Stories about Politics from March, 2014
Misogyny Masquerading as Gender Equality in Barbados?
After questionable statements on gender violence from a public official in Barbados, CODE RED says: The Bureau of Gender Affairs has a mandate for ensuring gender equality. It is precisely because of that mandate that Bureau staff should publicly distance themselves from statements that are sexist, deliberately inflammatory and unsubstantiated.
Ukrainian Women's Sex Boycott Against Russian Men
A creative boycott is drawing the attention of Russian Internet users. Ukrainian women are organizing a new campaign called “Don’t give it to a Russian”—a sex embargo against Russian men.
State of Literature in Post-Dictatorship Myanmar
Writing for The Dissident Blog, James Byrne reviews the status of Burmese literature in the post-dictatorship era in Myanmar: When I was in the country last year there were poems being read about the Arab Spring. There were others about the harsh treatment of Burmese farmers. There were satires about...
The Utopia that We Are All Sudanese
Dalia Haj Omar discusses ‘The Utopia that We Are All Sudanese’: Following the sad events of March 11, at the University of Khartoum, GIRIFNA did what it usually does. It issued a brief statement based on eyewitness accounts of its members about the death of student Ali Abbaker Musa. And...
Cambodia Government Accused of Suppressing Public Protests
Human rights group Licadho reported that the Cambodian government organized several counter-protests to undermine peaceful protests last year: If 2012 was the most violent year ever documented in terms of authorities using lethal force against individual human rights defenders, 2013 saw the Cambodian authorities turn that force towards public protests....
Hungarian Far-Right Group Protests Against Fashion Designer
A group of far-right extremists occupied the exhibition opening of a Hungarian fashion designer on Friday, Kettős Mérce blog reported [hu]. The designer in question Koby's new fashion line was first withdrawn [hu] from a Hungarian sports brand shop in January 2014, after nationalist criticism rose against the t-shirt designs featuring some of...
Suspected Government #SelfieMacedonia Campaign Backfires
A Facebook campaign with the hashtag #SelfieMacedonia was launched in March 2014 and Macedonian social media users now suspect that the country's government is behind it all. Bouts of young social media users from Macedonia, individually or in groups, have been taking photos of themselves, typically called “selfies”, and sharing...
Do US Sanctions Against Putin's Cronies Fuel Russian Patriotism?
So far, it seems the West’s response to the annexation of Crimea has only reinforced Russia’s patriotic frenzy. But could tougher sanctions change that?
Smog Insurance China's Latest Air Pollution Band-Aid
Smog insurance, the first of its kind, is targeting travelers and local residents of seven cities in China. Some cities have been plagued by smog for years.
Taiwan's #CongressOccupied Protest, Translated
Hundreds of translators have organized themselves through Facebook to translate stories about protesters' occupation of Taiwan's legislature following the ruling party's passage of a controversial trade agreement with China.
Are America's Latest Sanctions on Russia Based on a List by a Blogger?
"looks like it isn't the CIA that's in charge of Navalny, but Navalny that's in charge of the CIA"
Draft Penal Code in Violation of Women and Children's Rights
This week, the Mozambican NGO Fórum Mulher (Women's Forum) organized a march in protest of a change to the penal code that would threaten human rights. A group of civil society organizations delivered a note on February 24, 2014 denouncing violations of the rights of women, children and sexual minorities...
Algerian Opposition TV Network Shuttered Ahead of Presidential Elections
Independent television network Al-Atlas TV, known for broadcasting Algerian opposition viewpoints without any restriction or censorship, was shut down by Algerian authorities on March 11.
Three Years of the Syrian Revolution: “Our Dream Remains Alive”
Activist and blogger Marcell Shehwaro on preparations in her home city of Aleppo, and other parts of the country, to commemorate the third anniversary of the Syrian revolution.
Protesters Occupy Taiwan's Legislature Over China Trade Deal
Angry protesters surrounded the Legislation Yuan and some stormed the floor demanding a proper review of the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement signed with China.
10 Ways Russians and Ukrainians Reacted to Crimea Annexation Speech
Regardless of how one feels about the Crimean question, it was a landmark speech, and one that bloggers reacted to the way they usually do on the Internet. Through memes.
Trinidad & Tobago: Coup Commission
Do Trinis care dat de report from de Commission ah Enquiry into Abu Bakr coup attempt in 1990 finally out? A Trini Speaks suggests that the release of the findings may be a case of too little, too late.
The Syrian Uprising through the Eyes of Syrian Women
As Syria marks the third anniversary of its revolution, Syria Untold talks to three women activists about the untold battle they face on the ground.
Ethiopian Journalist Reeyot Alemu Has Been in Jail for 1,000 Days
On March 16, 2014, jailed Ethiopian journalist Reeyot Alemu spent her 1000th day of imprisonment. Twitter users lent their support using the hashtag #ReeyotAlemu.
Leftist Candidate Wins Presidential Elections in El Salvador by a Margin of 6000 Votes
In El Salvador, candidate Salvador Sánchez Cerén won the presidential election by 6,364 votes. The losing party and their candidate, Norman Quijano, are demanding a recount and calling for protests.
Russian Officials Sanctioned Over Crimea Scoff on Twitter
"Comrade Obama, what should people who don't have any foreign bank accounts or property do? Did you not think of that?)" -Dmitry Rogozin
