Stories about LANGUAGES from September, 2013
“You Can Kick Female Flight Attendants” in Kazakhstan
A former government official in Kazakhstan recently kicked a female flight attendant, reportedly because she did not speak Kazakh. The story has caused a stir on social media. Blogger Pivovar offers [ru] the most interesting and most widely shared Twitter posts on this incident, such as the one below: Казахстан-2013: бить...
GV Face: Retweeting Terrorists? The Westgate Mall Attacks
In this week's edition of our Google Hangout series GV Face, we discuss the role of social media in the aftermath of the devastating attack in Kenya.
Developing Latin America 2013: An ‘Apps Challenge’ for Social Impact
This year Developing Latin America goes from being a Hackathon to an Apps Challenge, an event to think of better ideas, obtain more concrete solutions, and achieve more sustainable applications.
Russia’s Hunger Games
There are two hunger strikes in Russia today, one by a famous Pussy Riot member and another by a mothers' group. What do the different receptions online say about Russia?
Tajik President's Reelection Bid Finds Support Online
With less than six weeks to go before presidential elections, Tajikistan's incumbent leader has found unexpected support from some bloggers.
Kyrgyzstan: “It is Impossible to Propagandize Homosexuality”
Prominent Kyrgyzstani blogger Bektour Iskander reflects [ru] on on the recent law banning gay ‘propaganda’ in Russia and speculations that some Kyrgyz human-rights NGOs are engaged in such propaganda: It is impossible to propagandize homosexuality. Because a heterosexual cannot turn into a gay, even if she/he communicates with hundreds of...
Praise and Criticism for Uruguay's Proposed Media Law
The bill, which has received the praise of several journalism and freedom of expression organizations, is not as controversial as the one recently approved in Ecuador or as contentious as the one currently in the hands of Argentina’s Supreme Court. However, it is not without its critics. While it has been lauded for its intention to set...
“An e-Book is a Book” – Nigerian Poet and Linguist
"An e-Book is a Book" - Sticklers for traditional modes of publishing will lament this as retrogression, but they will be wrong, says Nigerian writer Kola Tubosun.
Documentary Films Tackle Child Sexual Abuse in India
Indian documentary films are heightening awareness about child abuse. By talking to children, responsible adults and even abusers, these films are helping open up an erstwhile shuttered space.
Brazil Becomes Hot Market for Surveillance Technology Ahead of World Cup
Giants of the surveillance sector get contracts in a number of Brazilian cities to monitor citizens during the games of 2014 - from security scanners to remote tracking software.
Online Petition Got Sea Turtle Released in the Philippines
Captive sea turtle was used as photo-op to attract tourists. More than 1,500 signed petition to release the sea turtle.
“Fetishization of Somoni” Continues in Tajikistan
As Tajikistan's president unveils yet another statue of national icon Ismoil Somoni, blogger Tomiris criticizes [ru] monument monoculture in the country: Don't we have other historical figures to erect statues to? Was Somoni really the only one of its kind? I understand that this fetishization of Somoni is a political...
Busting Myths about Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is not part of the Middle East; Kazakhs do not have Chinese blood in their veins; and not everything about Kazakhstan is bad. Blogger busts (part 1, part 2) [ru] common myths about the oil-rich Central Asian nation.
When There's No Emergency Phone Number, Kenya Tweets For Help
When al-Shabab gunmen attacked Nairobi's Westgate Mall, Philip Ogola of Kenya Red Cross jumped to action – with a tweet.
Protests in Sudan: Dozens Feared Dead
Sudan's answer against protests was cutting off the Internet and killing dozens of protestors. Activists say Sudan pulled the Internet plug to stop activists from sharing its crackdown on protestors.
Podcast: China's Big Internet Crackdown
Sinica podcast discusses China's recent crackdown on Big-Vs on Sina Weibo and poses questions about whether Sino Weibo will continue to be popular and if online discussions are already moving away from Sina Weibo towards mobile services like WeChat.
Peru: 7 Magnitude Quake Hits Acari, Arequipa
Some media and citizens report small-scale damage, like rock slides that have blocked part of the southern Panamericana highway. No fatal victims have been reported.
Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Kills Hundreds in Southeastern Pakistan
More than 327 people have been killed following a powerful earthquake that struck Balochistan Province on Tuesday.
Europe Warns French Minister over Statement Regarding Roma Community
Les derniers propos du Ministre français de l'Intérieur, Manuel Valls ont relancé la polémique au niveau des rapports houleux entre la France et les Roms, en France et en Europe.
Why Laos Has High Maternal And Infant Mortality Rates
Dee Harlow cites several factors that explain why Laos has the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in Southeast Asia: Many factors contribute to the inaccessibility of the care expectant mothers need including, geographic remoteness, lack of infrastructure and seasonal limitations for travel on rough roads, lack of transport or...
Vietnamese Blogger Speaks Out Against Government Repression
Nguyen Bac Truyen gave a testimony in a human rights event in Geneva about the repression suffered by bloggers and activists in Vietnam: Since Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang came back from a visit to President Obama in the United States at the end of July, government repression has entered...
