By: Eurasia Insight, September 18, 2009
Government witnesses continued to struggle on the witness stand on September 18 during the trial of two Azerbaijani youth activists and bloggers accused of hooliganism. Many of those questioned claimed to have little memory about the alleged brawl, and some were at times openly hostile and/or evasive under defense questioning.
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Turkmenistan: Rights group reminds West of free-speech commitments
By: Eurasia Insight, September 17, 2009
Interest in Turkmenistan’s natural resources should not mute international criticism of Ashgabat’s repressive domestic policies, the media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders said in a recent statement. Despite President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov’s “all-out charm offensive,” Ashgabat maintains complete control over mass media, the watchdog group said in a statement issued September 16.
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EUROPE
Hungary: Budapest citizens fight for their right to party
By: Marietta Le, Global Voices Online, September 19, 2009 On Sept. 1, a silence decree came into force in Budapest’s District VI, which is well-known for its lively nightlife. The decree requires bars, restaurants and 24-hour-shops to close at 10 PM. The first civil disobedience movement and protest against the decree took place the same day at Liszt Ferenc Square, András Földes of index.hu reported. Read full article… EU condemns crackdown on rally and violence against opposition in Belarus
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MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA
Palestine: Bil’in night raid delivers orders to appear for investigation
By: PNN, September 21, 2009 Israeli forces invaded Bil’in once again just before 1am. Six jeeps entered the village, known for its nonviolent resistance, via the gate in the Wall. International and Israeli activists accompanied local Palestinians at all three locations to protest the invasions and to document events. There has been speculation that an Israeli lawyer is attempting to show that this long series of night arrests is illegal because no forewarning was given to any of the Palestinians so far seized and detained. Read full article… Palestine: Fayyad holds Eid prayer at site of nonviolent protests Israel: Boycott derails Jerusalem’s transit system Syria: Blogger Kareem Arbaji sentenced to three years in prison Palestine: Israeli forces target town known for nonviolent resistance The Lebanese Manifesto – A Cedar for all seasons Palestinian-led movement to boycott Israel is gaining support
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OCEANIA
Caught in the crossfire: Fiji media and the coups
By: Sharishma Kumari and Richard Nath, Pacific Scoop, September 21, 2009 When Fiji’s fourth coup in in two decades took place in December 2006, the country’s media again found itself in the frontline as witnesses and reporters of the event, and what followed later. The coup leader, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, dubbed his takeover a “clean-up campaign”. He claimed he ousted the elected Laisenia Qarase government because it was corrupt and racist. Read full article… Keep pressure on Fiji, says International Bar Association
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Robert Thurman’s “pragmatic” nonviolence
By: Nathan Schneider, Waging Nonviolence, September 21, 2009 Guernica magazine has a new interview with Robert Thurman, once a Tibetan Buddhist monk and now professor of Buddhism at Columbia. He’s also co-founder of Tibet House and the father of actress Uma Thurman. Here, he discusses the prospects of a new world order based on nonviolence and the realistic-and perhaps even violent-steps it may take to get there. Read full article… Defining digital activism: Part 2 – What are we (thinking)? |
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Iran: L’Erythrée est la plus grande prison du monde pour les journalistes, huit ans après les rafles de septembre 2001
By: Tedros Abraham, Reporters Sans Frontieres, September 17, 2009 L’Erythrée compte aujourd’hui au moins trente journalistes et deux collaborateurs des médias emprisonnés. Huit ans exactement après les rafles du 18 septembre 2001, qui ont sonné le glas de la liberté d’expression dans le pays, les autorités d’Asmara sont à égalité avec celles de Pékin et de Téhéran pour le nombre de professionnels des médias jetés derrière les barreaux. Read full article…
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Peace is breaking out – the competition launches on International Peace Day
By: Creig Zelizer, Peace and Collaborative Development Network, September 21, 2009 What images come to your mind when you think of peace? The peace logo needs to be re-invented to reflect today. We need a peace logo that is fresh, relevant, and global – and we want YOU to design it. Read full article…
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By: Dahr Jamail, Truthout, September 6, 2009
Given the lack of an outlet for anti-war voices in the corporate media, many contemporary veterans and active-duty soldiers have embraced the arts as a tool for resistance, communication and healing. They have made use of a wide range of visual and performing arts – through theater, poetry, painting, writing, and other creative expression – to affirm their own opposition to the occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq.
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Indian students protest in Australia against attacks
By: Bester News, June 7, 2009
Hundreds of Indian students marched in Sydney on Sunday to protest against a spate of violent attacks that victims have called racist, witnesses said. The attacks caused some diplomatic discomfort between the two countries and sparked angry protests in India. Australia’s government condemned the attacks and has launched an inquiry into them.
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