Stories about War & Conflict from May, 2012
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Eurovision Propaganda Fail
Global Chaos takes a look at the government-led publicity and international media attention surrounding this years Eurovision Song Contest held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Public Diplomacy blog also notes the...
Bangladesh: Justice For The Rape Victims Of The Liberation War
Anushay Hossain writes that Bangladesh should not hide its scars of the rape of hundreds of thousands of women during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, bring justice for them...
Pakistan: The Hazara Killings – Why Is The World Silent?
The Hazara minority in Pakistan have been suffering from sectarian violence and targeted killings by the extremist terrorist outfits in the past decade. Netizens protest the failure to nab the culprits and the silence of the world on these killings.
El Salvador: Documentary Planned on Women of the Civil War
A crowdfunded campaign aims to record the stories of the women who took part of the Salvadorean Civil War (1980–1992), who are now leading their communities for peace, equality and justice.
Syria: Ambassadors Expelled in Protest at Houla Massacre
The brutal massacre committed in the district of Houla has prompted a wave of horrified reactions around the world. A number of governments have taken the decision to expel Syrian ambassadors and diplomats in protest at the escalation of violence.
Syria: Houla Massacre Creates International Outcry
On May 25, anti-government protestors in Houla, northwest of Homs, took to the streets at midday, little expecting that their demonstration would be eventually answered by a massacre of unprecedented savagery. At least 116 people were killed by pro-government forces.
Palestine: Remembering the Nakba
May 15 is Nakba Day, when Palestinians commemorate the displacement and dispossession that took place at the time of Israel's establishment in 1948. In this post we look at how the day was marked by Palestinians on blogs and Twitter this year.
Philippines: Military Bombings Create Refugees
Thousands of residents in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao have been forced to flee their land in the past few months because of increased military presence and activities in the area. The escalation of conflict between government and rebel troops also worsened the situation recently. The residents have become bakwits - the local term for refugees.
Syria: UN Report Shows Powerlessness of Observer Mission
As the situation in Syria worsens, and more terrifying reports arrive from the Homs district of Houla, Foreign Policy-hosted blog Turtle Bay summarizes a report [PDF] from UN Secretary-General Ban...
DR of Congo: General Ntaganda Back on the War Path?
Bosco Ntaganda, a former chief of the Congolese rebellion is back on the war path, concerned that the ICC warrant against him for war crimes is now supported by the government. Another rebel, Thomas Lubanga, was recently found guilty of similar crimes.
Mali: A President Assaulted, a Nation in Turmoil
A rapidly escalating crisis has taken over Mali, including a recent assault on the interim president in his palace. All indicators seem to point towards a prolonged situation, although voices are calling for unity.
Germany: Wanted Posters Against Delivery of Tanks to Saudi Arabia
The Center for Political Beauty in Germany is creating a buzz with its "wanted" campaign. Its goal is to convict shareholders of the weapons manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and to put a stop to planned tank deliveries to Saudi Arabia.
Video: How Societies Work – a Look at Unconventional Arrangements
The VJ Movement has partnered with the London School of Economics to bring us videos and stories that attempt to show how societies in conflict and crisis-affected areas across the globe are facing their futures.
Mali: Coup Leader Sanogo To be Sworn in as New Interim President
Various online reports state [fr] that coup leader Captain Sanogo will be sworn in as new interim president after former interim president D. Traoré got injured following protests earlier in...
Mali: Protests Call for National Unity in Gao and Timbuktu
Following protests in Timbuktu in April 2012, citizens of the city of Gao have taken to the streets to protest about the demands and orders imposed by the Islamic groups currently occupying northern Mali. Malian bloggers and their readers react to the protests as well as to the current situation in Northern Mali.
Yemen: Suicide Blast on Eve of Unification Anniversary
Nearly 100 people were killed and at least 200 injured when a suicide blast targeted a military parade rehearsal in Yemen's capital Sana'a on May 21. The bomber detonated his explosives in the middle of soldiers rehearsing for the celebrations of the anniversary of the country's unification.
Mauritania: Al Qaeda Execution Stirs Debate
A YouTube video posted on the Al Akhbar website on May 12 has angered Mauritanians. The video shows a 40-year-old Mauritanian man being interrogated by members of Al Qaeda, who accuse him of espionage. He was later executed after confessing to working with Mauritanian intelligence.
Russia: The RuNet's Top 10 Political Slang Words
Understanding political discussions in the Russian blogosphere requires a certain fluency in RuNet slang. For anyone interested in grasping the nuances of online satire and blogger arguments (or for those who seek to "troll" their own virtual opponents), the following list of ten popular slang terms should be particularly useful.
Philippines, China: Scarborough Shoal Dispute Goes Online
Tension rose in the past month between the Philippines and China when the governments of the two nations accused each other of illegally occupying the territorial waters near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. It sparked nationalist sentiments in both countries and the ‘word war’ has gone online.
Mali: Interim President Injured as Protesters Enter Presidential Palace
Malijet reports that Interim President Dioncounda Traoré was hurt [fr] during protests [fr] that asked for his removal and caused three casualties.
Yemen: Millions Go Hungry in Ongoing Food Crisis
In Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, millions of people are facing a severe humanitarian crisis, widespread hunger and chronic malnutrition. New figures from the World Food Programme indicate that 45 percent of the population do not have enough to eat.
