Stories about Politics from May, 2016
Turkey's President and the ‘Treason’ of Family Planning
He is done with abortion, now its birth control and population planning. Next in line: how many times a night we can have sex, God willing.
Four Years and an Impeached President Later, Paraguay's Curuguaty Massacre Is Still in the Shadows
"The Curuguaty massacre can be seen as an event orchestrated to feed the trial and the parliamentary coup against Fernando Lugo’s government."
Hindu Religious Leader Tells Child Marriage Critics in Trinidad & Tobago to ‘Mind Your Own Damn Business’
"That’s exactly the sort of idea that, if you let bounce around in your head for a bit, leads to an aneurysm."
Professor and Political Pundit Kidnapped and Shot in Mozambique’s Capital
Expressing opinions about political life is an increasingly dangerous activity in Mozambique. Yet another academic, José Jaime Macuane, has been kidnapped and shot—but thankfully not killed—in the streets of Maputo.
Europe Expects Big Progress From Angola Following Prisoner’s Liberation
The liberation of the Angolan activist, Marcos Mavungo, could be the start of the Angolan government respecting human rights, says an EU spokesperson.
Russian Newspapers Are Now Warning Readers About Russian TV Networks
A newspaper in Russia's regions targeted by a defamatory investigative report on a pro-Kremlin television network is hitting back with a warning to its readers.
Myanmar Wants the World to Stop Using the Word Rohingya for Persecuted Ethnic Group
"Rather than arguing over terminology, it is crucial to initiate a dialogue between the Buddhist majority and Muslim minority and negotiate a lasting solution."
In Afghanistan, Social Media Gives Rise to Hate Speech
"Pashtun zealots, water-carrying Tajiks, porter Hazaras and raw-brained Uzbeks, good morning!"
Why Afghanistan's Hazara Won't Stop Marching
All Afghans are affected by the country's ongoing crisis of governance, but it is the long-suffering Hazara minority that has run out of patience fastest.
Now's Not a Good Time to Wear a Hammer and Sickle T-Shirt in Indonesia
"Fear of communism, fear of liberalism, fear of LGBT, fear of Chinese and foreign powers: personalities of those with inferiority complexes. Fearing their own stupidity."
Bloggers Boggled Over Why Child Marriage Is Still on the Books in Trinidad & Tobago
"This is not just an issue of age and maturity, but once again, of power."
A Novel About the ‘Anonymous People Who Every Day Live, Love, Resist and Struggle’ for Syria
"We hear little of those who resist, construct and reconstruct, in an increasingly difficult context," says activist, journalist, and Global Voices author Leila Nachawati Rego about her new novel.
Venezuela: Research Confirms Censorship of News Platforms, Currency Websites
The study also confirmed that all local Internet service providers using DNS (domain name system) blocking, technique through which domain name servers respond incorrectly to requests for a particular domain.
Global Voices Interviews Activists From ‘Defense of Democracy’ Committee Who Say Poland Is in Peril
The Committee for the Defense of Democracy accuses the Polish government of destroying the country's democratic foundations. So what now? Global Voices talks to three of the movement's figures.
Brazilian Musicians Mount an Orchestra Against Brazil's Interim Government
Late German composer Carl Off's "Carmina Burana" was turned into a chant of "Fora Temer" (Temer Out), against Michel Temer's interim government.
Trinidad and Tobago Reconsiders Marriage Act After Push to Recognise Child Marriage as Abuse
Trinidad and Tobago is a society of contradictions: the legal age of sexual consent was recently raised from 16 to 18, even as another law on marriage differs significantly.
Protests and Banners Await High-Ranking Chinese Official on Visit to Hong Kong
Despite this promise of care and love, Zhang Dejiang's visit has been accompanied by thousands of police officers, who vow to take "decisive action" against protesters.
‘Enfants du Pays’ Project Remembers Victims of Burundi’s Crisis With Life Stories and Artwork
"Thank you #EnfantsDuPays for making sure Burundians do not die 'twice.'"
Filipino Farmers Hit by El Niño Are Protesting and Demanding Food Aid
"We can look for alternative crops to plant. But right now there is simply nothing – just hectares of dust that even weed won’t grow on."
Protests and Looting Rock Venezuela as Public Chaos Spreads
With shortages rising and a political crisis brewing, many have voiced worries that Venezuela seems to be flirting with potential disaster.
A Group of Anti-Corruption Activists Was Attacked Today in Russia. Wanna Buy Some Plane Tickets?
News of an attack on activists is the leading news story across much of Russian social media today, and the travel company Aviasales decided to capitalize on the story.
