Stories about Citizen Media from November, 2023
Bosnian volunteer firefighters: Courage, leadership, and unity
The Turbe Fire Department in central Bosnia and Herzegovina proudly stands as a pillar of the community. Its 50 members, including 28 young volunteers, are unwaveringly dedicated to the protection and safety of their fellow citizens.
The closer Venezuela gets to voting on annexation of the Essequibo, the more tense the border dispute with Guyana becomes
Venezuela will hold a referendum to gauge support for the annexation of the Essequibo region, and Guyana has petitioned the International Court of Justice to stop the vote.
‘The eagle has landed’ and Trinidad and Tobago social media users are thrilled
It's a phrase that gained widespread recognition during one of the most historic events of the 20th century. It's also a phrase that Trinbagonians use to communicate they've been paid.
Maldives’ new president formally requests India withdraw troops from its borders
On the first day of his office, pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu formally requested the Indian Government to withdraw its troops stationed in the Maldives, making headlines in both countries.
Interview with the political figure Boubacar Touré on the coup which overthrew Niger's president
The risk of pitting various African countries against one another since the Niger coup seems to be increasing while an ultimatum from the African Union lies fallow.
‘Well, well, well': What the fuss about Trinidad & Tobago's national anthem is all about
Trinidad and Tobago soca singer Iwer George's use of the country's national anthem in his Carnival 2024 track “Happy People” made many people decidedly unhappy.
Navigating the media landscape in Zambia
The Freedom House report categorizes Zambia as "partly free," giving it a score of 54 out of 100 because of restrictive laws that limit political space and online speech.
One year after the Ürümqi fire that kicked off protests across China: Interview with Uyghur activist Rushan Abbas
Global Voices interviewed Uyghur activist Rushan Abbas to assess how the human rights situation of Uyghurs has changed since the Ürümqi fire and talk about the future of Uyghur-Han Chinese relations.
Senegalese music: A national emblem, renowned worldwide
Once dominated by music from other countries, Senegalese contemporary music manages to raise Senegal's prominence both on the continent and world stage, making it a national emblem.
Democratic Republic of Congo: What to read and who to follow to understand the social and political situation
The pre-election period is often fuelled by socio-political debates and the media serves as an ideal format for the candidates to make themselves heard by the masses.
In Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina's dual nationality courts controversy on eve of Presidential Election
Madagascar controversy: according to the law, having another nationality voids Madagascar nationality, a prerequisite for election candidates. Yet candidate Andry Rajoelina owns a French passport.
What is a Jab Molassie, and does it have a place in promoting Tobago's tourism offering?
The masquerade is rooted in rebellion, and various iterations of this devil character exist throughout the Caribbean.
Undertones: What pop culture tells us about Myanmar’s politics
Democracy activists say that military junta is investing in the entertainment industry to distract people from the violent regime.
Nepal's TikTok ban is the first step towards more government control on social media
On November 13, 2023, the Nepali government imposed a blanket ban on Chinese social media platform TikTok, alleging that the platform was fostering social discord among Nepalis.
Numerous journalists connected to Azerbaijani news site arrested
At least three Azerbaijani journalists were arrested on November 20 from Abzas media in connection with corruption reporting. International press groups are calling for their release.
How Dominica's designation of the world's first sperm whale sanctuary can help fight climate change
More sperm whale excrement equals more plankton, which translates into more CO2, a greenhouse gas, being trapped.
Neville Garrick, the Jamaican artist who captured Bob Marley’s legacy in his designs, passes away at age 73
Garrick was famous for designing the vibrant covers for the reggae icon’s most acclaimed albums, but he was also a devout Rastafarian, political activist and creative.
Brazilian politicians funded an online anti-abortion campaign ahead of Supreme Court ruling vote
In adverts pushed on Instagram and Facebook, politicians have taken positions against abortion and criticized the Supreme Court for scheduling a ruling on it
Digital apartheid and the use of social media algorithms in humanitarian crises
Big tech platforms extensively censor Palestinian voices, shadow banning them and their supporters, violating their rights to free speech, assembly, information access, political participation, and protection from discrimination.
Jazzing up the ‘Mandu’ for 20 years
“Initially, we were met with some reluctance and confusion regarding jazz, but now there is no need to explain, Jazzmandu has put both jazz and Kathmandu on the map.”
How India’s increasing online scams are threatening the digital landscape
The proliferation of mobile phones and widespread adoption of digital transactions have created a large pool of people to be exploited by unemployed Indian scammers as a means of livelihood.
