Stories about Human Rights from October, 2010
India: Free Speech Or Sedition?
Indian novelist, essayist and activist Arundhati Roy's recent statement on Kashmir stirred a debate across India. Along-with Indian media, the Indian blogosphere and social networking sites have exploded with reactions for and against her statement.
Americas: Virtual Memorial for 72 Victims of Migrant Mass-Killing
Over the last two months, renowned journalist Alma Guillermoprieto has led an online project in response to the mass killing of seventy-two migrants that took place in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas in August 2010. 72migrantes.com is a virtual memorial for the slayed migrants.
Trinidad & Tobago: LGBT Community Speaks Out
Globewriter's Weblog says: “We have had this Ex-Gay minister here for a week and apparently the LGBT community has reached a boiling point…”; gspottt confirms that the community has had it with the “lying, ducking and hiding” when it comes to young people and their sexuality.
Haiti: Cholera Outbreak
Dying in Haiti says: “Port-au-Prince and its slums do not need a cholera epidemic. I can't hardly think of a worse nightmare. Haiti is beyond fragile at this point and the people are suffering more than I have ever seen.”
Greece: Iranian refugees on hunger strike
Twenty-five Iranian refugees in Athens, Greece have gone on hunger strike since October 14 demanding that Greek authorities process their political asylum applications. Some have had their mouths sewn shut.
China: Why I Support Liu Xiaobo’s Nobel Peace Prize
Wang Chaohua, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Modern History at Academica Sinica in Taiwan, explains in China Beat why she supports Liu Xiaobo's Nobel Peace Prize.
Pakistan: Another Video Of Abuse By Pakistan Army Appears
“Yet another video can be seen on you tube where apparently Pakistani Army severely beating up the suspected militant,” informs Teeth Maestro.
Cuba: Restricted Access
“In Cuba, access to the internet is restricted and very expensive for citizens, but it is also is controlled by state institutions”: Laritza's Laws explains.
Cuba: Standard of Living
“Nobody on the island may have a high standard of living if it is not authorized by the regime”: Iván García explains that he “aspire[s] to live better. But above all [he] consider[s] [him]self a free man. And that is where a person can be dangerous in Cuba.”
Guyana: Just Say “Hell, No”!
As Domestic Violence Awareness Month comes to an end, The Guyana Groove says: “It is time for every woman in Guyana to hold hands and in unison yell to the top of your voices at every single abusive man, ‘HELL, NO!'”
China: Blood house map
A google map that marks social conflicts related with force demolition and land acquisition.
Serbia: Netizens Discuss a U.S. Fighter Pilot's Suicide
The tragic death of American fighter pilot Lt. Col. Harold F. "Hootch" Meyers, who committed a suicide at his home in Santa Barbara on Sept. 12, echoed in the Serbian media and online communities - and there were strong reasons for it.
Haiti: Upcoming Elections
“Fanmi Lavalas (FL) is widely seen as the Haiti’s largest and most popular political party”, yet it is being excluded from the upcoming elections. Wadner Pierre reposts an article he wrote, suggesting that “the uncertainty that plagues over these elections can comprise the legitimacy” of the elected representatives.
FSU: ‘The Road’ by Vasily Grossman
Robert & Elizabeth Chandler’s translation of The Road, a short story by Vasily Grossman, and Robert Chandler's article about Grossman's stories and his friendship with Andrey Platonov – at OpenDemocracy.net.
Trinidad & Tobago: On Homophobia
Outlish suggests that homophobia “prevents us from maturing as a society, and taking responsibility for our actions, or the lack thereof”, while gspott urges readers to resist “the war on love”, here, here and here.
Haiti: MINUSTAH
An experience during a recent protest against the UN peacekeeping mission prompts Mediahacker to say: “Makes you wonder how ordinary Haitians are treated, day in and day out, in places where there are no cameras.”
Bahamas: The Time Is Now
Weblog Bahamas‘ Sidney Sweeting says: “The time has come to take the gloves off and let Government get real serious about crime in the country or everything else will be for naught.”
Russia: Online Activism Success Stories
While Internet analysts across the Atlantic are busy arguing whether technology brings about social and political change or not, bloggers in Russia add their humble contributions to the debate, probably unaware that the debate is taking place at all. Their victories are small and not numerous; their impact can easily be attributed to statistical error - but they certainly are out there.
Bangladesh: Land Grab And Protests
In Rupganj, Bangladesh land-owners protested acquiring of land for an army housing project and they clashed with the security forces leaving 50 people injured and one dead. Bloggers react angrily.
Gambia: Harrasment of Women Defenders
Sokari posts a press release by Coalition for Human Rights in the Gambia concerning the arrest of Dr. Isatou Touray, the Executive Director and Amie Bojang- Sissoho, Programme Coordinator for the Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices (GAMCOTRAP).
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Online campaigns for the return of casualties of war
A campaign represented as being organized by ‘Armenian bloggers’ has been established to demand the return of the body of Manvel Sarinbekyan, an Armenian who reportedly hung himself while in detention after crossing the border with Azerbaijan.The campaign has been launched in both Russian and English. Meanwhile, and as the...
