Stories from 2 July 2012
Southeast Asia: Home to the World's Longest Ongoing Civil Wars
Southeast Asia is more than just white sand beaches, temples and resorts: it’s not often mentioned that the region is actually home to the world's longest ongoing civil wars, the most heavily bombed countries in the world, and the world’s longest communist insurgency.
Brazil: The Debate About Natural Childbirth
In Brazil's private sector, over 85% of births are caesarian, even though the World Health Organisation recommends that they not exceed 15% of total births. The high prevalence of this procedure, instead of natural birth, recently sparked a debate and protest in Brazil.
United States: Crucial Decision on Anti-Immigrant Law
The United States Supreme Court recently issued their ruling in the case Arizona v. United States. The court struck down three of the four provisions of the controversial law SB 1070, but sent back to the lower court for consideration the provision that gives authorities the power to detain people that are suspected of lacking legal documents in Arizona.
Watch the Global Voices Summit Live (Now!)
The 2012 Global Voices Summit has just opened in Nairobi, Kenya (July 2-3). We wish you could be with us there in person, but if you can't you can still watch the livestream and chat with the us.
Taiwan: Democracy with a Confucian Face?
Politicians and academics have long debated whether Confucianism is compatible with democratic and civic values. Han Han's recent visit to Taiwan, and his high admiration of culture, freedom and democracy there, have sparked a vigorous debate about how they are related, and what this discussion means for mainland China.
Ukraine: “Football is Over”
On Facebook, Ukrainian writer Andrei Kurkov comments [ru] on the end of Euro 2012 in Ukraine: “Football is over. Europe has won and will depart tomorrow, leaving Ukraine in its own political shadow. […]”
Serbia: “The ‘Accidental’ Belgrade Pride”
Amila Bosnae interviews Boban Stojanović, one of the organizers of the “accidental” gay pride parade in Belgrade – which went without incidents: “There were just over 50 of us. You see, this wasn’t a real Pride, but a small street action. We’re happy with it because as activists, we always...
The Balkans: “The ICTY’s U-turn over genocide in Bosnia”
Marko Attila Hoare of Greater Surbiton comments on the ICTY’s decision to acquit Radovan Karadzic of one count of genocide in Bosnia, noting that “[t]he contradiction between the Trial Chamber’s rulings over Milosevic in 2004 and Karadzic in 2012 indicates that it is not operating on the basis of consistent...
