Stories about Citizen Media from August, 2023
Trinidad & Tobago is used to heat, but not quite like this
The fact that Trinidad and Tobago lies 10° north of the equator, coupled with the warming of the planet caused by climate change, has made the heat that much more unbearable.
Denyse Plummer, Trinidad & Tobago's unlikely calypso queen, leaves a legacy of passion, praise and patriotism
"She shattered barriers and paved the way for female calypsonians, demonstrating that the power of one's voice transcends gender and background."
If adopted, Tajikistan’s draft law on bloggers will do more harm than good
In the last few years, the country has recorded significant backsliding with regards to freedom of expression as well as overall political freedoms.
Michael Anthony, Trinidad & Tobago's ‘oldest living writer’ who vividly captured Caribbean life, dies at 93
"Anthony [depicted] adolescent and rural life in a way that no other writer has done. He will go down as probably the most widely read Caribbean writer of our generation."
Madagascar to host the 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
However, Malagasy national pride appears to have been overshadowed. The government announced that the games' opening and closing ceremonies would be led by Chinese choreographers.
Villages near Russia's former Gulag capital Vorkuta are facing extreme river pollution
Journalists share how people in the remote villages of Komi, Russia, live after a major wastewater treatment plant accident. Officials and residents don't seem worried.
Concerns in Guyana about threats against women activists
Women have been on the receiving end of death threats and other forms of intimidation for speaking out against mining, fossil fuel extraction and sexual violence.
The state of scientific development in Venezuela: Observations of a distinguished scientist
"Without human development, there is no scientific development," Professor Benjamin Scharifker says.
Ahead of election, Pakistan introduces new laws to stifle dissent
On August 9, 2023, the Pakistan National Assembly was dissolved to pave way for the upcoming election and dozens of bills were hurriedly passed that limit civil liberties and stifle dissent.
African institutions maintain silence on sub-Saharan migrant rights abuses in Tunisia
Despite a number of documented fatalities, African institutions concerned with transcontinental migration issues remain silent on the treatment of Sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia.
Jordan's fight for online freedom of expression
Jordan's endorsement of the controversial "Cybercrime Law" fuels concerns about online freedom and data privacy. It also echoes a larger conflict between security and rights.
Undertones: Russia's war strengthens Venezuelan solidarity with Ukraine
Alessandra Soler’s research reveals that for many Venezuelans, ‘Venezuela is also a victim of Russia’
Dengue is becoming endemic in Bangladesh
A number of factors converged, resulting in a complex situation where Bangladesh is struggling to cope with the growing cases of dengue infections which have reached endemic levels.
Cultural appropriation and the erasure of cultural diversity
The monoculture that comes wrapped in plastic, that poisons what it touches and whose only value is consumption, is the real threat.
Serbian ruling party troll farm leak revealed identities of over 14,500 ‘bots’
Vidaković stated that he paid EUR 15,000 (approximately USD 16,540) for the list, with money collected from the Serbian diaspora.
African perspectives: the role of artificial intelligence in journalism
In an interview with Global Voices, African journalists shared their views on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism on this continent.
A podcast in Kazakhstan is under controversy for inviting a friend of the Boston Marathon bomber
Critics viewed the episode as an attempt to whitewash a criminal by providing him with a platform and not asking tough questions.
As Jamaica reflects on 61 years of Independence, it also looks to its future
Jamaica has been independent of Britain since 1962, but is one of the few Caribbean territories that still retain the British monarch as head of state.
Brazil: Oil exploitation project worries fishermen at Amazon River estuary
As in most communities in the Amazon where such large-scale projects take place, residents fear damage to their communities.
Zere's new album is a continuation of her fight against gender inequality in Kyrgyzstan
It continues discussing gender inequality while exploring other social and political problems in Kyrgyzstan against the background of her intimate and personal experiences and stories from childhood.
Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan arrested once again ahead of elections
"Another former prime minister convicted and disqualified from running for office in Pakistan. A sad reflection of lack of full democracy."
