Stories from 8 March 2014
[Video] Can We Also Celebrate Daughters in India?
Video Volunteers Community Correspondent Gayatri documents in a video one obscure ritual of India, the ‘Saptami Beti’, where women celebrate having a son. She comments: It is important to talk about this. I want to show this video in all the areas where ‘Saptami’ is celebrated. People give it so...
The Significance Of Celebrating The International Women's Day
Farah Subhan at Amader Kotha, a women-based portal highlighting the unheard voices of Bangladesh, tells how countries like Bangladesh can particularly be positively affected by the celebration of International Women’s Day.
New Macedonian Public Service Campaign Calls Drug Users “Mules”
Over the last seven years, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia has spent undisclosed amounts of taxpayers money to produce and air public service campaigns against drug use and drug trafficking. A new campaign has been launched by the government, calling drug users “mules”. Artist Ines Efremova tweeted: Слоганот...
When Daughters Don't Count: Social Media Prays Pakistani Cricketer Have a Son
On this year's International Women's Day on March 8, some fans of Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi, who has four girls, are praying that he have a son.
Malaysian Plane Carrying 239 People Reported Missing
Flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing lost contact with air traffic controllers, with the authorities being unable to locate the aircraft since. The flight was carrying 239 people
Is South Africa a ‘Failed Country'? Alan Dershorwitz Thinks So
American lawyer and political commentator Alan Dershorwitz has angered South Africans by describing their country as ‘a failed state’ in an interview with Piers Morgan.
Libre Graphics Magazine Dedicates Issue to Gender and Free Culture
Libre Graphics Magazine, “a print publication devoted to showcasing and promoting work created with Free/Libre Open Source Software” (F/LOSS), dedicates its latest issue to representation and gendered work in F/LOSS. Ginger Coons, a member of the editorial team, says the second issue in volume two of the magazine, titled “Gendering F/LOSS”, “[steps]...
Cassava: The Indigenous Root Vegetable That Feeds Brazil and Angola
Farofa, pirão, beiju, funge. Meet four popular dishes made from the cassava root in Brazil and Angola.
Lean In Beijing Encourages Women to Pursue Their Goals
In 2010, urban Chinese women earned 67 percent of what their male peers earned, and rural women earned 56 percent.
China Dismisses WWI Comparison Amid Tense Relations With Japan
“2014 is neither 1914 nor 1894, it’s better for [Japan] to regard post-war Germany as a role model than make a fuss about Germany before WWI.“
Voices Against Women's Day Remain Rare in Tajikistan
As Tajikistan celebrates the International Women's Day (re-branded as Mother's Day in the country in 2009), social media help amplify the rare voices that speak against the holiday. Writing on his personal website, prominent religious leader and politician Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda urges [tj] Tajiks not to celebrate on March 8: Celebrating Mother's Day or...
A warning message sent to Taiwan from Ukraine
The decision Russia made to send military force to Crimea worries many Taiwanese. Taiwan Explore, a blogger who devoted to introducing Taiwan, explained the parallels between Taiwan and Ukraine and why many Taiwanese feel worried about themselves when they watch the news about Ukraine these days.
Drone Footage Shows Beautiful Cambodian Landscape
Filmmaker Roberto Serrini used a drone to capture the unique beauty of Cambodia's rural and urban landscapes
South Korea: 6th Grader's ‘Frozen’ Tribute Video
Disney's Oscar-winning animated film ‘Frozen’ is immensely popular in South Korea; it has become the second most-watched foreign film as of last weekend by crossing 10 million admissions. Korean fans have posted lots of parody images, as well as Korean artists who have chimed in by singing the movie's catchy hit song...
China to Test Drones to Combat Smog Problem
"I am afraid this method does little to tackle the problem. Throughout history, China has only been met with failure when it tried to combat nature."