Stories from 3 October 2012
China: Golden Week Holiday Chaos
China's week-long National Day holiday has again brought chaos due to limited capacity, with news and images of blocked roads and littered tourist spots spreading across micro-blogs. Some suggest that it is about time to review the Golden Week Holiday policy.
Russia: Echo of Moscow Pokes Fun at Environmentalist Dissident
Earlier today, oppositionist blogger Oleg Kozyrev took issue [ru] with an apparent gag that graced the website of Echo of Moscow. In an article titled “Leader of the Khimki Ecologists and Mayoral Candidate Evgenia Chirikova Complains About Interference In Her Election Campaign,” the accompanying photo [ru] features Chirikova against the background of...
Tajikistan: Costly Conscription
Blogger Teocrat writes [ru] that the conscription of young men into the military in Tajikistan puts a heavy financial burden on the conscripts’ families and the state. He also suggests that the better educated and more religious conscripts reduce the incidence of bullying in the army.
Italian Singer Encourages Kazakhs to Speak Mother Tongue
Son Pascal, an Italian singer and songwriter, has become a celebrity in Kazakhstan by passionately encouraging Kazakhs to speak their mother tongue. In a brief interview with Global Voices Online, Pascal talks about his love for all things Kazakh.
Japan, U.S.A: Okinawan Women Against US “Osprey” deployment
TenThousandThings posted a video showing a group of Okinawan women singing “We Shall Over Come” to protest against US military V-22 “Osprey” aircraft deployment at Oyama gate, US Marine Futenma Air Station, Ginowan City, Sunday night, September 29, 2012.