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Latest update: 23/02/2010
- floods - Internet - Portugal
Portuguese web users witness Madeira disaster
In this edition: the Portuguese blogosphere reports on the damage caused by violent storms on the island of Madeira,in Thailand, the web comments upon tensions over the upcoming verdict on Thaksin Shinawatra.
By News Wires
PORTUGAL: DEADLY FLOODS IN MADEIRA
The Portuguese island of Madeira was hit by violent rainstorms this weekend. Flooding, mud and landslides, the bad weather has claimed at least 40 lives and many are still reported missing. Dozens of videos filmed by incredulous web users can be found on sharing sites, and bear witness to the extent of the disaster.
Cars swept away by the raging waters, homes destroyed and around 250 people left without shelter. These amateur videos show the devastation caused by the downpours.
The blogosphere has mobilised in response to the situation. Local web users are keeping this Twitter thread updated in real time, notably with information on the areas which have no means of communication. This blogger describes the chaos in Serra d’agua, situated in the center of the island.
This web user is talking about the distribution of aid and points out where the drinking water tanks are located.
And this blogger has created an interactive map, on which web users can publish photos and videos. The purpose of the map is to make people aware of what is happening at the scene and also to report any landslides or roads blocked by the bad weather.
ANTICIPATED VERDICT IN THAILAND
Tensions are increasing in Thailand, with just a few days to go before the much anticipated verdict on Thaksin Shinawatra. The former prime minister, who is living in exile, is accused of corruption and last year was sentenced in absentia to two years’ imprisonment. This new verdict could result in the confiscation of his assets which are worth 2.2 billion dollars.
As these online photos show, his supporters, dressed in red shirts, demonstrated in the capital, Bangkok, on Friday. They are defending the former prime Minister and demanding new elections.
This supporter of Thaksin is using YouTube to call for a huge demonstration. He believes that those who deposed Shinawatra in a coup in 2006 should face trial and answer for their actions.
This blogger explains that the judges in charge of this case are aware that their verdict could change the face of politics in Thailand. The country has been going through a major political crisis since 2006 with the anti and pro-Thaksin camps. So, the judges will be looking for a compromise with the Pro-Thaksin movement and will therefore only be able to freeze part of his assets.
This web site says the same thing. This blogger states that the most probable scenario will be that not all the assets are frozen and that this would be a more shrewd political decision. In fact, freezing all of Thaksin’s assets could be seen as a declaration of war with the opposition.
Thailand is not safe from military intervention however. As these images show, faced with the current tensions, the government has deployed a large number of military troops. They are hoping to avoid any incidents leading up to the 26th February when the verdict will be pronounced.
FACEBOOK DATA
On the occasion of the 6 year anniversary of the creation of Facebook, a specialist in social networks has created this graph which illustrates the evolution of Mark Zuckerberg’s network. We learn that users spend around 55 minutes per day on the network and have an average of 130 Facebook Friends, that 2.5 billion photos are uploaded each month and 35 million net users change their status each day.
ICEPARTNERSEARCH.COM
With the Vancouver Olympic Games in full swing, here is a site which should be a hit with ice-skating fans and those who dream of one day competing in the Olympics. Icepartnersearch.com helps skaters from all over the world find a partner. And it works! Yannick Bonheur and Vanessa James who represented France at Vancouver this year, met via the site two years ago.
VIDEO OF THE DAY
The British National Archives has released online 24 files on UFO sightings between 1994 and 2000, recently declassified by the Ministry of Defense. This video, available on the national Archives web site, summarizes the content of the 6000 pages of documents which have been made public. The glowing tubes and floating triangles spotted in the British skies will no longer be of secret.
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