Stories about Photos from April, 2013
Venezuela's Post-election Tension Escalates
As Nicolás Maduro was being declared the new President of Venezuela, the social networks were calling for public protests and an election recount. Incitement to action on both sides of the political landscape is expected to increase.
Residents Displaced by Brazilian Power Plant Struggle to Earn Living
While moving in to New Mutum Parana – a town built by the company Energia Sustentável to house Jirau’s engineers and officers – the river dwellers who were removed from their community in order to allow Madeira River’s power plant flooding found a “phantom city” where making a living seems impossibe.
Air Show Ends in Tragedy in the Dominican Republic
An aircraft from the Dominican Air Force crashed into the open sea during the Caribbean Air Show while it was performing an acrobatic stunt. The two pilots manning the aircraft died in the incident.
Spain's “Move Your Money!” Campaign Advocates for Ethical Banking
Various organizations have joined together to launch the "Move your money!" initiative in Spain, to convince citizens to transition from traditional banks, which are in large part responsible for the current economic crisis, to emerging financial institutions commonly called "ethical banks."
Construction Project Fuels Sex and Violence in Brazilian Amazon
Sex and violence are a part of life in the small Brazilian fishing town of Jaci Parana, where police struggle to keep up with crime as a nearby hydroelectric construction project in the state of Rondonia pumps money into the local economy.
Yemen: Anti Drone Protests in the US
Yemenis join nation-wide rallies across the US in protest against predator drones and extrajudicial killings.
Racism Remarks in the NYT Land Cuban Intellectual in Trouble
Author Roberto Zurbano's tough talk on racism in Cuba published in The New York Times apparently cost him is job as editor at a publishing house and generated a heated debate among the island's intellectuals.
Uruguay Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
Uruguay has become the second Latin American country, after Argentina, to legalize same-sex marriage. Under Uruguayan law, marriage is now defined as “the permanent union between two people of the same or opposite sex."
Tunisian Graffiti Artists Fined, Most Serious Charges Dismissed
A Tunisian court fined two street artists for drawing pro poor graffiti today. The court, however, dismissed the charges of "disturbing public order" and "breaching the state of emergency".
Djibouti: Arrests follow ‘Democratic’ Elections
Several opposition leaders were arrested in Djibouti after demonstrations which followed the February 22, 2013 general elections. The elections saw yet another victory for the party in power, the People's Rally for Progress. President Ismail Omar Guelleh, who has ruled since 1999, received 80% of votes cast, leading to allegations of fraud on a massive scale. Arrests were still continuing at the time of writing, April 2013.
Syria: Tweeting from the Frontline in Aleppo
Journalist Jenan Moussa is back in Aleppo, Syria, tweeting her experiences as the war between pro- and anti-government forces intensifies. Moussa's tweets are raw and personal, giving readers a snippet of what life is like for those caught in the crossfire.
Papoleto Meléndez: ‘Poetry Enters You Because It Is Looking for a Voice’
Jesús “Papoleto” Meléndez, Puerto Rican poet and one of the fathers of the Nuyorican literary movement, just released the collection "Hey Yo!, Yo Soy! 40 Years of Nuyorican Street Poetry." Yarisa Colón interviews him.
King of Spain's Swiss Bank Accounts No Longer a Secret
The latest scandal to hit the monarchy has exposed the existence of various Swiss bank accounts under the names of the king of Spain and other members of the royal family, with a total balance of more than 4 million euros.
North Korea Nuclear Threats Draw Arab Laughs
North Korea's threats to attack US military bases, including those on the American mainland, drew laughs from a number of Arab netizens.
Madrid President Advocates Censorship of Embarrassing Photos
Madrid regional president Ignacio González voiced his support during a radio interview for establishing "certain limits" on the publication of compromising images in the media, saying that "you have to be careful of the damage to people and to institutions".
Talking about Cuba with Ellery Biddle and Elaine Díaz
Global Voices author and editor Juan Arellano interviews bloggers Ellery Biddle and Elaine Díaz, who cover the complicated Cuban blogosphere for Global Voices.
Tear Gas and Rubber Bullets Break Journalist Protest in Togo
On March 14, 2013, security forces violently broke up a sit-in by private sector journalists in Togo. The journalists were protesting the new dispositions of the Organic Law which mean business licences of the Togolese media can now be withdrawn without judicial proceedings. The protests against the law of the High Audiovisual and Communications Authority (HAAC) took place in Lomé, largest city and capital of Togo. Security forces used clubs, tear gas bombs and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrations resulting in several journalists being injured.
