This week: Jordanian online news sites protests new censorship laws with web blackout; social media’s role in sparking religious violence in India raises questions about justified cyber censorship; plus news and analysis from Ivory Coast, Egypt, South Korea, Turkey.
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Columnist Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo recounts the numerous close calls with death experienced by Fidel Castro. While the Cuban government assures its citizens that the ailing leader is healthy, Pardo asserts that most Cubans are focused on the new economic reforms.
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In this interview with Paul Johnson, President of the Mexican War Streets Society, he talks about his reasons for moving to Pittsburgh, his various efforts to help build up the Northside, and why the weekend of Jazz Poetry is important for the community.
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Cuba has declared this year to be “The Year of Virgilio” in honor of Virgilio Piñera, a writer it once imprisoned. A pioneer of absurd literature and theater, author Horacio Castellanos Moya writes an overview of Piñera, his life and works, in this week’s column.
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An interview with Barbara Talerico, President of the Central Northside Neighborhood Council, a community-based organization working to develop Pittsburgh’s Central Northside neighborhood. Talerico is one of the emcees at this year’s Jazz Poetry Concert.
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After ten years in prison, Chinese writer Wang Xiaoning is being released from prison August 31. Wang was accused of “inciting subversion of state power” for his articles on publication law, election regulations, and the corrupt military system in China.
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Prior to the Jazz Poetry Concert on September 8th, City of Asylum/Pittsburgh is presenting Writers in the Garden, a celebration of local poets and the Northside community. This year’s poets include Christopher Medal-winners, Pushcart Prize-nominees and NEA Fellows.
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Is any one person in control of Venezuela? Can the PetroState ever be changed? These are the questions Israel Centeno explores in this week’s Night Watch.
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Following Egypt’s revolution, many forces have been working towards a new constitution for the country. Hamdy El-Gazzar highlights a group of intellectuals and artists who have created a “Cultural Constitution” to preserve intellectual freedom.
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This week: Myanmar government announces it is to end direct media censorship; writer Patrick Ness on censorship in the internet age; World Writers’ Conference issues statement condemning Arizona book ban. Also, news from India, Syria, Ethiopia, Pakistan and Russia.
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