Stories about Feature from December, 2014
Castro and Obama Open New Chapter on US-Cuba Relations
Cubans on both sides of the Florida Straits are overwhelmed, elated, speechless. But as both presidents noted, the embargo is codified in legislation that only the US Congress can change.
Anti-Coup Activist Says Thai Officials Threatened Her with Rape
She was detained at an International Human Rights Day event in Bangkok after she and another person made the three-fingered "Hunger Games" salute, which is banned in Thailand.
The ‘Perfect Human’ Doesn't Live in Puerto Rico (or Any Other Country)
Scientist Lior Pachter wrote a post titled "The perfect human is Puerto Rican" to underscore how absurd the obsession with genetically "improving" humans is. But some took the title literally.
In Between Images of the Peshawar Attack, a Thought About Pakistan’s Army Public Schools
There are tens of thousands of students at Army Public School (APS) campuses across Pakistan - the progressive school system that educates children of servicemen & hard-working Pakistanis.
El Salvador Imprisons 17 Women Who Lost Their Newborns as Murderers
Although a rallying cry for the global abortion rights movement, these 17 Salvadoran women didn't purposefully end their own pregnancies. Instead, they suffered a combination of obstetrical complications and poverty.
As the Sydney Siege Comes to an End, Hundreds of Thousands of Tweets Show Solidarity with Muslims
The #IllRideWithyou campaign was meant to show solidarity with Sydney Muslims who might feel uncomfortable taking public transport following the Sydney siege.
The Incredible Courage of Women Human Rights Defenders in the Middle East
Women in Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Iran have faced prosecution, poor treatment, kidnappings and even death for daring to defend human rights.
Is Argentina Really ‘Infected With Foreign Criminals'? Or Just Xenophobic Politicians?
"We are infected with foreign criminals," Argentina's security secretary said, sparking controversy in the debate about insecurity in the country.
After Grozny Gun Battle, Human Rights Defenders in Chechnya Under Attack
Joint Mobile Group is one of Chechnya's last remaining human rights organizations. If it's forced from the republic, the loss to the local population would be difficult to exaggerate.
They Don't Speak Spanish in the Philippines?
Some Latin Americans tend to think, based on lessons in primary school, that Spanish is spoken in the Philippines. Find out why that's not the case.
A Mexican Protester Interrupted the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony. Now His Mom Would Like a Word.
According to the protester's brother, he was hoping to draw attention to the disappearance and presumed mass murder of 42 Ayotzinapa school students in Mexico.
Booted From Occupy Central, Hong Kong's Pro-Democracy Protesters Take on New Battlefields
Until the promise of genuine democracy is fulfilled, pro-democracy advocates say they won't back down.
Fear of ISIS Threatens Media Freedom in Kyrgyzstan
A Kyrgyz media outlet refused government requests to delete a reposted video of Kazakh children training in ISIS camps. Now it is partly blocked in both countries.
Jailed Female Photo Journalist on Hunger Strike in Vietnam
Convicted of plotting to "overthrow" the Vietnamese government, Minh Man was sentenced to nine years in prison. Now she is on hunger strike.
Azerbaijan's Image Cracks with Arrest of Watchdog Journalist
The arrest of investigative journalist Khadija Ismayil, on trumped up charges, will test the limits of Azerbaijan's gleaming global image.
What Does Japan’s State Secrecy Act Mean for Free Expression?
Japan’s controversial State Secrecy Act became law on Wednesday, December 10. The law imposes strict penalties on leakers of state secrets.
Why Going Viral Was a Source of Fear for One Hong Kong Citizen Journalist
Hung Lai Fong published an article under her real name about Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests, and when it became widely read, she began to fear retaliation from China.
Rebuilding Timbuktu's Cultural Diversity, One eReader at a Time
Several local NGOs are now hard at work in Mali, launching projects to help rebuild the country's social cohesion and restore peace. "Living Together" is using eReaders.
GV Face: Celebrating 10 Years of Global Voices With Our Co-founders Rebecca and Ethan
As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we talk to our cofounders Rebecca and Ethan about all the victories, challenges and surprises they've faced in this organic, inspiring and beautiful journey.
How Social Media Helped an Independent Candidate Beat the Odds in Taiwan's Elections
Ko Wen-je won the race for mayor in Taiwan's capital city by a landslide. The island's political culture favors a two-party system, but Ko says social media helped him win.
Lawmakers Watching Porn, Playing Games, and Sleeping on the Job Is a Thing in Southeast Asia
Several politicians across Southeast Asia have been caught watching porn, sleeping, and playing a game on Ipad during Parliament or Congress sessions.
