Stories about LANGUAGES from October, 2016
Carnival Designer Apologises for Insensitivity to Trinidad's Colonial Trauma, But Was It Enough?
"Our history is complicated and troubling and painful and horrendous.... Asking that those complications be acknowledged is not censorship. It is a cry against continued erasure."
Morocco Unblocks VoIP Applications Ahead of UN Climate Conference
"To avoid being seen as a police state during the #COP22, Morocco temporarily unblocks VoIP services," tweeted one user.
Leaked Xinjiang Police Report Describes Circumvention Tools as ‘Terrorist Software’
The report describes using VPNs as an indicator of criminality, or a “pre-criminal” behavior, perhaps a harbinger of tighter restrictions to come.
Farewell to Renen Raz, Beloved Anti-Colonial, Queer Israeli Activist
Renen Raz, an Israeli anti-colonial and queer activist, died this week. He's now being remembered for his passion for social justice in Israel-Palestine.
Russia Is Reportedly Banning LinkedIn
LinkedIn, the world’s largest online professional network, is at risk of being blocked in Russia, where federal censors have convinced a Moscow court to outlaw the network.
Yet Another Socio-Environmentalist Is Murdered in Amazonia
Earlier this month, on October 13, two assassins on a motorcycle murdered Luís Alberto Araújo, the environmental secretary of the Brazilian town of Altamira, Pará State.
Hackers Publish Kremlin Aide's E-Mails, Allege Plan to Destabilize Ukraine
Ukrainian hackers say Putin advisor Vladislav Surkov's leaked e-mails reveal a plan to destabilize Ukraine in the coming months.
A Trinidad & Tobago Carnival Band Is Accused of Trivialising the Trauma of Slavery
"He's glamorizing a part of our colonial history where racism and socioeconomic disparity were rampant. And carnival now, with its overpriced parties and parades, continues that tradition."
In Trinidad & Tobago, Video of Shooting Aftermath Doesn’t Boost Public Trust in the Police
"This has nothing to do with what happened before [...] or what led to his shooting. This has to do with what passes for police procedure in this place."
Sri Lankan Tourism: Booming Again, But Mostly for the Military
The Sri Lankan military is investing heavily in the tourism business. The armed forces have several hotels and resorts, many restaurants and cafes, and other tourist facilities.
In the Eyes of Hong Kong's Housing Market, We Are All Just Sardines
Living spaces in Hong Kong are shrinking in size while prices skyrocket. Here's one response to the absurdity of the situation.
Saudi Mobile Data Quality Provokes National Protest Against Bad Service
Saudi social media users are protesting against the nation's mobile network operators' bad service and the continued blocking of VoIP apps that are supposed to be available for free.
Just How Welcome Are ‘Foreigners’ on Japanese Trains?
A private railway company in western Japan recently came under fire after a conductor apologized for the presence of “foreigners” on a train. And that was just the beginning.
Russian City Cuts Fuel to WWII Eternal Flame So Locals Won't Cook on It
Taganrog’s eternal flame isn’t burning today, and a local gas company official says it’s because he can’t guarantee that locals won’t roast sausages over the fire.
Who Has the Right to Tell a Country’s Story?
"It is not possible to tell the truth about Cuba from only one viewpoint, or from unanimous viewpoints that are the equivalent of one."
A short history of Halloween in Japan
Halloween in Japan has become a creepy tour de force. But trick-or-treating has never caught on. Why?
Russian Search Engine Will Only List Top News Stories from State-Registered Media
Yandex is coming under pressure to register with Roskomnadzor, the state agency that regulates Russian media.
A Portuguese Woman's 20-Year Legal Battle Over a Scholarship Ends in Her Imprisonment for Defamation
"It is unfortunate that the law is not applied to all people in the same way..."
Sri Lanka Pays the Price for Past Government's Extravagance
The huge sum of money spent canceling an order for new Airbuses could have funded a whole lot more.
Peace Activist Khurram Parvez's Illegal Detention in Kashmir Valley May Be Proof He's “Doing Something Right”
After his arrest on September 15, Parvez was charged under the Public Safety Act and sent to a prison facility nearly 300 kilometers from his family and legal counsel.
A Lack of Open Space Forces Kids in One Mumbai Suburb to Play in a Dirty Field
“We don’t tell our parents that we play here. They think we go to a proper ground to play. If they know...they will not let us out to play."