Stories about English from May, 2016
Now's Not a Good Time to Wear a Hammer and Sickle T-Shirt in Indonesia
"Fear of communism, fear of liberalism, fear of LGBT, fear of Chinese and foreign powers: personalities of those with inferiority complexes. Fearing their own stupidity."
Crimea's Government Cancels That ‘Putin Is a D*******’ Event
A curious event announcement appeared briefly on the website of the Crimean government on May 25. It concerned Vladimir Putin and the word “dickhead.”
Bloggers Boggled Over Why Child Marriage Is Still on the Books in Trinidad & Tobago
"This is not just an issue of age and maturity, but once again, of power."
A Flurry of Poaching Cases Casts a Cloud Over Nepal's Tiger Conservation Efforts
"If the tiger is conserved, the forest will be conserved, the conserved forest will conserve the tiger. So, conserve humans on this planet by conserving the tiger and the forest."
The Threat That Was Cyclone Roanu, and the ‘Success’ That Was Bangladesh's Response
"Even 10 years ago, a cyclone such as Roanu would kill hundreds, devastate thousands of lives, look how [the] situation has change[d], how the death toll has dwindled..."
A Peruvian Amazon Community Is Putting Up a Fight Against the Expansion of Oil Palm
The legal case of Santa Clara Uchunya against the Pucallpa Plantations is emblematic because its outcome will have far-reaching consequences for the future of the region and its indigenous peoples.
A Celebration of Sri Lanka's Musical Diversity, From Traditional Drumming to Urban Rap
Let this collection of photos and audio transport you to the recent Galle Music Festival of Sri Lanka.
Ghanaian Minister Vows Not to Ban Whatsapp, Skype and Viber Calls
"Methinks the telcos need to smell the coffee because the traditional 'voice game' is over, and with it, the monopoly profits they used to make."
‘Soldiers’ Mothers’ Launch Mobile App to Protect Draftees’ Rights in Russia
Soldiers' Mothers of Saint Petersburg, a non-profit providing legal aid and advice to army draftees in Russia, has launched a mobile app to help draftees protect their rights.
Leading Russian Independent Newspaper Suspends Deputy Editor After Blackmail Scandal
Novaya Gazeta has suspended its deputy chief editor, following revelations that he instructed reporters to blackmail suspects in a recent investigation.
On Not Becoming a Buddhist
Did a visit to the Japanese Buddhist temple of Tada-ji and the statue of Yakushi Nyorai help save a sick infant? Is it even possible to know?
Brazilian Musicians Mount an Orchestra Against Brazil's Interim Government
Late German composer Carl Off's "Carmina Burana" was turned into a chant of "Fora Temer" (Temer Out), against Michel Temer's interim government.
Global Voices Partners With Groundviews From Sri Lanka
Global Voices and Groundviews have launched a partnership that will combine our focus on citizen media and Groundviews's analysis/expertise to bring our readers original and in-depth coverage from Sri Lanka.
Trinidad and Tobago Reconsiders Marriage Act After Push to Recognise Child Marriage as Abuse
Trinidad and Tobago is a society of contradictions: the legal age of sexual consent was recently raised from 16 to 18, even as another law on marriage differs significantly.
Chinese Demand Harsher Laws to Stop Bullying After a Teenager's Beating Death
"We can't clean out the weeds by pulling them out one by one. School bullying, teenage violence, all these uncivilized behaviors are rooted in society and family."
‘Activists’ Attack St. Petersburg Bordellos, Forcing Women to March Nude to Police
Only recently freed from prison, one of Russia's most notorious criminals has attacked two suspected bordellos in St. Petersburg, assaulting and humiliating the women inside.
Incessant Rain Triggers Deadly Landslides and Massive Flooding in Sri Lanka
"What a difference a day makes, from a flood selfie to mass burial of 100's in a landslide #SriLanka"
Protests and Banners Await High-Ranking Chinese Official on Visit to Hong Kong
Despite this promise of care and love, Zhang Dejiang's visit has been accompanied by thousands of police officers, who vow to take "decisive action" against protesters.
‘Enfants du Pays’ Project Remembers Victims of Burundi’s Crisis With Life Stories and Artwork
"Thank you #EnfantsDuPays for making sure Burundians do not die 'twice.'"
The Caribbean Memory Project Is Crowdsourcing Family Histories to Preserve the Region's Cultural Heritage
"We come from a very complex place, and that the histories we possess are even more complex. We -- Caribbean people -- are very fragile keepers of our history."
Filipino Farmers Hit by El Niño Are Protesting and Demanding Food Aid
"We can look for alternative crops to plant. But right now there is simply nothing – just hectares of dust that even weed won’t grow on."