China: University's Stability Maintenance Instructions on Diaoyu Islands Dispute

Anne Henochowicz from China Digital Times translated a stability maintenance instructions from within an university from Shaanxi province which demands teachers and staffs from various departments to monitor students’ sentiment...

Wal-mart In China

I have a feeling all it takes is one pissed-off customer to make a phone call to the local officials to get that Wal-mart investigation up and running. It’s tough...

Jamaica: In Whose Image?

Whose conception of Jamaican identity resulted in the decision to market our country in this colour-coded way?  Why are we still rubbing out black people from the big picture?  Or,...

Armenia: Reflections on Homosexuality and Fascism

Unzipped: Gay Armenia reflects on Brotherhood, a 2009 Danish film about homosexuality and fascism, in the context of the neo-Nazi firebombing of D.I.Y., a gay friendly bar in Yerevan, earlier...

Tajikistan: Power Plant as a Symbol

Wouldn't this facility, featuring the world's tallest dam, become the most important symbol of our republic? Wouldn't it characterize us, as a state, better than a monument in [the country's capital] Dushanbe or the flag on the world's tallest flagpole?

Kyrgyzstan: Virtual Farming, Real Harvest

You can now grow real organic vegetables and raise livestock online. Caravanistan reports about a new project [ru] in Kyrgyzstan which allows users to purchase a plot of land or an animal...

Russia: Writers Put Down Pens to Stand Atop Soap Boxes

Now, nine people who self-identify as writers are running in the elections for the so-called "Coordinating Council of the Russian Opposition," and a tenth strongly considered registering as a candidate before ultimately dropping out. Bearing in mind that writing is not the most popular of professions, this is a hefty proportion of the total.

Mexico: Scientist and Activist Disappears, Family Fears Authorities’ Involvement

Aleph Jiménez, an activist and scientist, has gone missing in México after denouncing police repression following his arrest for participating in a political protest. Two of his colleagues have appeared dead. Family fears authorities are involved.

Madagascar Struggles to Control Domestic Instability

The social and political upheaval engulfing Madagascar extends way beyond its cities. Government forces are also attempting to curb violence between cattle rustlers and farmers across southern Madagascar.

Brazil: Media, Citizenship, and Public Policies Under Debate

To explore topics on "Media, Citizenship, and Public Policies" is the invitation launched by the VIII Brazilian Citizen Media Conference, in September 24th and 25th in Brasília, and Global Voices is there too. Get to know in this article some of the debates, initiatives and workshops that will happen.

South Korea: Presidential Nominee Stumbles Over Unresolved History

South Korea's ruling conservative party’s presidential nominee has suffered a major setback after she made an offensive remark on a notoriously unfair trial made under her father’s authoritarian rule. Former President Park Chung-hee is one of the most polarizing figures in South Korean history.

Japan: Anxiety Over Human Rights Commission Bill

A bill to set up a Human Rights Commission has been met with opposition from different parties and citizens. The bill aims to set up an independent commission for human rights violation such as bullying, descrimination, and slander on the Internet, as an extra-ministerial committe of the Ministry of Justice.

Japan: Petition to Release Violin from Frankfurt Customs

On August 16, 2012, German customs officials at Frankfurt Airport seized a Guarneri violin from Japanese professional musician Yuzuko Horigome when she failed to present correct documentation. They demanded that she...

Africa: Mountain Gorilla Conservation Data

Over 5,000 days of Mountain Gorilla conservation data in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo: Fifteen years ago, ranger-based monitoring (or RBM for short) was initiated as a...

Chile: Interview with Poderopedia Founder

Jessica Weiss from IJNet interviewed Miguel Paz, founder of Poderopedia [es], a data journalism project which seeks to reveal links among members of Chile's elite: Poderopedia's team will collect and...

Burundi: A Political Will to Provide Universal Education

The proportion of children in school increased from 59 per cent in 2005 to 96 per cent in 2011. The fact that Burundi is just emerging from war and that...

Ukraine: Localized ‘Yes-butno’ Meme Highlights ‘Most Popular Stereotypes’

The Yes-butno meme "created to break assumptions and stereotypes that everyone makes about various cultures, genders, sexualities, etc", has gone viral on the Ukrainian segment of Facebook, thanks to Lviv-based Rost Tatomyr and his selection of the nine "most popular stereotypes about Ukraine."

Kyrgyzstan: Court Bans Anti-Islam Film

The recent ban on the anti-Islam film 'Innocence of Muslims' in Kyrgyzstan has triggered lively debates among the country's internet users. While some netizens support the ban on the "offensive" video, others argue that restricting access to the film limits their freedom.

Trinidad & Tobago: Continuing Fallout from Section 34

The fallout from Section 34 and the firing of Justice Minister Hubert Volney continues to be discussed via social media, with netizens weighing in on the (in)adequacy of the Prime Minister's actions, the scope of responsibility for the legislation, Volney's fitness to sit in Parliament and the long-term political implications of the situation.

Peru: Hydrocarbons Exploration Threatens Iquitos’ Water

The amazonian city of Iquitos, strategically located on the banks of three rivers and blessed with a tropical weather with copious rainfall, shouldn't have problems with the drinking water supply. However, the reality is quite different. In this first part in a series of three posts we will look at how hydrocarbons exploration threatens Iquitos' water supply.

Mauritania: March to Commemorate the Passing of Rights Activist

Civil rights organisation Touche pas à ma nationalité TPMN ( in English: Do not interfere with my citizenship) has called for a large march to commemorate the passing of anti-racism activist Lamine Mangane, killed a year ago by authorities in the town of Maghama during protests against a census that marginalized black citizens of Mauritania.