Stories about English from March, 2018
Women Reporters Accuse a Prominent Russian Lawmaker of Sexual Harassment, but His Colleagues Stand by Him
At least three Russian women reporters have accused Leonid Slutsky, a populist parliament member, of sexual harassment. Most of his politician colleagues, even women, are rallying behind him.
How a Viral Eye Roll Broke the Silence on China's Heavily Censored Web
"The rolling eyes are like a bolt of lightening that destroys tens of thousands expressions of praise and outshines speeches made by hundreds of thousands of brain-dead people."
Guyanese Literary Giant Sir Wilson Harris Leaves Behind a ‘Literacy of the Imagination’
"The indigenous people of the Caribbean, the landscape [...] and native myth were [...] given new meaning because of him. He changed the way Caribbean literature is written and read."
City Councillor and Leading Rights Activist Shot Dead in Downtown Rio de Janeiro
Marielle Franco was the fifth most voted councilor for Rio's City Chamber. She was murdered after denouncing police violence in favelas. The crime is being investigated as an execution.
Is Censorship Coming Back to Tunisia? Court Order Bans ‘Blue Whale’ Online Game
The implications of this decision, if upheld on appeal, would set a new precedent for internet censorship in Tunisia.
From Graffiti to Politics, Anti-Semitic and Neo-Nazi Speech Is Becoming More Visible in Eastern Europe
Activists in the region have been sounding the alarm about increasingly emboldened hate speech against Jewish people and apology for perpetrators of the Holocaust.
Prominent Chinese Feminist Social Media Account Shuttered on International Women’s Day
"...[T]he Chinese government does not understand feminism, does not understand what feminists are doing, and does not understand what they are advocating."
Aurat March (Woman March) Marks Resistance Against Misogyny in Pakistan
"There is a lot of anger that is finally releasing and this march was a way to direct that anger somewhere for something powerful and beautiful."
For Jordanian Women, a Year of Hard-Won Progress and Continuing Challenges
Despite a successful campaign to repeal a legal loophole allowing rapists to marry their victims, there is plenty left to do in the struggle to achieve gender equality in Jordan.
Law, Entertainment and Politics in Korea Feel the Wrath of #MeToo
Koreans witnessed the power of the people with the ousting of the president last March. Now they're seeing it again in the form of #MeToo and #WithYou.
What Bitcoin, Tulip Mania and the Nigerian Stock Market Have in Common
"Though tulips had no practical use and lacked fragrance and medicinal value, at the height of tulip mania investors sold their homes to purchase a single bulb. Sound familiar?"
Pastor's Reduced Sentence for ‘Sex With Minors’ Casts Cloud Over International Women's Day in Jamaica
"Disgraced Moravian pastor Rupert Clarke got a slap on the wrist...He egregiously breached the trust and confidence of the people who look to him as a man of the clergy..."
How Greek Anti-Nationalist Satire Was Misunderstood as Hate Speech in Macedonian Media
"...the problem is we are so alienated from each other as peoples and as individuals that we are prepared to expect the worst in each other..."
Women March in Indonesia for Equality and Justice Amid Legislative Attacks on Rights and Freedoms
Marchers used the hashtag #LawanBersama (#FightTogether) to call for the protection of women's rights.
Sand Mining in Uganda Poses a Serious Threat to the Environment
"Where there any hydrological as well as geology survey before sand mining to ascertain any risk on the highway?"
Rebels and Rebellion in Classic Chinese Literature
"These stories continued to be passed from generation to generation because they embody a spirit of disobedience and rebellion, an eternal source of inspiration for the Chinese people."
Thousands Protest on the Streets of Kashmir After Indian Army Kills Four Civilians
"#Kashmir is a place of a billion or more coverups...India had never been interested in human rights or accountability. They are interested in controlling Kashmir by fear."
Slovak Bloggers and European Leaders Demand Justice for Slain Journalist Ján Kuciak
"Supranational law enforcement tools must be established urgently to punish the killers. Strong words won't deliver justice."
A Record Number of African Athletes Participated in Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games
"A matter of pride for the african continent which doesn’t make light of the difficulties faced by African athletes to get here."
Sri Lanka Declares a State of Emergency Following Anti-Muslim Violence
"For 30 years, Sri Lanka, you witnessed the streets running red with the blood of your children. Have you forgotten the loss? The fear? The pain? Have you learned nothing?"
Murder of Investigative Journalist Ján Kuciak Shakes Slovak Society
"Judging by the past affairs in Slovakia, as well as experience with similar events in the world, it is very unlikely that we have will see justice. However, in order to keep my own mental health, I remain optimist ..."