Stories about Health from June, 2011
China: Recycling sewage oil
A video showing how industrial and sewage oil is recycled in a dirty workshop in China. (via Sina Video Weibo)
Cape Verde: A Story of Accessibility
Daivarela, on his blog, tells [pt] the story of how a capeverdean journalist, Maria Zinha, has successfully received a diploma in Cinema and Audiovisual, despite the accessibility barriers she constantly faces in the island of Mindelo to do her job, where “stairs are the main difficulty”.
Cuba: Hunger Striker to Leave Island
Uncommon Sense reports that hunger striker Jorge Cervantes Garcia has ended his protest and “will be allowed to leave Cuba once he has recovered from the physical effects of his protest.”
Russia: Deciphering Covert “Bath Salt” Drug Advertisements
LJ-user re3 writes [ru] about covert drug graffiti (e.g. “Aromatic salt – call center 24 hours”). Graffiti look like regular guerrilla ads air sprayed on the building walls. They, however, advertise fast delivery of the so called “Bath Salt” drug. The blogger claims whole Urals region is filled with such ads, some of which, might be...
Cuba: Old & Black
“Being old in Cuba is a problem”: But, explains Iván García, “it becomes harder if you are black.”
Peru: Women in Iquitos Protest High Levels of Aluminum in Water
A recent report shows that the levels of aluminum in the water consumed by the people of Iquitos is above what is permitted. Global Voices writer and Spanish Translation Manager, Juan Arellano, explains [es] the situation and shares photos of a protest organized by different women's organizations.
Cannibalism In North Korea, Smuggled Documents Reveal
GI Korea from the ROK Drop blog commented on local news report claiming that they have obtained smuggled documents confirming cannibalism in North Korea. Acts of cannibalism have long been reported by North Korean defectors, especially during the mass famine in the mid-90′s.
Puerto Rico: C-Sections Too Prevalent
“48% of Our births are by cesarean section, the highest rate in the world”: Gil the Jenius says that “Our future children–and their mothers–absolutely deserve that We strive for their greatest welfare, rather than settling to merely serve the system.”
North Korea's Meth Export
Chinese authorities recently conducted a crackdown on drug in Chinese region bordering North Korea. Although it’s hard to trace the origin of methamphetamine, residents and experts believe that much of the meth consumed in the region is manufactured in North Korea. Robert Neff wrote about it in the Marmot's Hole...
Argentina: Demonstrations in the Borda Psychiatric Hospital
Medical staff and associations rallied in the beginning of June to protest against the deterioration of housing conditions in the Hospital Borda, one the most notable psychiatric hospitals in Argentina, which has had no gas since mid April of this year. The hospital's existence had been questioned by a 2008 plan launched by Buenos Aires' mayor, Mauricio Macri.
Venezuela: Arguments For and Against the Smoking Ban
It is no secret that smokers and non-smokers argue over issues regarding health, air and the freedom of choice. However, many people have used different modes of citizen media to comment, protest and debate the reasons behind the Venezuelan government's recent introduction of a new anti-tobacco law, which had been repealed in February.
India: Hungry For Power
Srishti Chauhan asks “why is India stepping on the nuclear bandwagon?”
Ecuador: Project Aims to Bring More Green to Guayaquil
In El Ecuador de Hoy [es] Guillermo Sornoza praises a project called ‘Guayaquil Ecológico’ [Ecological Guayaquil] which aims to bring more green spaces to the city in the form of picnic areas, parks, bicycle paths, etc.
Africa: Bloggers Remember the International Day of the African Child
June 16 marks the International Day of the African Child. The day was initiated by the Organisation of African Unity on June 16, 1991. The day honors those who participated in the Soweto Uprising in 1976 on that day and raises awareness of the continuing need for improvement of quality of life for African children. Bloggers remember...
Cuba: Cervantes Continues Strike
“Protest by suicide is never an acceptable option,” says Uncommon Sense as he blogs about the failing health of a hunger striker, “but it is important to remember that Cervantes is fighting back against his jailers by the only weapons at his disposal — his health and maybe his life.”
Taiwan: A Song for Those Pro-Nuclear Power Legislators
Political vlogger 廖小貓(Kitty Liao) made a music video with the names of the legislators who passed the additional budget of the 4th Nuclear Power Plant that is under construction. In the lyrics, Liao asserts: “Remember these legislators who poison Taiwanese people, and don't vote for them!”
Kenya: The Winners of Pivot25 Mobile App Developer Conference
Mark announces the winners of Pivot25 Mobile App Developer Conference: “We’ve covered Pivot25 for the past two days. You can follow the goings on through our live blogs on Day 1 and Day 2 and it’s been a blast. We’ve had a great time here and built up to it...
Nigeria: Let's Monitor President's 105 commitments on HIV/AIDS
What can Nigerian citizens do about Goodluck Jonathan's 105 commitments on HIV/AIDS?:” We urge you to download these [commitments] from here and keep them. In 2015, and every year between now and then, we will read them and ask our president how he is doing. As the President himself has...
Cuba: Guidelines on Rights
Despite new party guidelines on the rights of Cubans, Laritza's Laws says: “Although it touched on but did not recognize the theme of human rights, the reforms were not significant.”
Cuba: Worry About Hunger Striker
“The regime cracked down on him once against after he assumed the posture of NOT ceasing his anti-government activities”: Pedazos de La Isla blogs about the hunger striker Jorge Cervantes Garcia.
Singapore: Anger Over Mistreatment of Elderly Patient
It’s called Nightingale Nursing Home but it seems some of the nurses there are far removed from the real Florence Nightingale. Singaporeans are shocked and upset after a spy video exposing the mistreatment of a 75-year-old lady in that nursing home was uploaded in the web. Bloggers also discuss the quality of healthcare in the country
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