Stories from 23 October 2013
USA: Elevating Young Asian Voices in Immigration Reform Debate
The Youth Leadership Council of the Korean American Resource & Cultural Center created an inspiring video to help young Asian voices heard in the immigration reform debate. Blogger Angry Asian Man briefly comments on this video featuring local youth's thought-provoking spoken word performances.
92 Countries Sign Minamata Convention to Prevent Mercury Poisoning
The Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global legally binding instrument on mercury was adopted in Minamata, Japan. The city known for tragedy now hopes to be known for solutions.
Overwhelmed by Syrian Refugees, Bulgaria Seeks EU Aid
Bulgaria, as the closest EU country to Syria, is seeing more than its fair share of the average 5,000 refugees that are fleeing Syria every day. Unprepared and inexperienced in dealing with this influx of refugees seeking shelter, food and protection, Bulgaria has requested assistance and financial aid from the...
Kazakhstan's Soviet Mosaics: “Ghosts of an Epoch Gone By”
In a post titled “The Walls Are Crying”, a blogger reflects [ru] on Kazakhstan's slowly disappearing Soviet artistic mosaics that once adorned housing blocks and industrial facilities across the country: Many of these works of art died along with the buildings which they adorned. Some are being destroyed. But many mosaics...
Codeshare Request from Serbia's New Airline Met with US, EU Pushback
The oldest and largest airline trade association in the United States called the request bizarre. Serbian media has so far chosen to ignore the story.
Tajik Official Plagiarizes Story Extolling President
Social media users in Tajikistan have caught an education official-cum-ardent supporter of the incumbent president plagiarizing. In his recent article “Why I Am Voting for [President] Emomali Rahmon” [ru] Ilkhomjon Khamidov extolled the country's veteran president who is seeking to secure a re-election in the November 6 vote. After the article...
South Korea: Labor Worker's Posthumous Victory Over Samsung
South Korean conglomerate Samsung has come under fire for their notorious labor violations. ‘International Campaign for Health and Labour Rights of Samsung Electronics Workers‘ explains about South Korean Court's recent ruling that orders industrial-accident payouts to the bereaved family of a former Samsung employee who died of leukemia.
Saudi Women Gear Up To Defy Driving Ban
Saudi women are planning to defy a ban on driving on October 26. Many have already started driving, filming themselves doing so and sharing the footage online.
The Suspended Martyrdom of Russia's Alexey Navalny
After his tumultuous guilty verdict and five-year prison sentence last July, a court recently suspended Alexey Navalny's sentence, leaving the Russian opposition's most prominent leader on probation but free.
Chinese Newspaper Defies Censors, Publishes Front-Page Call for Journalist's Release
Reporter Chen Yongzhou was detained by police after the publication of his numerous investigative reports on the business practices of a large Chinese construction company.
16 Books on Latin American Street Art
In Latin America, street art is of major cultural relevance. The region’s traditions of social movements and revolution have allowed the form to give voice to otherwise unheard sectors of the population. Of course, not all street art is politically or socially-oriented in content, but it does often provide insight...
Macedonia Imprisons Investigative Journalist For Reporting On Local Murder
Journalists and watchdog organizations are outraged by the sentencing of Macedonian journalist Tomislav Kezarovski to four and a half years in prison for an article he wrote.
Video: Saudi Girls Blamed for Being Attacked Outside Mall
Girls are being blamed for being attacked by youth in a shopping mall in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, for not covering their faces - and actually going to a mall.
Gulf Cities: Cultural Capitals of the Arab World?
UAE commentator Sultan Al Qassemi argues that “some of the cities of the Gulf were transforming into cultural capitals of the Arab world as the traditional capitals of Baghdad, Cairo, Beirut and Damascus continue to suffer from civil strife.” He posts arguments in support and against this notion on his...
Only Football Divides Tanzania
Tanzania prides itself on its unassailable ethnic and religious unity. But on the day of the Dar es Salaam Derby, neutrality takes a back seat to passionate fandom.
In Wake of Suicide Bombing Russians Question Their Security
An explosion aboard a Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad) commuter bus caused a stir in Russia’s blogosphere on Monday.
Three Lessons on Dating in China
Jocelyn Eikenburg from Speaking of China shared her experience in cross-cultural dating in China. The three lessons she had learned are: 1. Actions matter more than words; 2. Keep that past relationship in the past; and 3. It takes a lot longer to meet the parents.
