
In this edition of the Global Voices Podcast you'll hear more from our Summit which took place in Nairobi, Kenya, back in July, including some of our contributors and selected academics from around the world were also invited to share their knowledge and learn from the community.
Oil Exploration Prompts Lake Malawi/Nyasa Ownership Dispute
News that Malawi is exploring oil on Lake Nyasa (also known as Lake Malawi) has attracted hot debate. While the Malawian government claims exclusive ownership, Tanzania is pressing for recognition of some earlier ownership of half of the lake.
Wales Celebrates its National Eisteddfod Festival, With a Digital Twist
Last week an event took places in Wales, which for many eclipsed even the Olympics. The National Eisteddfod of Wales is one of the only festivals in which the Welsh language is the primary language of every aspect of activity.
Female Saudi Athletes – Out of the Olympics, Into the Twitter Storm
After stepping out of the Olympics, the first and only Saudi female athletes in the history of the Saudi sports, Sarah Attar and Wojdan Shahrkhani have received a storm of reactions on the Saudi twittersphere. Haifa Al Rasheed samples reactions which range from inspiration and hope to shame and disgrace.
Mauritania: Demanding an End to Military Rule
Mauritanians took to the streets in a massive march calling for the end of their country's military rule. The march, on June 23, 2012, was organised by the Coordination of Democratic Opposition (COD). It started near the Youth Centre in the capital Nouakchott, passing by the Security Directorate and the Palace of Justice, where participants chanted for the fall of the ruling regime. The day ended with a popular rally. Ahmed Jeddou reports.
Central Asia's Mixed Success at London Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympics offered mixed successes for Central Asian states. While the Games proved nothing short of triumph for team Kazakhstan, the success of athletes from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan was more moderate. And for Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, the Olympics were largely a disappointment.
China, USA: The Gap Between Chinese and American Consumers
David Wertime from Tea Leaf Nation translates an Infographic which tells the huge gap between Chinese and American consumers.
Popsong Stirs up Hong Kong-Mainland Chinese Conflict
A popular singer's latest album, “Not polite” has stirred up another round of Hong Kong-Mainland Chinese debate. The lyrics of one track, which states state: “not matter if you are ‘locusts’ (refers to mainland Chinese) or ‘mole crickets and ants’ (refers to Hong Kong people), should be polite to each...
China: Netizens’ Comments on 2012 London Olympics
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translates Chinese netizens’ general comments and impressions of the 2012 London Olympics.
Ukraine: Authorities Shut Down BitTorrent Tracker Demonoid
In what is believed to be an attempt to please the United States without angering local voters, the Ukrainian authorities have shut down Demonoid, one of the world's largest BitTorrent tracker sites, whose servers were hosted by a data center in Kyiv.
Russia: Moscow's Intelligentsia on Trial in Tver?
While this summer's 'hooliganism' charges against Pussy Riot have enjoyed the spotlight at home and abroad, there is another trial that perhaps reveals even more about tensions in modern Russian society. That is the case against Ilya Farber, a schoolteacher and eccentric recently sentenced to 8 years in prison and fined 3.2 million rubles for exhorting bribes from a building contractor.
