Stories about Ethnicity & Race from June, 2012
Brazil: Online Impressions of Brazilian Identity
Since the declaration of Brazil as an independent nation in 1822, Brazilian identity has gone through several changes spurred by economic, social and cultural transformations. But is there a common Brazilian identity for every citizen? Fernando Sapelli reports some online impressions of what it means to be Brazilian.
Tajikistan: Using Films to Promote Inter-Ethnic Tolerance
With the government of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan engaged in an ‘undeclared cold war‘ over regional water and energy resources, the conflict also stokes tensions between major ethnic groups in the two countries. A religious group in Tajikistan is using short silent films to teach people about the importance of inter-ethnic...
Kyrgyzstan: Rap Song Stokes Ethnic Hostility on Anniversary of Clashes
As Kyrgyzstan marks the second anniversary of the June 2010 events, a new rap song is stoking tension in Osh, a southern city which was the epicenter of the ethnic riots between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz two years ago. The song is already causing altercations which threaten to upset fragile piece in the troubled city.
Myanmar: Rakhine Villages Attacked
Tensions are running high in the Rakhine area of Myanmar after a series of violent incidents. Netizens have criticized 'inaccurate' Western media reporting, which highlighted the continuing tension among ethnic groups in the country.
Armenia, Azerbaijan: Spectre of War in the South Caucasus?
Following clashes on the Line of Contact (LoC) separating Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, South Caucasus Diary ponders the likelihood of war once again breaking out over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Meanwhile, Yerevan-based Armenian-American analyst Richard Giragosian tweets that Azerbaijan's new strategy appears to be reaching operational readiness for...
Armenia, Azerbaijan: Nagorno Karabakh Conflict Resumes… On Twitter
In war, as the old saying goes, the first casualty is always the truth. This is particularly true in the South Caucasus where the media in Armenia and Azerbaijan more often than not spreads misinformation or subjective propaganda concerning the long-running and unresolved conflict over Nagorno Karabakh. On 7 June that was certainly the case on micro-blogging site Twitter.
Myanmar: Revenge Killing After Girl Was Raped
Spring Flowers wrote [my] about the senselessness of revenge when vigilantes killed 9 Muslims during a bus attack in western Rakhine, Myanmar after a Rakhine girl was raped and killed by 3 Muslims.
Foreigners In China
The Xenophobia drama mostly happened in Social Media such as Sina Weibo in China. Dan Harris from China Law Blog quotes from some foreigner bloggers about laowai's everyday life in reality.
Ukraine: A Roma Camp Burned Down in Kyiv
On its Facebook page, the Human Rights Information Center posted a photo report [uk] on the demolition of a Roma camp in Kyiv, which was home to some 70 people, most of them children, until May 31, when 15 men showed up and burned the camp down, ordering the residents...
Greece: Neo-Nazi “Golden Dawn” Supporters Attack More Immigrants
A gang of 15-20 young supporters of Golden Dawn, the startlingly successful Greek neo-nazi political party, attacked an approximately 30-year-old Pakistani man on May 29, 2012 in Athens. Since the party was voted into Greece's parliament in May, attacks on immigrants have increased.
Poland, Ukraine: Euro 2012 and Racism
Football fans across Europe have been presented with quite a list of reasons not to travel to Poland and Ukraine for Euro 2012, which is scheduled to begin in a week. The newest item recently added to this extensive and diverse negative publicity menu is racism.
