Thailand's ‘Skype Doctors’

“Virtual ER”, launched in 2011, serves as a direct means of communication between BNH Hospital's Emergency Room and patients via Skype…Patients or helpers can speak to and see the nurses in the ER from wherever they are with simple tools including internet connection, a computer, a tablet PC or a...

International Fast Food Chains Involved in China's Chicken Scandal

A number of international fast-food chains are involved in the latest food safety scandal to hit China. Nationalistic voices are reacting by calling for foreign brands to be kicked out of China, while some believe that the government is to blame for the lack of food safety control.

Witchcraft and Dispute Resolution in East Timor

Following the report of the murder of an alleged witch in Maubisse, Timor Leste, on December 21, 2012, Australian anthropologist Matthew Libbis writes a comment on witchcraft and dispute resolution on the blog East Timor Law and Justice Bulletin.

Bangladesh: Mobile Health Service For Expecting and New Mothers

Both the Maternal and child mortality rates are high in Bangladesh. On the other hand the mobile penetration rate is close to 65% and many of the subscribers are female. Aponjon, a maternal health care service using mobile phone was launched recently targeting expecting and new mothers in Bangladesh to reduce maternal and newborn illnesses and deaths.

Conversations: Pregnant Syrian Refugee in Winter’s Cold

This post contains a conversation between News Deeply and Ayesha, a 29-year-old woman living in the Atma refugee camp in Idlib Province, in northwestern Syria. She is one of an estimated 50 pregnant women in the camp; volunteers tell us there is an acute need for baby milk.

Macedonia: Nude Art Twitter Calendar for Charity

Twelve Macedonian women – regular Twitter users – took part in a humanitarian project organized by @IlinaBookbox, two photographers and one designer via the hashtag #ТвитерКалендар (Macedonian for ‘Twitter Calendar’). The resulting nude art calendar was donated to anti-cancer association Borka [wallpapers available via mk, mk, sq]. The original photos...

Animal Welfare Groups Step Up Campaign in Laos

Animal welfare groups in Laos have stepped up their campaign to promote protection of animals and public awareness about animal care. Their campaigns include better veterinary care, providing shelter to injured animals, and the stopping of illegal dog meat trading.

Iranian-Americans Seek Heros to Save a Life

Nasim, a young woman from Northern California of Iranian decent is in need of a bone marrow transplant. Several Iranian celebrities have stepped up to help spread the word to save her. They are using social media to find a hero to give a bone marrow donation.

Reddit Users Debate the Pricing Game Of The Cancer Drug Industry

When the Indian pharmaceutical company Cipla announced last month that it would cut the cost of three drugs used to treat cancers – people around the world responded. Some of the most lengthy conversations took place on the news commenting site Reddit.

Caribbean: What Happened in 2012 (Part 2)

The first part of this post observed that in the Caribbean blogosphere, the year was punctuated by hunger strikes - the first in Cuba and the second in Trinidad and Tobago. Part 2 of the regional blogosphere's 2012 summary recalls other issues that got Caribbean netizens talking - from the Olympics to the need for greater political transparency…

The Spanish Government's “Boomerang” Hashtag

On December 12, the People's Party (PP) of Madrid decided to launched an information campaign on healthcare reform, creating the hashtag #quenotelienconlasanidad [#dontletthemscrewyouonhealthcare] on Twitter. Thousands of netizens took advantage of the campaign to flood the PP's hashtag with tweets, making it a trending topic for reasons very different from those originally intended by its creators.

Colombia: Where's the Indignation?

Blogger Miguel from Mike's Bogota Blog lists some situations that make people feel indignation and wonders: So, why is it that all kinds of vehicles and industry can poison us, day in and day out, in plain sight, and almost nobody does anything? He also shares pictures and concludes his...

Japan: Signature Campaign Calling for the Release of Anti-Nuclear Scholar

An online signature campaign has been launched to call for the release of Masaki Shimoji, Associate Professor of Economy at Hannan University, who has been arrested by Osaka police on December 9 for his campaign to oppose city plans to incinerate imported earthquake debris contaminated by nuclear leak in Fukishima.

Online Tools for People with Disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina

UNDP's Voices From Eurasia writes about the new web-based tools aimed at promoting the rights of people with disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina:

Argentina's Impending ‘Monsanto Law’ is Not Welcome

A bill by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Argentina regarding genetically modified seeds has generated much controversy in different sectors who argue that Argentina could lose its food sovereignty if the law moves forward. Social organizations called for an event to protest the law.

Fear of Food Crisis after Locust Invasion in the South of Madagascar

A national security warning has been issued in Madagascar over the invasion of locust in the southern region [fr]. WFP estimates that 10 millions dollars are needed to counter the upcoming food crisis from the damages.

The Many Faces of Everyday Violence Against Women

The United Nations General Assembly designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Abdoulaye Bah gives an overview of reactions in the francophone blogosphere on this important day.

Need for Concrete AIDS Policy in China

An HIV carrier in Tianjin was forced to conceal his condition in order to receive lung cancer surgery. Once the incident was brought to the spotlight by Li Hu, an HIV/AIDS advocate, during the week of World AIDS Day, it generated sensational responses in China and immediately captured attention of the incoming Chinese leadership.

Body Types : Cold, heat and dampness

Australia: Plain Cigarette Packaging a World First

Australia’s new plain cigarette packaging law, which began on December 1, 2012, was greeted with pleasure by most onliners. Meanwhile, the tobacco industry has argued that plain packaging will increase illegal trade and smuggling.

Iran: Sanctions and Shortages, Empty Pockets for Healthcare

Ever since 15 year-old Manouchehr Esmaili-Liousi died of complications from hemophilia due to a shortage of medication, Iranians have been analyzing their health crisis. Sanctions definitely play a role, but so does incompetence and corruption by their own government.