Stories about Human Rights from May, 2007
Belarus: The Opposition's Failure
TOL's Belarus has some harsh words for the Belarusian opposition: “The opposition party leaders will make fools of us for as long as we allow it. All of them should have resigned back in 2001. They had a last chance to rehabilitate themselves in 2006. But now they have seized...
Bosnia, Belarus: UN Human Rights Council
“In a 112 to 72 vote, Bosnia defeated Belarus to join Slovenia on the UN Human Rights Council,” Bosnia Vault reports.
Estonia: Demography and Ethnicity
Itching for Eestimaa writes about Estonia's demography and interethnic relationships: “Still, the reality for Estonia is, no matter what historical spin you put on it, there will be a large Russian-speaking community in Estonia for many years to come. Because of recent events in Tallinn, many are wondering what can...
Hungary: Police Rape Scandal
Pestcentric writes about the Budapest police rape scandal.
Latvia: Karlis Ulmanis
Peteris Cedrins of Marginalia writes about Karlis Ulmanis and his legacy: the man who, “seventy-three years ago, slightly over six years before Stalin destroyed [Latvian] Republic, […] destroyed [Latvian] democracy.”
Latvia: Interview with Aleksejs Tapins
Peteris Cedrins of Marginalia interviews Aleksejs Tapins of All About Latvia: Why do you blog? – […] At one point, it's become a search for my own identity. Who am I? Am I Russian/Latvian/American? I tried answering my own questions in hopes to show what some Russian-speaking people in Latvia...
Serbia: Homophobia
Belgrade 2.0 writes about Serbian homophobia: “[…] Some Serbs consider being gay completely ok and there’s nothing wrong with it, but are absolutely against gays adopting kids, because kids can also become gay (which is, if you look at the beggining of the sentence, completely ok and there’s nothing wrong...
Fijian Freedom bloggers and the military junta
It seems that the persecution faced by the anti-military Fijian Freedom Bloggers – who are using blogs to protest against the coup of December 5th, 2006- has subsided following a decision by the Fiji Military Forces (FMF) to stop hunting for anti-military bloggers and abandon its efforts to block the...
Sudan: Blogging From the Conflict Zone
Increasingly, aid workers, volunteers and even peacekeepers use blogs to share their unique experiences and insights from conflict zones. Take the Darfur conflict in Sudan, for example. Sleepless in Sudan was one of the first blogs to highlight the untold suffering of innocent people in Darfur. Sleepless in Sudan, which was nominated in the 2006 "Bloggies" Weblog Award contest, was maintained by a female aid worker stationed in Darfur. For nine months, Sleepless in Sudan told stories of life in Darfur from the ground.
Poland: Equality Parade and “Phobo-Phobia”
the beatroot writes about the Equality Parade in Warsaw and the failed attempt to get it banned it – “this time on the feeble excuse that homosexuality was against Christianity, and the Polish Constitution [?] which apparently privileges relationships between men and women.” Then, the beatroot grows “phobo-phobic” and refers...
Anguilla: Homosexuality and Constitutional Reform
“We cannot allow ourselves to get side tracked when it comes to our Constitution. We have to be ready with our arguments when the British team arrives in Anguilla in July”: As one of Britain's last remaining colonies readies itself for constitutional reform, Corruption-free Anguilla examines the current legislation regarding...
Sudan: If there were a transcript…
Ingrid at Sudan Watch on the Debate on Darfur: “Heh. Rock on Drima! Why no webcast? If there were a transcript, I'd mull over John Prendergast's commentary in the hope of getting some understanding of the rationale behind his warmongering stance on Sudan.”
Ukraine: Kyiv Street Kids Video
Michelle Knisley of Greetings from Kyiv links to two CrossRoads Foundation's videos of Kyiv's street children – on YouTube, here and here.
Russia, UK: More on the Litvinenko Affair
“The British Crown Prosecution Service has charged Russian businessman Andrei Lugovoi with the murder of Alexandr Litvinenko. The question if anything will come of it,” writes Sean Guillory.
Sudan: I wish the damn thing was freaking televised
Sudanese Thinker wishes the debate on Darfur was televised: “Told ya! I just wish this damn thing was freaking televized. I’m expecting a heated debate to go down especially since the Sudanese Ambassador to the U.N. is going to be present. I predict that he’ll get banged with many questions....
Congolese Youth Organization Takes President Joseph Kabila to Task
Kakaluigi posts an open letter (Fr) from COJESKI, an umbrella of Congolese youth organizations, demanding President Joseph Kabila: end the incursions and occupations of Congolese villages by foreign troops from Angola, Burundi, Congo-Brazaville, and even as far afield as Chad, the Sudan and Central African Republic; end the pillaging of...
Sudan: how many envoys are needed for peace?
Black Cush on special envoys to Sudan: “How many special envoys will it take to bring peace to Darfur? 10, 20, 50? All the ones there are no good enough, or just not doing enough. Any country with a conscience wants to be seen doing something for Darfur by having...
Zimbabwe: the game the police play
Kubatana blog on Zimbabwean police: “How’s that! All SADC citizens. Presumably this includes Zimbabwe where the police recently beat up a group of lawyers in downtown Harare. One of them being a most amazing woman called Eileen Sawyer, otherwise known as gogo, (meaning grandmother) because of her age – 80....
Tunisia: Blogger and journalist Slim Boukhdir repeatedly assaulted
The Tunisian journalist and blogger Slim Boukhdhir was assaulted as he left an Internet café in Tunis after blogging about the responsibility of Houssem Trabelsi, brother of Tunisia’s first lady, in the deadly concert stampede in Sfax (Star Academy concert) on 30 April, in which seven young people were killed....
Sudan: uninformed about Darfur
Nigerian blogger, Omodudu, writes, “I dropped the ball on Darfur“: I have rocked a banner or two or even made a post on this blog to push the save-Dafur-message. But beyond that I have been so uninformed about this conflict. I assumed the Dafur conflict was one and the same...
Join the Debate on Darfur on May 24
On Thursday May 24, 2007, starting at 930am EST, Reuters will be holding a Newsmaker event on the topic of the crisis in Darfur. We invite you to participate by submitting questions and comments for the panel of specialists and journalists. Continue reading for details on the event and how you can get involved.
