· August, 2011

Stories about Humanitarian Response from August, 2011

Global Voices Partners with UNFPA on 7 Billion Actions

  31 August 2011

This year the world's population will exceed 7 billion people. To mark this milestone, Global Voices has been commissioned by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to write a series of posts that celebrate how one person or group can still make a difference in a world of 7 billion people.

Somalia: Food Security Emergency Spreads Despite Aid

  25 August 2011

As the Horn of Africa deals with what the Food and Agriculture Organization is calling the “most severe food security emergency in the world today,” experts warn that conditions in famine-stricken Somalia are likely to further deteriorate. Juhie Bhatia examines the spread of the disaster.

Ethiopia: British Media Fuels Aid Apathy

  24 August 2011

According to Ethiopian blogger, Daniel Berhane, British media fuels aid apathy: “At a time when about 12 million people in the horn of Africa suffer from the worst drought in 60 years , British media is busy disenchanting private donations…Alas, at a time when only a third of the needed...

China: Dog Massacre in Jiangmen City

  15 August 2011

Fauna translated a story from MOP about the latest policy in Jiangmen city which bans residents from strolling their dogs in public areas. The implementation of the policy involves large scale public execution of dogs. [Warning: the link contains very cruel pictures.]

Pakistan: The Plights Of The Flood Victims

  12 August 2011

Faisal Kapadia blogs from a medical camp for the flood affected people in Khowrah of Sindh province in Pakistan and comments: “although the floods of last year may be over and long gone, the human tragedy remains.”

Russia: A Psycho-Neurological Patient's Photo Stories

RuNet Echo  11 August 2011

Pasha Kyshtymov, a lifelong psycho-neurological patient in Siberia, cannot communicate through speech, but had no problems learning to express himself through photography. On his blog, the Russian photographer Oleg Klimov has documented the poignant impromptu experience of teaching Pasha to share his worldview with others.

Egypt: The Unspoken Languages of the Streets

We as humans have a unique ability to communicate via spoken languages. However in a crowded and loud city like Cairo, we sometimes need more than spoken languages to communicate. Tarek Amr takes a closer look at sign languages used in congested areas and the language of car honks.

China: Discount train ticket for the disabled

  10 August 2011

A weibo user account, wishing-for-half-price-ticket-for-the-disabled, has been set up with a photo of a disable person protesting outside the MInistry of Railways demanding half-price discount train ticket for the disabled.

Ethiopia: Local Media Ignore Famine

  9 August 2011

Endalk wonders why Ethiopian media ignores famine in the country: “While there has been news after news on the issue of on the global press which was lead by the Guardian and other global newspapers. I have been desperately running from newspaper to newspaper but I have barely seen a...

Trinidad & Tobago: Love, Freedom & Humanity

  8 August 2011

“The real tragedy is people who have no one to love them. I can hardly imagine how long it’s been since anyone has reassured them, you are real. You are important. You are loved. If you don’t have this then food and money and life mean nothing. That is why it...