Global Voices: Daily Digest—July 9-10, 2011

South Sudan: Free At Last!
Africa has a new nation: the Republic of South Sudan. South Sudan held a referendum on January 9, 2011, on whether or not it should remain a part of Sudan as part of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Khartoum central government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. read>>

Chile: Former Presidential Candidate Accused of 'Enslaving' Employees
Chilean television network Canal 13 has aired a documentary in its program 'Contacto' in which they denounce the bad conditions in which Paraguayan immigrants work in former presidential candidate Francisco Javier Errazuriz's companies - even calling them "slavery". The serious accusation has caused a stir on Twitter. read>>

Syria: Bloggers Rally for Anas Maarawi
Anas Maarawi is the latest Syrian blogger to have been imprisoned. He was detained on Friday July 1, 2011, in his neighborhood of Kafarsouseh in Damascus, and nothing has been heard of him since. Bloggers are rallying for his release. read>>

Malaysia: Bersih Rally on Social Media
More than 1,400 people were arrested by the police in today's Bersih 2.0 rally which was organized to push for electoral reforms in Malaysia. Police used tear gas to disperse a crowd which reached up to 50,000 according to the organizers. Bersih means "clean" in the local language. read>>

Brazil: Report Reveals Unsustainable Practices of Biofuel Industry
Though biofuel has been acclaimed as the best exit for the world's struggle for energy resource and a 'green' alternative which can reduce carbon emission, a recent study by the NGO Reporter Brasil on the Brazilian ethanol chain production reveals its high socio-environmental cost. read>>

Argentine Songwriter Facundo Cabral Murdered in Guatemala
On Saturday July 9 the renowned songwriter Facundo Cabral, whose career was characterised by songs that acted as a vehicle for his messages, was murdered in Guatemala. Moved by his death, many expressed their condolences, memories and emotions on social networks. read>>

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