Stories about Ethnicity & Race from March, 2010
Sweden: Parliament Recognizes the Assyrian Genocide
The Swedish Parliament has recognized as genocide the massacres that took place within the Ottoman Empire from 1913 to 1920 against the Armenian, Assyrian and Pontic Greek population - an episode that is also referred to as "Seyfo" by the Assyrian Diaspora. Bloggers react to this development in this post.
Russia: Sochi Games and the Circassian Genocide
In 2014, the Russian resort of Sochi will host the Winter Olympic Games, but the 700,000-900,000 of ethnic Circassians living in Russia are trying their best to prevent the country from having its Olympic games in peace.
Azerbaijan: DOTCOM arrives in Baku
Late last night, American participants of the U.S. State Department sponsored DOTCOM project to bring Armenian, Azerbaijani and American teenagers together to create socially conscious media arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Uzbekistan: They Cancelled Navroz
Nathan Hamm informs his readers that public Navroz celebrations were cancelled in Uzbekistan – allegedly because of bad weather, but no official announcements were made about the cancellation.
Tajikistan: Afghan Refugees in Tajikistan
Christian Bleuer reflects on a video report about Afghan refugees in Tajikistan, saying that this is just one of many issues in the country that it is ill-equipped to handle.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: BBC Azeri Facebook Diary III
As part of the BBC Superpower Season, the BBC's Azeri service approached Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor to participate in its own reflection on the power of the Internet. What follows is the third and final in English
Armenia-Azerbaijan: BBC Azeri Facebook Diary II
As part of the BBC Superpower Season, the BBC's Azeri service approached Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor to participate in its own reflection on the power of the Internet. What follows is Part II in English.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: BBC Azeri Facebook Diary
As part of the BBC Superpower Season, the BBC's Azeri service approached Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor to participate in its own reflection on the power of the Internet. What follows is a version in English
USA: In Census, Only Some Races Count
Census forms are being delivered to all U.S. households this month, but some citizens complain that the question on race does not offer enough answers to give an accurate picture of their ethnicity.
UAE: Skin Whitening Cream
Arabmania questions the popularity for skin whitening creams in the Arab world, and gets lots of comments here.
South Africa: Remembering Sharpeville Massacre
South Africans remember the Sharpeville Massacre on 21 March 1960 as a turning point in the history of political resistance against racial discrimination. Sixty-nine people were killed in the township of Sharpeville when South African police opened fire on a crowd of black protesters.
Azerbaijan: Reflections on Novruz
This weekend marked the official start of Novruz, the Zoroastrian holiday marking the beginning of spring. Bloggers comment on the festival.
Lebanon: Runaway Maids
“When a maid runs away from her employer's house, the police station is unable to act because there's no law criminalizing runaway maids. So the police station officer tells the Lebanese employee to say that she stole money,” writes Ethiopian Suicides.
Serbia: Diaspora Serb's Musings on “Serbs, Media, Justice and Me!”
A Diaspora Serb's views on collective blame, collective guilt and other relevant issues – at Balkan Anarchist.
U.S.: Belarusian Diaspora and the 2010 Census
Belarus Digest reports that “the Belarusan-American Association starts a new campaign with compelling slogan ‘Are you proud you’re Belarusian? Identify yourself on the 2010 census form!'”
Armenia: Women
Emily Haas’ Armenian Experience, a blog by a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) in the former Soviet republic, post photographs and an insight into the lives of women in Armenia. The blog says that the project is to “show how hard the women in Armenia work and the important and overlooked...
Plural+ Video Festival for Youth under 25
Plural+ is once again calling for entries for their Youth Video Festival on Migrant issues, asking youth worldwide to send in their videos discussing identity, diversity, integration, human rights and inclusiveness among other topics. Entry deadline is June 30th and video submission is by sending in a DVD to the...
Bermuda: Lack of Confidence
“I don’t think anyone has any real confidence that Government will act to restrain its spending, or plan to work down the debt without strangling the community with taxes”: Bermuda's budget debate has eroded Vexed Bermoothes‘ confidence.
Macedonia: International Women's Day in the Blogosphere
International Women's Day is not an official public holiday in Macedonia, but is widely observed through interpersonal interactions and at some workplaces. This year, a number of bloggers used the occasion to draw attention to gender issues or to find creative ways to congratulate women online.
Egypt: #Top50Eg Tweets Make a Difference
Egyptian tweeps are using the #Top50Eg hashtag on Twitter. Tarek Amr takes us on a tour of the Egyptian twittersphere to tell us all about it.
The Balkans: Byzantine Nostalgia
Similar to Yugo-nostalgia, the nostalgia for the common Byzantine past can sometimes transcend some of the barriers erected through modern nationalism and racism in the Balkans.
