Stories from Quick Reads from October, 2014
Your Voice Counts, Don't Be Silent
Mujeres Construyendo (Women building) tries to raise awareness with a message mainly for women. Inequality between men and women is a fact, as confirmed by the Center of Economic Studies of Mexico, where we can see that, in terms of salaries, a woman earns 22% less, but this is just...
What is Your Carbon Footprint?
Today it is becoming increasingly common to hear about climate change, a topic everybody talks about but are rarely aware of its real impact. We've heard many times that we are all contributing to the destruction of the planet, but how can we know the footprint we are leaving behind? This...
A Game of Marbles to Prevent Homeless Deaths
In Mexico, the Day of the Dead is coming and this sets into motion, as every year, the game #ChirasPelasCalacasFlacas, that involves playing with marbles, an initiative by the organization El Caracol (the snail) that works to reduce the risks that lead to deaths of the homeless. The homeless population...
Drone Footage of Hungary Protests Against “Internet Tax”
Hungarians have been rallying in masses against a proposed tax on Internet traffic that many in the country find to be outrageous. The Hungarian government plans to introduce a tax of approximately 0.6 US dollars per gigabyte of Internet traffic. This proposal tipped the scales for many, and tens of...
Comic Explains the ‘Cold War’ Between Hong Kong's Pro-Democracy Protesters and Their Parents
Jason Li has translated a letter written by a web user named Cherish to her parents, which was published on citizen media website inmediahk.net, and turned it into a comic. The letter addresses the generational conflict triggered by the Occupy Central protests in Hong Kong. Most of the pro-democracy protesters are under...
Hooligans Crash LGBT Community Celebration in Macedonia
Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) was among the very few media to report about an attack on the second anniversary celebration of the center for support of the LGBT community in a cafe in the Old Bazaar are of Skopje. On October 23, 2014, some 20 hooded young men attacked...
A Mouse Amidst the Mist
First thing in the morning, amidst the mist that populates the waves in the township of Guetaría, a typical fishing village in the shores of Guipuzkoa (Basque Country), we can discern the shape of Mount of San Antón, which as we can see on J. G. del Sol Cobos in...
World Forum for Democracy Will Discuss “Youth and Democracy” in Strasbourg, France
The third edition of the Strasbourg World Forum for Democracy will kick off next week in Strasbourg, France. The topic of the debates organized this year from Nov. 3 – 5 at the seat of Coucil of Europe will be: “From participation to influence: can youth revitalise democracy?”. The various labs will be...
Blogger Argues Corporate Sponsorship Cheapening Bangaldeshi Folk Culture
The first time around, those of us who had been visiting Cheuria for many years, were shocked to find the sponsorship junk.
5 Muslim Countries Where Gays Are Not Prosecuted by the Law
The LGBT Muslims blog identified 5 Muslim nations where the legal system does not outlaw homosexuality. The 5 countries are : Mali, Jordan, Indonesia, Turkey and Albania. While the law in these countries does not criminalize gay lifestyles, the LGBT Muslims blog points out that LGBT communities still suffer from...
Uruguayans Will Elect Their President in a Runoff
According to a preliminary exit poll after the election in Uruguay, leftist Broad Front candidate Tabaré Vásquez received between 44 and 46 percent of the votes, while Luis Lacalle Pou from the National Party has between 31 and 34 percent. Uruguay's local media shared very similar data from three pollsters, Factum, Equipos and Cifra. Twitter...
Mexico in the Labyrinth of Its Solitude
Since the beginning of his term in late 2012, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has been committed to creating and broadcasting an image of a country moving forward. The government has enacted structural reforms with support from the opposition. The government's strategy to deal with the country's security crisis, however,...
Hirotan Forest, an Increasingly Rare ‘Satoyama’ School Connecting Rural Japanese Kids to Nature
As farming communities shrink because of Japan's ageing population, parents in one rural community has resurrected a "satoyama" school to put their children in touch with the land.
Fashion Week Turns World's Gaze on Tokyo
The six-day Mercedes Fashion Week kicked off in Tokyo on October 13 and culminated on October 19. Fashion Week is all about launching hot new 2015 fashions from the planet's biggest brands, with daily runway events and fashion exhibitions. For nearly 20 years Mercedes Benz has sponsored “fashion weeks” all over...
Hacking Against Ebola
Global Editors Network intends to develop new technologies and social networks for covering and preventing the Ebola epidemic from spreading. Watch the YouTube video below for more information about the project: Follow our in-depth coverage: The Struggle to #StopEbola in West Africa
One Vibe Africa Launches Africa From the Skies
One Vibe Africa uses music and art to inspire Kenyan youths to appreciate culture and tradition and to develop their own creative potential. Their latest initiative #Africafromtheskies needs your support. Africa From the Skies is an expedition to create empowering films and media, capture culture and facilitate workshops.
Preventing Ebola in Nigeria With Ebola Alert Twitter Feed
Ebola Alert Twitter feed is the creation of evidence-driven group of volunteer professionals working on Ebola prevention interventions. The initiative involves active participation of professionals from different walks of life. Follow our in-depth coverage: The Struggle to #StopEbola in West Africa
Humanitarian Associations in Burkina Faso Campaign for Revenue Sharing from the Mining Industry with “Just 1%” Hashtag
A new hashtag is trending in Burkina Faso online networks: #Justeunpourcent (Just 1 Percent in English). The hashtag refers to a campaign initiated by local NGOs to the Parliament that requests that 1 percent of the mining revenues be shared with humanitarian associations to fight poverty in Burkina Faso. Nadine...
Video Animation Explains How Principle of “Free Prior and Informed Consent” Can Empower Indigenous Peoples
The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact has uploaded a video animation explaining the principle of “Free prior and informed consent” or how communities should have the right to decide for the development of their lands.
Ex-President's Return Triggers Media Warning from Government in Madagascar
The political situation is tense again in Madagascar after ex-president in exile Marc Ravalomanana's return to the country. The conditions under which he came back and the subsequent house arrest and deportation to the North of the country are strongly debated on most malagasy media outlets. Heninkaja Rakotomanantsoa, managing editor of...