Digital Caribbean

Fascinating post by Cuban über-blogger Yoani Sánchez about the security cameras scattered about Havana and the unwitting testimony they provide to certain of the activities of of the Cuban state.

Haiti-specific Kiva.org and donation site rolled into one:

"Zafen, Creole for "It's our business," soon will offer you the opportunity to lend or contribute to sustainable economic development projects in Haiti.

"By providing support to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, together we can bolster the Haitian economy, create new jobs, and improve the lives of those living in some of the poorest conditions in the world."

Very cool nteractive map of incomes across New York City neighbourhoods.

"Wikipedia still has much to do: the map above suggests there are still whole continents that remain a virtual "terra incognita" and the next explosive growth in the online encyclopedia will come from places that have not previously been represented…."

The official announcement from ICANN.

"By the middle of next year, Internet surfers will be allowed to use Web addresses written completely in Chinese, Arabic, Korean and other languages using non-Latin alphabets, the organization overseeing Internet domain names announced Friday in a decision that could make the Web more accessible."

Researching–or want to research–the public impact of ICTs on the Caribbean? Apply for an Amy Mahan fellowship today!

"I don't know what's worse: this act of vandalisation in the name of philistine "beautification"; or the fact that it was probably the result of considered good intentions (of the kind that pave the proverbial road to perdition); or even the fact that I feel slightly guilty bothering about the whole thing, in the midst of a prolonged nationwide social collapse with far more urgent symptoms. Why am I troubling myself about an obscure piece of public sculpture instead of picketing Whitehall or UDECOTT or the EMA or the office of the Leader of the Opposition or the constituency office of the MP I didn't vote for?"