Stories about LANGUAGES from January, 2018
Filipino Bloggers Rally to Defend Rappler News Site
"We stand against moves to silence and scare journalists, bloggers and media practitioners just because the President and his ardent supporters dislike their news and views."
Barbados’ Sewage ‘Crisis’ Causes a Flood of Problems
"The South Coast of Barbados [is] known as the place to wine, dine and party. Regrettably, the South Coast has been making news because of sewage overflowing onto public spaces..."
Ocean Mapping Expedition Tracing Magellan’s Voyage Reaches the Philippines
A sailing ship following Ferdinand Magellan’s voyage around the globe is also an ocean mapping expedition that explores humanity’s impact on the oceans and the environment.
Macedonia Has Its Own #MeToo Movement — #ISpeakUpNow — and It Is Gaining Momentum
Despite the backlash from trolls, the #ISpeakUpNow movement has mostly drawn support and applause for the survivors of sexual abuse who refuse to stay silent any longer.
Nepal’s Vulture Restaurants Are Helping Revive Their Population and Generate Income for Communities
As the vulture restaurants grow in popularity and continue to generate income for the neighboring communities, people who once abhorred and avoided these birds are beginning to change their tune.
To Achieve Freedom for Iran and the Arab Nations, the Region Must Unite
"United, we can rebuild the region and save all our peoples before the Iranian regime drags us all over the precipice into a chasm of sectarian bloodletting and chaos."
UNESCO World Heritage Site at Risk: Bulgarian Government Allows Construction in Pirin, Citizens Protest
Protesters want the controversial decision withdrawn and credible guarantees given that park preservation and the rule of law will be protected -- including the resignation of Environmental Minister Neno Dimov.
State of Emergency Over Worsening Crime Has Some Jamaicans Relieved — But Is It an Effective Approach?
Is a state of emergency "making progress", or is it a shot in the dark as Jamaica grapples with addressing the social and economic inequity that fuels violent crime?
Reuters Journalists Covering Rohingya Conflict in Myanmar Detained for ‘Illegally Acquiring Information’
"If Myanmar is serious about democratic reforms, it must accept the right of journalists to work freely and report on topics that make those in power uncomfortable."
Is Taiwan a Country? What About Tibet? China Says They Aren't—and Wants Foreign Companies to Fall in Line
Multinational corporations have faced pressure to apologize for listing Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Tibet as countries on their websites, even if in reality it's a common practice.
Philippine Authorities Order Shutdown of Rappler News Site, Bringing a Blow to Press Freedom
"If this revocation stands, Rappler will effectively be shut down —the first time a news organization will be closed by government since the dictator Marcos declared martial law in 1972."
How Will Macau's New Cybersecurity Legislation Impact Freedom of Speech?
The Macau Civil Servants Association (MCSA) called the proposal to monitor online data through binary code “arbitrary, disproportionate and illegal."
Gold Mining Threatens Communities in Macedonia's Agricultural Heartland
"We've given mining concessions on top of water springs to dig out an insignificantly small amount of gold. Someone has decided to poison us with arsenic, sulfuric acid, and cyanide."
Two Leading Figures of the Arts in Iran. Two Very Different Reactions to the Protests.
A notable writer, known for fighting against censorship, condemns the burning of the flag during protests. A notable filmmaker, however, shows support.
Why Wait? Wikipedia and Google Accidentally Declare Putin the Winner of March 2018 Presidential Elections
Whether the error was intended as a joke, or as a political move, is unknown.
Nigerian Police Arrest a Journalist and His Brother Over a News Article They Didn't Write
"Police have no business raiding a journalist's home and locking him up just because an officer does not like something written in the press."
Palau Visitors Are Now Required to Sign a Pledge to Respect the Environment
"Children of Palau, I take this pledge, as your guest, to preserve and protect your beautiful and unique island home."
Japanese Media Struggles to Translate Trump's “Shithole”
"Fascinating that media outlets find it easier to print "shithole" than 'racist' or 'racism'."
This Week in the Caribbean: From ‘Shithole’ Comments to ‘Wining’ Laws
This week, Caribbean netizens rail against the US president's "shithole" comment, discuss violent crime in Jamaica and debate the new "wining" law that will impact Trinidad and Tobago Carnival.
In 2017, Samoa's Parliament Made Libel a Crime. How Will This Affect Bloggers and Social Media?
"Concerns about anonymous bloggers should not override the right of citizens to speak freely, without fear of being jailed."
Pakistanis Demand #JusticeForZainab, 7-Year-Old Raped and Murdered in Kasur
"12 young girls, have been raped and murdered in the last one year...Failure of Pakistan’s 'Criminal Justice System' lies at the root of this public anger."
