Stories about War & Conflict from January, 2012
Mauritania: Terror Grips Town
Terror grips city of Kiffa in Mauritania: “Poet and filmmaker Mohamed Ould Idoumou, a Kiffa native, told Magharebia that that the city has never seen cases of terrorism before because of its isolated location in the desert.”
South Asia in 2011: A Year Full of Controversies and Protests
2011 was an eventful year. We have seen extensive use of social media in South Asia to discuss many controversies and protests. In this post we highlight Global Voices South Asian team's coverage throughout the year.
Syria: The Struggle for Freedom and the End of Silence
Since March 2011, when the uprisings that started in Tunisia and Egypt reaching Syria, thousands have been killed and tens of thousands have been arrested and disappeared in the country. Leila Nachawati Rego takes a look at how citizen media has helped offer an alternative to state-controlled narrative.
Syria: Damascus “Suicide Attack” and State TV Fabrications
As massive demonstrations take place all over the country demanding the end of Syrian president Bashar Al Assad's regime, Syrian state TV reported a suicide bombing in the Midan neighborhood of Damascus on Friday, January 6. Videos circulated online show clear evidence of fabrication, writes Leila Nachawati Rego.
MENA: 2011, a Year of Struggle and Triumphs for Bloggers
With all of the social media successes throughout the Middle East and North Africa in 2011, it would be all too easy to overlook the struggles faced by bloggers and netizens throughout the region. But with 126 netizens imprisoned, it would be a travesty.
Pakistan: One Year After Salmaan Taseer’s Murder
Pak Tea House explains how Salman Taseer's murder has woken up Pakistanis and a lot of concern and awareness about the minorities and finding justice is evident after one year.
Pakistan: Jamat-ud-Dawa – Pakistan's Own God's Army
Salman Latif warns about the activities of banned extremist outfit Jamat-ud-Dawa, which is fueling anti-Indian sentiments in Pakistan.
China 2011: From Jasmine Crackdowns to Grassroots Uprisings
From the crackdowns on any Jasmine revolution and grassroots uprisings, to debates about future development models, 2011 was another eventful year for China. Oiwan Lam rounds up.
Iraq: 162,000 People Killed
Iraqi Mojo says about 162,000 people were killed in Iraq up to the end of last year (2011). They include 114,212 civilians, according to Iraq Body Count, an anti-war group. Click here for the details.
Mexico Wake Up! Artists United for Peace Go Viral
The violence and impunity Mexico has been facing these past years have prompted artists, creators and media to join forces and launch a campaign to change statistics into names and stories. Through a collaborative project they are asking viewers to research other casualties and give voices to the victims of violence.
Cameroon: Violent Clashes Between Motorbike Taxi Drivers and Douala Citizens
On December 31, 2011 in the popular district of Deido in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon, riots broke out between the inhabitants of the district and motorbike taxi drivers, also know as "benskiners". Here are testimonies and videos from local bloggers.
Chile: Controversy Over Change from ‘Dictatorship’ to ‘Military Government’ in School Textbooks
Greg Weeks explains the controversy over a decision to use ‘military government’ instead of ‘dictatorship’ in school textbooks: “Even if children don't bother reading them, their teachers will be using them to frame their own discussions in the classroom. They are a critical part of the construction of national identity,...
Kuwait: The Stateless Find A Voice Online
Writing on openDemocracy, Bidoun activist and Global Voices author Mona Kareem, profiled here, says that social media is providing the stateless with a voice online.
Arab World: A Year In Pictures – Our Authors’ Selection
As we bid farewell to 2011 and look ahead to 2012, we asked our authors to share with you pictures that in their eyes have marked the past year in their respective countries. The following selection represents their choices.
Georgia: Return of the Meskhetian Turks
Over 100,000 Muslims were deported from the Meskheti region of Georgia by Joseph Stalin in 1944. Now, more than 60 years later, some are slowly starting to return as part of the country's obligations to the Council of Europe.
Mexico's ‘Political-Civic Disconnect’ in the Search for Peace
Fred Rosen, from the NACLA blog Mexico, Bewildered and Contested, explains that when it comes to movements that seek an end to violence in Mexico, “there is a major disconnect between, on the one hand, the movements that have arisen from (and remain in) civil society and, on the other...
Yemen: A Parallel Revolution from the Streets to the Institutions
Over the past few weeks, Yemen's revolution spread from the streets to institutions across the country, calling for an end to corruption in the governmental and public sectors. Netizens react to the new development.
Philippines: Manhunt for ‘Human Rights Violator’ Goes Online
A 'people's manhunt' was organized to catch Major General Jovito Palparan who is accused of committing human rights violations in the Philippines. After an arrest warrant was issued by the Court, netizens started uploading “Wanted: Palparan” posters on blogs, Facebook pages, and other social media platforms.
Latin America, 2011: A Year Marked by Social Movements
Citizens across the world took to the streets in 2011, and Latin America was no exception. In this post we look at the social movements that marked 2011 in South and Central America and how protests, vigils, marches and occupations were covered and analyzed through citizen media.
Turkey: Remembering the Turkish Schindlers
Writing on the Huffington Post, Ziya Meral explains why honoring those Turks that saved Armenians during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire is important. Meral argues that recognizing these ‘Turkish Schindlers’ would go some way in defusing tensions between Armenia and Turkey, making the events of 1915 a shared tragedy....
From Sidi Bouzid to Kinshasa: Francophone Africa in 2011
The usual year-end review would hardly do justice to the epic changes that have turned Francophone Africa upside down, driven by the collective courage of its citizens who often faced violent repression while striving for emancipation from various dictatorships. Through the eyes of local citizen media, here are the highlights of 2011.