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Simon Maghakyan

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About Simon Maghakyan

23 posts · joined 2008-10-20

A native of Armenia, Simon is a current graduate student in political science at University of Colorado Denver. He is also an alumnus of the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies. Connect to Simon’s blog at www.blogian.net.

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April 13th, 2009

USA: No More Columbus Day at Brown University

In response to protests from Native American and other students, the prestigious Brown University in the United States has changed the name of the national public holiday Columbus Day to "Fall Weekend" on its academic calendar. Bloggers are debating this modification of a holiday that honors the European explorer Christopher Columbus for “discovering” America.

April 4th, 2009

Australia: Indigenous Rights Declaration Approved

Australia’s government has endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a year and a half after voting – along with Canada, New Zealand, and the United States – against the September 2007 document. Reform Wollongong City Council, a blog from Australia, writes: On Friday 3 April ...

March 30th, 2009

Georgia: Holy Baby Boom!

The birth rate has increased by 20 percent in ex-Soviet Georgia and the country's Orthodox Church is taking much of the credit. The miracle responsible for the much-needed baby boom in this old Christian country has been a single promise from the head of the Georgian church to personally baptize newborns. Bloggers seem impressed.

March 16th, 2009

Armenia: International Women's Day action sparks virginity debate

Although couples now marry at a later age than before, some traditions have been slow to change in Christian Armenia. One custom, for example, expects women -- but not men -- to remain virgins until their wedding night. However, a recent rally to mark International Women’s Day after which red apples were buried, a symbol of the bride losing her virginity, has prompted intense discussion in the Armenian blogosphere.

March 9th, 2009

U.S.A.

UOB says Native Americans will now advise U.S. Department of Homeland Security on issues concerning American Indians. The policy has been created by new Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

March 3rd, 2009

UK: ‘Stamping Out' Media Racism Against Indigenous Peoples

Amid growing awareness about indigenous peoples’ issues in the world, British periodicals The Guardian and The Observer have new guidelines against using two phrases that activists say marginalize and de-legitimize indigenous peoples.