Stories about History from March, 2012
Brazil: “Kilombos”, Stories of Slaves Bridging Three Continents
In this article, we make a secular journey across three continents with 'Kilombos', a documentary released in March in Portugal, which "transports us through the oral history of the African roots of the Quilombo communities, showing the intersection of these roots with contemporary cultural practices".
Human Rights Mapping in Cambodia
Human rights advocates in Cambodia have been using online maps to document, monitor, and expose human rights violations across the country. Some of the maps track land conflicts, media killings, freedom of expression violations, and prison overcrowding
Madagascar: Details of the 1947 Massacre Still Unknown
TanaNews reports that prime minister Beriziky requested that France returns to Madagascar the archives [fr] regarding the massacre of about 100 000 people in 1947 to repress the movement for the independence of Madagascar. Olivier Herviaux provides some context [fr] to the massacre. French Amabassador Châtaigner states on twitter that the archives...
Pakistan: Demand for Independence of Sindh
A freedom march organized by one of the biggest Sindhi nationalist parties, has drawn a huge crowd in Karachi city. The news was either blocked or under-reported in most of the Pakistani mainstream Urdu media channels.
Guadeloupe: A Cuban-born Mulatto, Mayor of Paris
Guadeloupean blogger B.World Connection posts about the release of a book about the first non-white Mayor of Paris, who accomplished much towards secularity and social progress in the 19th century French Republic, yet fell into complete oblivion until now.
India: The Last Handwritten Newspaper in the World
The earliest forms of newspaper were handwritten and now 'The Musalman' probably is the last handwritten newspaper in the world. This Urdu language newspaper was established in 1927 and has been published daily in the Chennai city of India ever since.
Serbia: Controversy Over Draža Mihailović's Rehabilitation
Draža Mihailović was a commander of the Chetnik movement during World War II. In 1946, he was captured by the communist Yugoslav authorities, convicted of war crimes and executed. The ongoing tribunal for his rehabilitation has been supported by some professors and politicians in Serbia, but the public is divided.
Cambodia: Bokator, Angkorian Martial Art
Bokator or Labokator (to fight like a lion) is a Cambodian martial art that is believed to be the predecessor of Southeast Asian kickboxing styles. Historians believe that it was the close quarter combat system used by the ancient armies of Angkor.
Southeast Asia Digital Library
The Southeast Asia Digital Library provides educators and students with materials published in Southeast Asia. The online library contains digital facsimiles of books and manuscripts, as well as multimedia materials and searchable indexes of additional Southeast Asian resources.
Cambodia’ Bamboo Trains
Edgar Alan Zeta-Yap writes about the bamboo trains or “norry” of Battambang in Cambodia.
Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle: From Opium to Casinos
Tan Kai Swee presents a video on EngageMedia about the opening of new casinos in Southeast Asia's infamous Golden Triangle in Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos which used to be the center of opium production in the region.
Portugal: Subversive Priest's “Homily” to General Strike on YouTube
Mário Pais de Oliveira, priest and writer, has "converted" to social networks to preach his subversive thoughts on the world. Today's general strike in Portugal brings back memories of the video Father Mário published in the aftermath of the last general strike, which took place at the end of 2011.
Argentina: Documentary on Indigenous People in Buenos Aires
The documentary 'Runa Kuti, Urban Natives' shows us the stories of four descendants of indigenous communities living in the city of Buenos Aires, and how they struggle with reclaiming their identity, rediscovering their culture and making a place for themselves in the city.
Iran: Iranians react to Obama's Nowruz message
President Obama's Nowruz message to Iranians has been visited more than 62000 times in YouTube. Iranians wrote different comments for this message, from praising Obama to criticize sanctions.
Cuba: Black Spring, Nine Years After
The Cuban Black Spring - a term that has come to describe the government crackdown on dissidents that took place in 2003 - marks its ninth anniversary this year. Cuban bloggers remember their history and wonder whether anything has fundamentally changed - especially in the context of the impending papal visit and the pontiff's inability to meet with opposition groups to discuss the country's human rights record.
Macedonia: March for Peace as “First Step.” What Now?
Thousands of people turned out to express their willingness to live together in peace by walking the streets and bridges of Skopje during the March for Peace on March 17. Filip Stojanovski reports.
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.
Cuba: Bloggers Uncomfortable as Pope's Visit Looms
As Pope Benedict XVI's controversial visit to Cuba draws closer, online discussion is heating up. Bloggers are upset over what they perceive as a partnership between communism and Catholicism, especially in light of reportedly ongoing human rights abuses and other surreptitious methods of curtailing personal freedoms.
Bolivia: Remembering Domitila Barrios de Chungara
Emily Achtenberg, in the blog Rebel Currents, profiles Domitila Barrios de Chungara, “long-time social activist, union leader, feminist, revolutionary, and national heroine who died March 13 in Cochabamba at age 74. She is best known as the miner’s wife who led a hunger strike in 1978 that brought down the...
Iran: A Nowruz New Year Without Goldfish?
Goldfish have a special place in the Iranian New Year, Nowruz, celebrating the first day of Spring (March 20). But every year animal rights defenders and bloggers launch campaigns to encourage people not to buy them.
Dominica: Architectural Heritage
Dominica Weekly takes us on a virtual tour of the island's historic buildings.
