Stories about Ethnicity & Race from November, 2010
Brazil: Eradicating the Indigenous Guarani Kaiowa
Guarani still represent one of the most numerous indigenous people in Brazil, though they are profoundly affected by the loss of almost all their land in the last century. In the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Guarani Kaiowa, one of three groups descended from the original, are the target of constant attacks and victims of an alarming rash of suicides.
Latvia: The Kristovskis Scandal
All About Latvia covers the xenophobia scandal that involves Latvia's new foreign minister Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis – here, here, and here.
S.Korea:A Boy Band's Innovative Word Describing His Roots Made To Trending List
South Korea's boy band, U-Kiss's member, Alexander has placed #Korean American and #Xandernese at Twitter's top trending list. The word ‘Xandernese’, which Alexander invented while describing his origin, is getting Twitterer's approval who had a hard time describing their multiple roots. read more on GoKPop.
Lebanon: Jismi, One Day, One Struggle
Lebanon-based groups Nasawiya, Helem and Meem launched a new website named “Jismi” (Ar) (My Body) dedicated to the annual “One Day, One Struggle” campaign, a unique effort to underscore the joint struggle against the violation of sexual and bodily rights in Muslim societies.
Azerbaijan: Friends
Social Science in the Caucasus comments on its own data examining relationships in Azerbaijan. In particular, it examines results which show that 27 percent of female respondents say they have no close friends as opposed to 17 percent of men.
Armenia: Digital Democracy
Writing on Ararat, Global Voices author Simon Maghakyan, sponsor of a recent online petition demanding the passage of legislation against domestic violence in his native Armenia, comments on the increasing use of new and social media by activists in the former Soviet republic.
Denmark: Kurdish TV Station Accused of Supporting Terrorism
Roj TV, a Kurdish-language satellite television station based in Denmark has been accused of supporting terrorism by the Danish attorney-general. It may lose its broadcasting license once the case goes to trial. The prosecuting authorities claim the station has ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Armenia: Iranian Embassy Protest
Unzipped posts video and photographs of today's protest outside the Iranian Embassy in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, in support of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, sentenced to death in Iran for infidelity. Commenting on the reaction of the Embassy, the blog opines that the Iranian Ambassador does not understand the concept of...
Azerbaijan: The media, religion & secularism
The Önər Blog [AZ] comments on calls by the Iranian Ambassador in Azerbaijan, as well as some religious citizens, to close down the ALMA newspaper after it was critical of the prophet Muhammad. The blog says that religion runs counter to democracy and freedom of expression, especially in a secular...
Turkey, Poland: Polonezköy
Raf Uzar writes about the history of Polonezköy, Istanbul's “‘Polish-themed’ village.”
Azerbaijan: flash mob fuss among the masses
Scary Azeri [ENG], a blog popular for its acerbic humor and opinion, comments on what it sees as a flashmob epidemic among youth in Azerbaijan. While it appreciates flashmobs aimed at raising issues of importance such as the environment, it wonders whether those youth involved in such actions are simply...
Korea:Japanese Pop Star's Asian Slanted-Eye Photo Controversy
Two members of Morning Musume, Japanese pop group made headlines in several Korean newspapers with photos of them slanting their eyes (photos from Korean blog),the same posture that got Miley Cyrus under fire for taunting people of Asian descent. In the original link(removed), one member wrote below the photo ‘this...
Mexico: Celebrating Day of the Dead
Day of the Dead is a special and mystical season that Mexicans celebrate every year. But what exactly happens on this date? Why is this holiday so important for Mexican families?
Georgia: Reflections on Teach and Learn
Teach and Learn with Georgia (TLG) is a project established by the Georgian government aiming to recruit 1,000 native English speakers willing to teach English at local schools. Many of the first intake of teachers have also started blogging their experience to date.
