Published under
Africa,
democracy,
free speech on Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
Uganda is a bountiful, diverse nation on the socio-economic rise. They are a people of peace and tolerance, spurring international recognition for our established and newfound bevy of resources, their majestic scenery which has long supported thriving tourism and our democratic government, each day opening its doors to showcase greater transparency. Uganda has long been [...]
Published under
Latin America,
Venezuela,
corruption,
free speech on Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
During one of his interminable appearances on national television, perhaps even on his own broadcast Alo Presidente on Telesur, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez demanded to know last month why Guillermo Zuloaga, the majority owner of Venezuela’s last remaining opposition television station, was not in jail. “How is it possible that he can accuse me of [...]
Published under
Africa,
democracy,
free speech on Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
The Washington Post’s Jonathan Capehart has written an intriguingarticle on the proposed law in Uganda that would criminalize homosexuality, an issue this blogger has discussed here on the blog and in conversations with one of the leading international opposers to the bill, British MP Peter Tatchell. A commission created by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has [...]
In the wake of the latest threat by the Chinese government, Google Inc.’s only choice is to pack up and exit the Chinese market, wholesale. In lieu of this, Chinese authorities on Friday told local news websites that if Google China does close, they will be required to use only official news accounts of situations, [...]
Published under
Africa,
corporate foreign policy,
free speech on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
U.S. President Barack Obama has sharply criticized an anti-gay bill in Uganda that would impose the death penalty in some cases. Other western governments and gay rights activists also have criticized the legislation. Supporters on the ground in Kampala have in turn accuses the U.S. and other western nations of interfering in Uganda’s internal affairs.
The Ugandan [...]
Published under
BRIC,
china,
free speech on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
China’s internet public has consistently rebelled against government censorship. Public awareness about democratic participation and government transparency are growing trends throughout the Chinese information super-highway, and CNN’s Emily Change below reports on an intriguing government response to the growing online community - backtracking on once-iron-clad filtering software requirements for personal computers.
Embedded video from CNN Video
The New York Times has reported that yesterday in Zimbabwe, a court dismissed charges against a leading human rights lawyer accused of obstructing justice. The lawyer, Alec Muchadehama, was part of a legal team representing political activists who later faced charges of ‘plotting to overthrow’ Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. Mr. Muchadehama himself was arrested last month and accused [...]
Ecuador’s president Rafael Correa recently stated that when he takes office as head of Unasur he will sponsor the creation of organizations to monitor the unethical, irresponsible press and another to monitor human rights.
Hmm. So one organization to monitor (censor) ‘unethical and irrsponsible’ press, relative terms at best when they oppose political leadership and at [...]
I doubt I’ll ever find as much entertainment in a political figure as that I get out of Italy’s prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi. Besides the soap opera that is the man’s family life, his brushes with the law and his ownership of nearly all of the nation’s commercial television channels which epitomizes the phrase ‘conflict [...]
If you’re going to be a successful corrupt dictator of a developing nation, its really all about strategy. Sure, its easy for a Robert Mugabe to parade around Harare with thousands of American dollars being spent on his 196th birthday, but the world is watching. Political leaders would be taking severe risks in negotiating, trading [...]