Stories about Ethnicity & Race from November, 2012
Coalition of African Nations Agrees to Send 3,300 Soldiers a year to Northern Mali
Seven African nations of ECOWAS namely Nigeria, Senegal, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Togo have agreed with Malian government [fr] to send 3,300 soldiers a year to Northern Mali to take back control of northern Mali from Islamist fighters. Other nations outside the ECOWAS might also send in troops.
French Government Eases Strict Immigration Policy
French Interior Minister Manuel Valls, during a speech in Toulouse in southwestern France, expressed his desire to change his country's immigration policy, amending the naturalization requirements and, in particular, doing away with the multiple choice tests and the need to have signed a permanent employment contract. Here is a summary of the reactions to these new measures.
More Camps to Accommodate Detained Asylum Seekers in Israel
In June 2012 Israel began implementing the amendment to the Anti-Infiltration Law according to which all asylum seekers who cross the Israel-Egypt border are automatically jailed for a minimum period of three years without trial. Citizens of ‘enemy states' (such as Sudan) are jailed indefinitely. Elizabeth Tsurkov shares blog reactions as more prison camps are erected to receive the influx of refugees.
Remnants of an Abandoned Yemeni Jewish Village
Yemeni blogger Rooj Alwazir shares amazing photographs of her trip to an abandoned Jewish Village, Beit Baws, perched on a rocky mountain, 15 minutes from Sanaa.
The Bahamas: U.S. Election Result Sign of a Global Shift?
The recently-concluded U.S. election captured the interest of the entire world. Post-election, a couple of bloggers from the Caribbean territory that is geographically closest to the United States - the Bahamas - shared their thoughts about the outcome.
Racism in European Football: Will New Rules Help?
October 2012 has seen racism rear its ugly head again, mainly in the European Leagues, especially in England affecting both the Premier League clubs and players as well as the national team. Many have wondered whether the major football bodies UEFA and FIFA will act as some have been trying to do like the Football Association (FA) in England.
Indigenous Severely Affected by Colombian Armed Conflict
Servindi [es] published Bulletin N°3/2012 [es] by the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC) [es], where they report that the organization will go to the International Criminal Court to denounce that numerous Indigenous people -including several children- are dying of malnutrition or as victims of anti-personnel mines due to the conflict between legal...
Mending Japan and China Relations
Following anti-Japan protests in China, official ties between Japan and China are still at an impasse as of late October. While both governments are struggling to improve relations, some success has been seen among civil society. We take a look at some initiatives in this post.
A Glimpse into a Yemeni Wedding
Ali's day is a fascinating short musical video by Juan Herrero (@dustweare), a freeleance photographer currently living in Yemen. It captures a traditional Yemeni wedding which took place somewhere in the Northern mountains of Haraz.
Protest in Trinidad & Tobago over Section 34 Scandal
On Friday, various sectors of the Trinidad and Tobago public participated in a protest march calling for the resignations of Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Minister of National Security Jack Warner - part of the continuing fallout over the Section 34 debacle.
Curacao: Feeling the Tension
The recent parliamentary elections in Curacao have brought a lot of racial and cultural tension to the surface. Karen Attiah thinks it is a real problem.
Ink Duel: Bulgarian Artists vs Egyptian Artist in London
Studio 75, a London-based “100% independent, not part of any school, trend, fashion or directive” artist space is hosting ‘The Orientophobia Sessions’ this weekend. In the program of the Out Of The Deep East, Bulgarian artists Krum and Desi engage into an ink duel with Egyptian artist Naz:
The Latest LiveJournal Sensation, Courtesy of the Russian Special Forces
The anonymous LJ blog hardingush was created on September 15. Now, less than two months later, the blog, subtitled "Ingush Special Forces, is number 425th in LJ's general user rating. Netizens have left over 4,000 comments on its various posts. Four of these posts also made it into the October top-25 list of North Caucasus bloggers. But who's behind the account?
