· January, 2013

Stories about Women & Gender from January, 2013

Zambia: Interview with BongoHive Co-Founder

  31 January 2013

BongoHive, a Zambian-based innovation hub, has captured the attention of computer and internet technology enthusiasts in the country. Global Voices recently caught up with Simunza Muyangana, one of the four co-founders, who explained what BongoHive is all about.

‘Testosterona’ Blog is Out of MTV Brazil

  31 January 2013

MTV Brazil has cancelled its contract with the Testosterona's blog, affirmed the group ‘Nós Denunciamos’ [pt] on Facebook. It is believed that MTV Brazil attitude came as a consequence of the TV network headquarter's decision in the US and social mobilization against the misogynistic program. Global Voices published an article...

Russian Parliament Confronts Next Threat to Kids: “Homosexual Propaganda”

RuNet Echo  25 January 2013

The Russian parliament's effort to defend the nation's children continues. In the last year, Duma deputies have labored feverishly to shield Russia's youth from child pornography and online enticements to drug use and suicide, and—more recently—they passed a law to put an end to the scourge of American adoptions of Russian orphans. Law-makers have now zeroed in on the next heinous threat: "homosexual propaganda."

Germany's Outcry Over Sexism Grips Twitter #Aufschrei

  25 January 2013

Journelle tweeted about a hashtag that has gripped the German twittersphere: What I like about #aufschrei [outcry] is that it’s bringing much-deserved attention to these disgusting incidents of casual sexism that might otherwise be played down. Using the hashtag #aufschrei [de], female Twitter users have been reporting the sexual harassment...

A Destitute Women And Her Dogs

  24 January 2013

Jabberwock shares this amazing story about an animal loving old woman living in a small makeshift shanty in Delhi. She has been looking after street dogs for years now, on her meager earnings from collecting and selling reusable garbage.

Australia: Lactivists Demonstrate for Public Breastfeeding

  21 January 2013

Lactivists have taken to social media and the streets to protect the right to breastfeeding in public in Australia. Two demonstrations have taken place following the ejection of Liana Webster, a mother breastfeeding at a public pool on 12 January 2013.

Bahrain Police Attack on Woman Stirs Anger

  20 January 2013

As Bahrain was pretending to be secure enough to hold a regional sports event, its security men were attacking a woman protester in the middle of Manama, the capital. Last July, Zahra Al-Shaikh was released from prison after being detained and tortured. On January 18, as Bahrain was hosting the Gulf Football finale, Zahra was once again arrested for protesting. Photographs and videos of her arrest went viral, stirring anger.

Profile of Brazilian Blogger Nessa Guedes, the Coca-Cola Girl

  19 January 2013

The Global Voices Online community works together to share the voices of thousands of bloggers and citizen journalists who live around the world. Sometimes, however, these same bloggers are the target of our curiosity. In the interview below, we will discover a little bit more about Nessa Guedes, the Coca-Cola Girl.

Earthquake Debris Disposal Divides Japan

  19 January 2013

One year and ten months have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake hit. The affected areas are now making steps towards recovery thanks to the support from all over Japan and around the globe. However one remaining issue, disaster debris incineration, is dividing the country.

‘Travelling with Nannies’ Proves Controversial in Brazil

  18 January 2013

A blog post with useful tips for families who travel with nannies raised controversy as the author's statements reflected a prejudiced view of domestic workers and deeper troubling issues in Brazil's work relations. The post went viral and was ultimately taken down by the site's administrators.

Pedophilia & Rape Accusations Flood the RuNet with Cruelty

RuNet Echo  12 January 2013

The Internet, any way you slice it, is a strange place populated by strange people. In the last few weeks, the Russian Internet—often your typical den of online cliques and conspiracy theorists—has boiled over the levees of "strange" and flooded the RuNet with a new intensity of bizarre moral recriminations. In the six days since RuNet Echo first reported on this story, top blogger Rustem Adagamov's situation has developed rapidly.

2012: A Year of Revolt and Social Change in Francophone Countries: Part 1 of 2

  11 January 2013

The year 2012 was marked by armed conflicts in Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. There were elections in Senegal, Quebec and France, while demonstrations for change took place in Chad, Madagascar and Togo. Debates raged on issues such as immigration, the economic crisis and equality in marriage laws. This is the first part of a review of the year 2012 in Francophone countries.