Stories about Citizen Media from December, 2015
This Is What It Looks like When Thousands of Migratory Birds Descend on Peru
"Franklin's gull isn't native to Peru, but we Peruvians have adopted it as ours as it visits us for centuries during spring and summer."
Russian Activist Gets Two-Year Sentence for ‘Calls to Extremism’ on Social Networks
A Russian court has found activist Darya Polyudova guilty of "public calls to separatism and extremism" on social networks and has sentenced her to two years in a penal colony.
One Kanji Character Captures a Year of Uncertainty in Japan
The character 安 has been named the official kanji of 2015. The character is supposed to represent 'peace', but not always...
Kyrgyzstan's Take on Buzzfeed Generates Complaints (and Views) with Gender Stereotyping Listicles
'The ideal 'kelin' pours tea with her right hand, but never a full cup.'
Saudi Women Vote in Historic Elections; Now They Want More Rights
Twenty-one Saudi women won seats in municipal elections for the first time ever. Now Saudi women, banned from driving their own cars in the conservative kingdom, demand more.
Ethiopia Faces Famine Despite ‘Unprecedented’ Economic Growth
"According to some inside Ethiopia, NGO’s are being warned not to use the words “famine, starvation or death” in their food appeals."
The History of Royal Hunts in Nepal’s Southern Plains Is Simply Barbaric
'Even Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination in 1914 triggered the World War I, came to hunt in Nepal invited by Maharajah Bir Shumsher in March 1893.'
Giving Hope to the Homeless by Changing Perceptions in Trinidad and Tobago
"People [...] look at me a certain way and whisper as they pass by. Some say hello, some just watch me and laugh. I know they judge me..."
Mexican Christmas Food Combines Basque Flavors with Nahuatl Tradition
"Most important are banana peppers soaked in vinegar, to give character and more flavour to the Biscayne sauce."
How Did You Remember Refugees and Migrants on International Migrants’ Day?
Throughout human history, migration has been a courageous expression of the individual’s will to overcome adversity and to live a better life.
Does ‘Free Entry’ Always Come at a Cost?: Trinidad & Tobago Talks Gender Discrimination After Nightclub Row
"Not all discrimination is created equal, and not all unequal treatment is necessarily discriminatory."
As Russia Insulates Itself from Human Rights Bodies, State Surveillance Decision Looms
The European Court of Human Rights ruled in favor of a free expression advocate's case against Russian government surveillance. But thanks to a new law, Russia officially does not care.
WhatsApp Is Back on in Brazil. But Why Was It Blocked in the First Place?
The judge who issued the order based her decision on a provision of Marco Civil, Brazil's so-called "Bill of Rights" for the Internet.
Do You Know the Story of Brazil's First Black Female Legislator?
More than 80 years ago, Antonieta de Barros became the first black woman elected in Brazil. But she's hardly a household name. One filmmaker has tried to change that.
Mapping for Niger, as Told by One of the Project's Volunteers
The project faces limited logistical, financial, and human resources as well as a general ignorance of Open Data, making each activity realized a feat of volunteer passion and activism.
Poland's Constitutional Tribunal Crisis
Constitutional crisis. Protesters outside the parliament. Enigmatic national addresses. A power struggle between governments. This is Polish politics today.
Singapore Couple on Trial for Allegedly Starving Filipina Maid for 15 Months
"...migrant domestic workers in Singapore live and work under state regulations that place them squarely in the position of indentured slaves..."
The Complexities of Adapting to Climate Change in Benin
Poverty, practicalities and lack of awareness can complicate efforts to do so, experts at a conference on development and climate change in Benin concluded.
What the Paris Climate Change Agreement Does and Doesn’t Do
Here’s a rough and unofficial overview of some different parts of the deal agreed to by 195 countries.
Here's What Russian Internet Users Googled in 2015
In 2015, the RuNet cheered on Eurovision and hockey, but also mourned prominent Russians who passed away and followed the tragic events in Egypt and France.
Indonesia Mourns Scholar Benedict Anderson, Who Helped Expose the 1965 Anti-Communist Purge
Indonesians celebrate the life of Professor Benedict Anderson, author of the book "Imagined Communities" and an expert on Southeast Asia at Cornell University. Anderson died last week.