Stories about English from December, 2014
Hong Kong Police's Arrest of Teen ‘Shopping’ Protesters Sparks Concern
Human rights activists worry that Hong Kong police are targeting minors participating in "shopping" pro-democracy protests. Young activists may not be aware of their legal rights.
Anti-Coup Activist Says Thai Officials Threatened Her with Rape
She was detained at an International Human Rights Day event in Bangkok after she and another person made the three-fingered "Hunger Games" salute, which is banned in Thailand.
VIDEO: How Palm Oil is Causing Environmental Destruction in Indonesia
The team of Coconuts TV went to south Sumatra in Indonesia to document the impact of the burning of peatlands and forests to make way for the expanding palm oil...
Serbia Arrests 11 Foreign Human Rights Activists Ahead of Protest
Amnesty International has requested that Serbian authorities release eleven activists from Bulgaria, Finland, and Slovakia who were in Serbia to hold peaceful protests during the CEE-China Summit in Belgrade.
The Pakistanis Choosing Light Over Darkness After the Horrific Peshawar School Attack
As the last of the hostages were rescued at an army-run school in Peshawar, where 145 were killed by six Taliban gunmen, Pakistanis tried to find light in the darkness.
Southeast Asia's Public Transport Woes in Photos
Motorbike riders without helmet, overloaded jeepneys, and train passengers on roof carriages are some of the common public transport spectacles we see in the streets of Southeast Asia.
The ‘Perfect Human’ Doesn't Live in Puerto Rico (or Any Other Country)
Scientist Lior Pachter wrote a post titled "The perfect human is Puerto Rican" to underscore how absurd the obsession with genetically "improving" humans is. But some took the title literally.
Do #EmptyShelves Await Tomorrow's Russia?
The rush to invest in dollars, vacuum cleaners, jackets, and more all suggests confidence low enough to compel people to wait in line for hours on a Tuesday night.
Murdered Teen’s Father Rallies Support for ‘Tijana’s Law’ on Serbian Social Media
After the murder of 15-year-old Tijana Jurić, citizens are pushing the Serbian government to adopt a law that would allow police to search for missing minors immediately and more efficiently.
#IndiaWithPakistan: Indians Show Solidarity With Their Grieving Neighbors After Peshawar Attack
"Yes, I am Indian. So what? The pain of losing a child is universal. #IndiawithPakistan"
What the Global Climate Movement Can Learn From Latin America
"Latin America has this huge movement which often doesn’t call itself the climate movement, but what they are doing is completely a part of the struggles against climate change."
Does the Caribbean Have a Rape Culture?
Is Caribbean society doing everything it can to protect women from rape? Some activists have had enough with the region's passive acceptance of a rape culture.
Hungarian PM Receives Chocolates from Union Workers’ Children, Then Votes for Parents to Lose Jobs
Hungary's government monopolized the sale of tobacco goods in 2013, drawing criticism from all sides both for the monopoly and the restriction of the Freedom of Information Act that came...
As the Sydney Siege Comes to an End, Hundreds of Thousands of Tweets Show Solidarity with Muslims
The #IllRideWithyou campaign was meant to show solidarity with Sydney Muslims who might feel uncomfortable taking public transport following the Sydney siege.
Women's Reproductive Rights in Croatia: Is the Clock Ticking?
As Croatia looks to develop in the EU and Serbia looks to ascend to the European family, women's reproductive rights are being reorganized and restricted.
A First Glimpse of Christmas in Trinidad and Tobago
If you've never experienced a Caribbean Christmas - or even if you have - this peek into how Trinidad and Tobago celebrates will get you into the Christmas spirit!
Serbian Government Agency Publishes Personal Data of Over 5 Million Citizens
A link from the official website of the Privatization Agency of the Republic of Serbia began circulating on social networks in early December 2014. The link led to 19 gigabytes...
After Grozny Gun Battle, Human Rights Defenders in Chechnya Under Attack
Joint Mobile Group is one of Chechnya's last remaining human rights organizations. If it's forced from the republic, the loss to the local population would be difficult to exaggerate.
Massive Oil Spill Threatens Bangladesh's Sundarbans
Protesters are demanding a stronger government response. Absent effective government measures, however, Bangladesh will have to keep relying on civil society and volunteers in this environmental disaster.
Gezi's Echo and the Battle for Public Spaces in Turkey
On December 13, Istanbul hosted Turkey's first Radical Democracy Urban Encounter. The forum is likely to become a focal point for people wanting to reclaim Turkey's politicised public spaces.
Ukrainian Hackers Leak Russian Interior Ministry Docs with ‘Evidence’ of Russian Invasion
Ukrainian Cyber Forces hacker collective has leaked documents from Russian Interior Ministry servers that activists claim show evidence of Russian military presence in Ukraine.
