Stories from 19 March 2013
Zimbabwe Police Arrest Top Human Rights Lawyer
One day after millions of Zimbabweans approved a new constitution that will bring about presidential and parliamentary elections later this year, prominent Zimbabwean human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa was arrested after demanding a search warrant from police who were attempting to arrest her clients.
Top Anti-Corruption Blogger Parties at Kremlin
Russia's best known anti-corruption blogger, Alexey Navalny, shocked [ru] many of his supporters when he attended a banquet at the Kremlin yesterday, March 18, 2013.
Jailed For Exposing Moral Policing, Indian TV Reporter Gets Bail
Television journalist Naveen Soorinje, who was arrested on November 7, 2012 after exposing a shocking incident of moral policing and assault on a group of young men and women by members of a far right-wing fringe group in Mangalore, India, was finally granted bail yesterday by the Karnataka High Court.
Former Guatemalan Dictator On Trial
Rios Montt's lawyer and others believe that the trial is a “political lynching” […] It doesn't matter if the guerrilas were going to turn “Guatemala into another Cuba;” the rape, torture, starvation and murder of civilians who might or might not have supported the guerrillas is just indefensible. But Rios Montt now...
Bolivia Establishes the World's Largest Protected Wetland
Bolivia's government has designated three new wetlands in the 'Llanos of Moxos', an area that represents the combined size of the Netherlands and Belgium, under the Ramsar Convention. Activists and environmental organisations celebrate the decision but also urge to work harder for the conservation of the Amazon.
Yemen: March 18th, A Dignified National Dialogue?
March 18th is engraved in Yemen's history as the Day of Dignity. On March 18th, 2011, former president Ali Abdullah Saleh's thugs and security dressed in civilian clothes shot dead 56 people and injured over 100 after Friday prayers, in what has become known as Friday of Dignity. On the second anniversary of the deadly day, Yemen's National Dialogue kicked off. Many Yemenis are torn between supporting and boycotting the National Dialogue. Noon Arabia charts netizen reactions, as blood continues to be spilled across the country.
Tales of Love and Sex from Angola
Rosie Alves is a 21-year-old blogger in Luanda who writes short tales often about love and intimate encounters in her blog "Sweet Cliché". She shares with Global Voices her motivations and aspirations, telling us more about her generation and the growing Angolan blogosphere.
Former President of Google China Reveals Censorship Statistics
Kai-Fu Lee, former president of Google China, published a chart on Twitter showing how often his micro-blog was deleted by the Chinese government's censorship arm. Lee regularly blogs about cultural and technology issues in China on Sina Weibo, the most influential micro-blogging platform in the country. The Chinese government regularly censors...
Anti-Gay Preacher Elected Brazil's Human Rights Committee Head
The election of controversial evangelical preacher Marco Feliciano, known for his vocal hardline views on homosexuality, as the chairman of the Brazilian legislature's human rights committee has earned the condemnation of religious groups and sparked protests around the country.
Zambia Readies Corruption Case Against Former President Rupiah Banda
The political and legal stage has been set for the prosecution of Zambia’s former president Rupiah Banda on corruption charges after his presidential immunity was lifted by parliament in a raucous sitting in which the Speaker was heckled and opposition members walked out.
“Tough Skin and Brains”: Nigeria's Apps4Africa Winner Talks Tech Innovation in Africa
Fresh off winning the competitive funding Apps4Africa award, Francis Onwumere, who co-founded the real-time collaboration tool Prowork, chatted with us about the project, tech innovation in Africa, and how to make the most of Nigeria's poor infrastructure.
Today's Tibet, Tomorrow's Hong Kong?
An activist network in Hong Kong organized an assembly to express their solidarity with Tibetans on the 54th Anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day last Sunday March 10, 2013. Some participants who joined the meeting believed that Hong Kong people should learn from Tibet and avoid the history from recurring in Hong Kong.
China Pollution – Blame it on the World
A Chinese politician has blamed foreign countries’ consumption of China's exports for the environmental problems the country is facing. The Director of the Anhui Provincial Environmental Protection Authority accused foreigners of being hypocritical in criticising China and its environmental policies. chinadialogue has more details.
China's New Premier Promises Cleaner Government in First Press Conference
In a combination of pragmatism and modeled political language, Li Keqiang, the newly installed Chinese premier, promised a cleaner government and less bureaucracy in his first press conference address to a group of reporters in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.
Australia: Locals Fight to Stop McDonald's in their Hills
Residents’ opposition to a new McDonald’s in the Melbourne hills suburb of Tecoma has linked direct action with online campaigning. In addition to lobbying, rallies and marches, the activists have also brought some fun to the protests by unleashing hundreds of gnomes on the steps of McDonald’s head office.
Thailand: TV Debate on Royal Family Cancelled
Thai PBS pulled out their most controversial TV program following public backlash against its series on the monarchy. Opponents deem the show “anti-royal” and a threat to national reconciliation. The online community was a major force behind this public outcry.
