Stories about Ethnicity & Race from March, 2012
Turkey: Riot Police Continue to Clash with Kurds Celebrating Newroz
Kurdish people are the largest ethnic group in Turkey. They have been subject to state-sanctioned discrimination and human rights violations. Today, in Yuksekova, which is a district in the Hakkari province of Turkey, Kurdish people were attacked for gathering to celebrate Newroz - the Kurdish new year.
Norway Hosts First Journalism Award for Indigenous Broadcasters
Norway is widely known for hosting the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize Awards. This month, the Scandinavian country is hosting the debut of another important yet largely unknown journalism award ceremony for the World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network (WITBN) on March 29, 2012.
Bolivia: New March Against TIPNIS Road to Start in April
Dario Kenner, a blogger based in La Paz, reports that “a majority of community leaders from the TIPNIS indigenous territory and national park decided to begin a march towards La Paz on 20 April to oppose a road project through their territory. This is the second time these communities will...
Hungary: An Eventful Celebration of the National Holiday
The prime minister compares the country to a frog; a rapper is elected as "the alternative president"; far-right protesters break into the IMF office; a techno party is held at Budapest's Heroes' Square, followed the next day by a paramilitary group's oath ceremony. Marietta Le reports on this year's eventful celebration of Hungary's National Day.
Macedonia: Peace March – Enthusiasm, Controversy
The upcoming March for Peace in Skopje has overwhelming support, evident through the positive uproar in social media. Lone voices, however, warn the initiative is used as a PR opportunity by celebrities, and even as a hypocritical alibi for known hatemongers.
United States: Errors During the Republican Campaign
Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are not only competing to become the Republican candidate who will face Barack Obama this coming November, but also for whom commits the greater number of errors in a speech or interview. In his recent visit to Puerto Rico Santorum declared that speaking English was a prerequisite for it to become the 51st state.
Macedonia: “Who Wants War in Macedonia?”
At civil4tolerance (tolerance-mk) blog, Xhabir Deralla explains why the Macedonian government is responsible for the current rise of interethnic violence.
Macedonia: March for Peace Scheduled for Saturday, March 17
The people of multi-ethnic Macedonia are organizing a March for Peace this Saturday as an expression of concern that the recent hate crimes are a harbinger of civil war. Filip Stojanovski reports.
A Documentary of the History of Black People in France
The blog Afro Europe reports on a new film about the black community in France: ” Noirs de France” (“Blacks of France”) is a new documentary of the history of black people in France. It's based on the book “La France Noir” of French historian Pascal Blanchard. The documentary is aired on...
Armenia: Bridging the divide?
Global Chaos comments on the launch of a new web site by the Armenian Ministry of Diaspora. Charged with the task of bridging the divide between Armenians in Armenia and communities abroad, the blog explains why the site fails on so many levels.
Armenia: Eurovision withdrawal a wasted opportunity
Cilicia.com comments on recent news that Armenia has withdrawn from the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, capital of neighboring Azerbaijan. Taking a pro-Armenian line on the matter, the blog says that Azerbaijan had no choice but to allow Armenia to participate, and to provide guarantees that Armenians could visit Azerbaijan...
The Balkans: Debating Angelina Jolie's Film and the Legacy of War
Angelina Jolie’s directorial debut, In the Land of Blood and Honey, has received much publicity, both positive and negative, in the Balkans, adding fuel to the ongoing debate on the legacy of the wars fought in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
Lebanon: Is Social Media Useful?
“I always ask myself whether the Lebanese online community is actually making things better by raising awareness or is just trying to reach out to more people?” writes Najib questioning the usefulness of social media in inciting action rather than just being concerned with tweeting and blogging. His post was in reaction...
Ukraine: Eurovision, Gaitana, and Racism
Odessablog writes about the Ukrainian far right's reaction to this year's Eurovision nomination – Gaitana, a Ukrainian singer and songwriter of Ukrainian and Congolese descent: “It doesn’t matter that she was born in Kyiv, has lived there all her life, is a Ukrainian citizen, or that her mother is a...
Brazil: Navy Surrounds Quilombo Community Slated for Eviction
A police siege threatening to evict the lands of the Quilombo Rio dos Macacos on March 4, 2012 motivated around 300 people to mobilize in solidarity with one of the oldest Brazilian communities of slave descendants in Brazil.
China: Appeal to Tibetans To Cease Self-Immolation
A number of Tibetans activists launched a signature campaign urging Tibetans to cease self-immolation and to cherish their lives in a time of oppression. Via Woser's blog.
Video: Indigenous Naso People from Panama ask for Help against Dam
In this video by SelvaRica, an artistic collective using multimedia to promote indigenous and environmental issues, a Naso Indigenous woman from Panama asks for help from the international community to put pressure and stop a Dam construction in their lands. The dam will flood their forests and change their traditional...
Hong Kong, China: Poems on Ugliness
A poem on “Hong Kong – an Ugly City” from an University student has inspired Hong Kong netizens to write their own poems, such as “China – an ugly country” and “China – a Pathetic Country”.
Armenia: Eurovision withdrawal after propaganda attempt backfires
Following a botched attempt to justify boycotting this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan, Armenia today officially withdrew from the international music competition. “As expected, #Armenia Public TV withdraws from #Eurovision They could have announced it earlier with dignity. For now, they are #losers,” writes Unzipped on Twitter, also...
Armenia: Eurovision propaganda fiasco
Unzipped comments on a call by Armenian singers to boycott this year's annual Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan. Armenia and Azerbaijan remain deadlocked in a conflict over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh and the call to boycott was ostensibly made in protest at the killing of an Armenian...
Armenia: Nationalist zombies and Hitler wannabes
Unzipped comments on the appearance of government-linked organizations with ultra-right wing tendencies and ideologies. The blog considers such groups to be “unacceptable and shameful.”
