Stories from 22 September 2012
Chile: Netizens tell Mexican President-Elect to “Go Away”
The President-elect of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, started his visit to Chile on September 20, 2012. Between protocol visits, dinners and protests, netizens made a call on Twitter for him to leave the country.
Trinidad & Tobago: Justice Minister Fired, but is it Enough?
Earlier this week, the Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, delivered a national address on the issue of the controversial Section 34 of the Indictable Offences Act. After laying out a timeline of the progress of the legislation and dismissing any notions of a conspiracy, she announced that Justice Minister Herbert Volney had been dismissed from the Cabinet.
Environment: World Rhino Day
22 September 2012 is World Rhino Day. Currently there are an estimated 4,800 black rhinos and 22,000 white rhinos in Africa.Current poaching levels could see both species extinct in the wild by as early as 2025! Here is an animated clip about the rhino horn trade.
Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Controversial Wedding
Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s controversial wedding on 15 September continues to spark debate and discussions online. After his planned civil wedding was blocked by the court, Tsvangirai went ahead with a traditional ceremony.
Brazil: A Celebration of Bolivian Culture
Global Voices author Yohana de Andrade celebrates the presence of Bolivian migrants in her hometown city, São Paulo, Brazil, in an article she wrote for Future Challenges. Yohana describes one of the cultural demonstrations that the Bolivian community brings to the city: the Feira de Kantuta.
Uganda: Teenage Girl Becomes Africa's Youngest MP
Africa is truly rising and African women are rising with it. Currently, Malawi and Liberia have female presidents. Now Uganda has elected the youngest Member of Parliament in Africa - she is 19 year old Proscovia Alengot Oromait.
Brazil: Reflections of a Country Searching for Peace
Brazil is 83rd among 158 ranked nations in 2012's edition of the Global Peace Index, having fallen nine places since last year's. In the wake of International Peace Day Global Voices shares reflections and initiatives by Brazilian bloggers on the subject.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Hatred in the Caucasus
Murad Gassanly, an activist in exile, comments on the case of Ramil Safarov, a soldier convicted of murder in Hungary and recently pardoned in Azerbaijan, by examining how and why ethnic hatred has come to define society in both Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan: Political Forces United on Pardoned Axe Murderer
In Mutatione Fortitudo says that the two main opposition parties in Azerbaijan have united behind the government in its criticism of a European Parliament ruling condemning the 31 August pardon, release, and promotion of an Azerbaijani soldier who axed to death a sleeping Armenian counterpart on a NATO Partnership for...
Belarus: Early Voting Boosts Turnout Amid Calls to Boycott Elections
The parliamentary election in Belarus is to take place on Sunday, Sep. 23, but the early voting has already begun, and the turnout may end up being high, despite calls to boycott the vote.