Stories from 1 June 2012
Kyrgyzstan: Civic Initiatives Seek to Tackle Bride-Kidnapping
Although bride kidnapping is officially a crime in Kyrgyzstan, it remains a common occurrence in the country's rural areas. With the authorities reluctant to clamp down on the practice, civil society organizations and creative troupes harness the power of performance to educate the population about the harmful effects of bride kidnapping.
South Korea: Petitions Signed to Remove a Network TV President
It has been almost four months since South Korea's biggest network TV, MBC, went on an indefinite strike against censorship on news contents and the company president's multiple allegations. Starting from May 31, 2012, MBC union workers have started gathering citizens’ signatures to pressure the president to resign. One twitter...
Uruguay: Students Recall Receiving First “Ceibalitas” Five Years Later
In a video [es] published on YouTube, the first generation of Uruguayan students who received their “ceibalitas” -the OLPC XO-1 laptop computers that are part of Plan Ceibal (Ceibal Project)- look back five years to recount their experience representing the first primary students in the whole country to receive these...
Brazil: Expropriation Approved for Slave Labor Properties
In order to combat slave labor, the Brazilian Congress recently approved Bill 438, which guarantees the immediate expropriation of rural or urban areas, without the right to compensation, where one proves the existence of slave labor or similar forms of exploitation of manpower in them.
Spain: “Wanted: The Ones Responsible for the Crisis”
Following the departure of Rodrigo Rato as chairman of the financial institution Bankia, with over a million euros in indemnity payments and without any kind of explanation as to why the bank has ended up in its current state, groups of activists linked to the 15M movement have created a digital platform with the aim of making the people responsible for the crisis accountable.
Brazil: Government Cuts on Public Healthcare System
The Brazilian President, Dilma Rousseff decreased [pt] by 50% the salaries of physicians in the Healthcare System (SUS) through a ‘provisory measure‘, in May, 2012. Conceição Lemes, from the blog Vi o Mundo, reports on the new measure that affects 48,000 doctors and quotes the President of the Regional Council of...
Mexico: #YoSoy132 Youth Movement Generates Debate
The supposed non-partisanship of the far-reaching youth movement #YoSoy132 has prompted questions and opinions on social networking sites. With a month left before the Mexican elections, take a look at some of the conflicting opinions on various blogs and in tweets.
Peru: Conflict Between Espinar Community and Mining Company
At the time of writing this post, the socio-environmental conflict in the province of Espinar, Cusco region, between the community and the mining company Xstrata Copper - Tintaya is on the eighth day of a strike by the community -protests are escalating in both violence and repression.
Zambia Donates Five Million Litres of Fuel to Malawi
Years of diplomatic incidents between various major political figures of Malawi and Zambia, recently culminated in the Zambian donation of five million litres of fuel to Malawi. The gift was ostensibly for the funeral of the country's late President Bingu wa Mutharika, who died on April 5, after a heart attack. The political wrangling that has led up to this gesture, makes however, for a complicated backstory.
RightsCon: Future of Digital Rights in Latin America and Beyond
Activists, business representatives, thinkers and policy makers are meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the Human Rights and Technology Conference. Renata Avila and other Global Voices contributors are also present at this event. Here is Renata's summary of the conference.
Greece: Neo-Nazi “Golden Dawn” Supporters Attack More Immigrants
A gang of 15-20 young supporters of Golden Dawn, the startlingly successful Greek neo-nazi political party, attacked an approximately 30-year-old Pakistani man on May 29, 2012 in Athens. Since the party was voted into Greece's parliament in May, attacks on immigrants have increased.
Uganda: Is Uganda Becoming a Monarchy?
Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has been in power since 1986. A few weeks ago, citizens started speculating about who will succeed the president if he does not stand for presidency in 2016. It is rumored that the president was supporting his wife Janet Museveni, the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, for succession.
Brazil: Most Violent State in the Country Protests for Peace
The population of a Brazilian state capital has begun to protest online and in the streets due to growing numbers of homicides. Alagoas State ranks first on the 2012 Map of Violence in Brazil, but despite this its dilemma remains virtually invisible to the national mainstream media.
Singapore: Bloggers Analyse Hougang By-Election
Singapore bloggers analyze the defeat of the ruling party in the Hougang Constituency by-election. They believe that it reflects the dissatisfaction of many voters over the leadership of the ruling party which has been in power since 1959
Côte d'Ivoire: Controversy as Manager of National Football Team Replaced
Ivorians reacted with surprise and indignation following the shock announcement of a change at the head of the national football team. The controversial change was announced on May 28, 2012 by the Ivorian Football Federation. The inexperienced Sabri Lamouchi was named trainer and manager of the Côte d'Ivorian national A Team, replacing the successful François Zahoui.
Taiwan: Flying Fish Season on Orchid Island
Every spring, when the flying fish are carried to Taiwan by the Kuroshio Current, Tao fishermen from Orchid Island are waiting for them. In fact, Tao culture is very much connected with the flying fish season.
Aung San Suu Kyi Visits Thailand
Ronald Reagan was still president of the United States the last time Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi left Myanmar. That was 24 years ago. This week she travelled to Thailand where she delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum in Bangkok. Thousands of people in the streets greeted Suu Kyi during her visit
Poland, Ukraine: Euro 2012 and Racism
Football fans across Europe have been presented with quite a list of reasons not to travel to Poland and Ukraine for Euro 2012, which is scheduled to begin in a week. The newest item recently added to this extensive and diverse negative publicity menu is racism.
