Protests have continued on an unprecedented scale and internet activists have awakened a politicised middle class. But with its bloody history, can a Russian revolution cut through the Kremlin's iron grip? "The opposition has no chance to be registered; as a party or a candidate", Boris Nemsov, Co-President of the People's Freedom Party, tells us. The opposition are required to jump through endless hoops to qualify and if they do they are simply told there are "formal registration errors". And the Kremlin has even more powerful tools it can use to silence its critics. Yevgenia Chirikova had her children taken and was thrown in jail, until petitions by thousands of supporters caused her charges to be dropped. "I understood then that in our country everything can happen. We still have political prisoners." The opposition aren't backing down though. In fact many are turning to new methods. Inspired by the Arab Spring, Timothy Tsvetkov has been waking people up to corruption through social networking. Already he has beaten the Government's censorship and brought the middle classes into the political arena. According to Boris Nemtsov, this Russian awakening could mean trouble. "We can never have a velvet revolution in this country. Our revolutions are bloody, brown and red."
TV2
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Italy - Toxic Napoli
- 28' min 53'' sec [23 January 2012]
In Southern Italy, the illegal dumping of industrial toxic waste has become a big business for the Naples mafia. As the trade continues, the environment continues to suffer and the death toll rises. "In Acerra, people have been dying for over 20 years. They don't even live to 50", says one woman. In the Campania region some of the most polluted areas are being used for agriculture and grazing, allowing highly toxic compounds like dioxin to enter the food chain. "My daughter has already had three high-risk pregnancies and one miscarriage", says a father who is forced to live 700 meters from toxic garbage bales. Almost a million tons of rubbish are stockpiled throughout the region and behind it all is the largest criminal organization in Italy, the Neopolitan Camorra. A culture of illegality within industry and the inability of the authorities to curb the mafia's influence means that little is being done to halt this deadly toxic trade.
VBS.tv
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Hungary - Sinking State
- 27' min 38'' sec [3 January 2012]
Hungary faces EU action over divisive constitution
First protesters accuse the government of tyranny, now they have taken to the streets to support the embattled PM. This report explores the constitutional changes that have driven Budapest into chaos.
In April 2010, Victor Orban's Fidesz party swept to power, elected on a promise of stability, security and a strengthened economy. However, the party's enormous majority granted them vast legislative power and the ability to unilaterally change the constitution. Since then they have been accused of over-reaching their democratic mandate: "If all Orban's plans are realised, a new system will be created that will not have a single constitutional counterweight". Supporters defend the moves claiming, "the impression our government gives is deceptive, because the system we have is different to the rest of Europe". However, amidst tough austerity measures, and new media laws curtailing political discussion, claims of democratic legitimacy are not entirely convincing.
ORF
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India - Caste Out
- 32' min 22'' sec [23 January 2012]
India's tribal Adivasi population are struggling for survival against the forces of economic growth. This devastating report examines the challenges they face, and the ways the tribes are rising to meet them.
Without caste or education, India's ancient tribes are at the mercy of mining companies, moneylenders, poverty and disease, suffering years of imprisonment and abuse at the hands of the Government. However, there are signs of hope; the Adivasi and Dalits are forming increasingly influential human rights groups. "A non-official school was opened here. We built up a group and saved money." Can they finally break out of years of oppression?
Marion Mayer Hohdahl
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Egypt - The Muslim Brotherhood
- 21' min 00'' sec [24 October 2005]
The Muslim Brotherhood has secured a majority in Egypt's first free vote in decades. We look back at the party's long-standing ability to win 'hearts and minds' through their calls for Islamic-led reform.
Egypt's 2005 elections saw the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood secure a wave of popular support amid rampant social problems: "political Islam is the power of the streets". US support for Mubarak at the height of the Iraq War further cemented the Brotherhood's warning against, "the US imposition of an oppressive world order".An incisive insight into the roots of the Brotherhood's relationships with Egyptians and the West.
ABC Australia
