June, 2009
Stories from June, 2009
5 June 2009
Myanmar: 64 Words for Aung San Suu Kyi
Do you want to show support for Myanmar opposition leader and global democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi? A new website was launched where anyone from around the world can leave a 64-word message of solidarity for imprisoned leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The website 64forSuu.org is named as such to mark Suu Kyi’s 64th birthday on June 19.
·
read »
Israel/Palestine: Commemorating the Nakba and Debating Loyalty
May 15 is Nakba Day, when Palestinians commemorate the creation of Israel and subsequent Palestinian displacement and dispossession. Shortly after the day this year, a controversial piece of legislation was proposed in the Knesset banning commemoration of the Nakba. Two other bills were recently proposed, one introducing a pledge of allegiance to Israel as a Jewish state, and another criminalising public denial of Israel as a Jewish state. While the “loyalty law” has been rejected, and the Nakba bill has been amended, the fact that the bills were introduced at all has prompted debate and protest.
·
read »
4 June 2009
Sri Lanka: A Suppressed Nation
Access to many Sri Lankan IDP camps are still limited to the international journalists and aid workers and the information are suppressed. So it is hard to hear the voices from these IDP camps. Regini David, a human rights, women and workers' rights activist, has been working with vulnerable people for the past 23 years. In her blog, ‘Unheard Voices‘, she has started writing about the very unheard voices from Sri Lanka, voices of the people she worked with.
·
read »
Myanmar: Collapse of an Ancient Pagoda
An ancient pagoda in Myanmar collapsed while it was going under renovation, killing at least 5 people. The 180-foot Danoke Pagoda in Yangon Division was originally damaged during Cyclone Nargis so it had been going under renovation. GV author Tan translates a Burmese blogpost about the tragedy.
·
read »
Cuba, USA: OAS Says “Yes”
After 47 years, the Organization of American States has lifted its ban on Cuba's admission from the group, with most member states restoring ties with the island nation. The United States, which still maintains a trade embargo against Cuba, was the notable exception. But the opinions of other hemispheric leaders won out. Cuba is free to be part of the OAS - despite its leadership's statements suggesting that it has no interest in returning. A few bloggers are making their feelings known...
Brazil: Land reform or deforestation boost for the Amazon?
Brazilian president Lula da Silva has a controversial bill that will legitimize land-grabbing in the Amazon prior to 2004 on his hands. Will the law help the forest escape further deforestation or is it going to benefit land owners only, and be the last straw for an Amazon rain forest already on its way to destruction?
·
read »
I think the reason it stuck with me is that I was fired from my first real job--teaching at a...