Stories about Photos from June, 2013
A Puerto Rican Musician Follows His Muse to Instagram
Fernando Samalot is, among other things, a gifted musician from Puerto Rico's independent music scene, known for his participation in the experimental group tachdé. Through his Instagram profile, Fernando began exploring his passion for photography while sharing the results -a collection of genuinely inspiring photos, filled with adventure, spirituality, and plenty of heart- with the rest of the world.
European Award for Helping Victims of the Spanish Mortgage Crisis
The European Parliament has awarded its European Citizen's prize to the Mortgage Victims Platform, a Spanish grassroots organization that helps those affected by the housing crisis and champions legal reforms of mortgage lending practices. The ruling party had harsh words for the award, while netizens were strongly in favour.
PHOTOS: Hundreds Arrested in Brazil's Bus Fare Protests
Police are responding with teargas and violence as protesters crusade against the increase in public transportation fares during the fourth consecutive day of protests in Sao Paulo. The demonstrations are part of the Free Fare Movement that has already spread to other major cities throughout Brazil.
Syria: Old Homs Under Siege for a Year
This month marks the first anniversary of the siege of the old city of Homs, often described as the capital of the Syrian Revolution. Homs, one of the first revolutionary Syrian cities to revolt against the tyranny of Bashar Al Assad, has been subjected to bombardment by the Syrian regime, shelling and raids for more than two years, making the daily survival even harder as food and medical supplies dwindle. Netizens describe what it is like to live under siege.
Syria: Criticizing Arab Silence
Political Farce posted a photograph on Facebook criticizing the silence of Arabs over developments in Syria.
Brazilian Court Gags Activist from Protesting Construction Project Online
A Brazilian court has forbidden an agricultural engineer from speaking out on the streets and on the Internet against the construction of a high-rise apartment complex. Freedom of expression advocates have warned that the decision breaks with international legal standards.
Cuba Increases Internet Access From Designated Public Centers
Cuba opened 118 public centers with Internet access on the island. Called Nauta, the service can be requested in any Cuban State Telecommunications (ETESCA) commercial unit that has partnered with the program.
Puerto Rico: “Freedom for Oscar López Rivera, Now!”
More and more people have united in the campaign for the release of Oscar López Rivera, the longest-serving political prisoner in Latin America. Politicians of all ideologies in Puerto Rico, writers, artists, and members of the international community, have come together to ask for his freedom after being imprisoned in the United States during 32 years.
Delays, Political Turmoil Plague Madagascar As Elections Near
Political stalemate, financing issues, and logistical hurdles threaten to derail Madagascar's overdue upcoming presidential elections, the country's first since a coup in 2009 plunged the island into political crisis. The government has postponed elections again, moving the date a month later than scheduled to 23 August, 2013.
Israeli Social Justice Protesters Met with Violence by Jerusalem Police
A protest organized by three groups affiliated with the Israeli social justice movement (#j14) was held in Jerusalem on Saturday night (June 8). The protesters demanded a reversal of the decision to export most of Israel's natural gas reserves with only 12.5% of the value of the gas going to the State in taxes. The protesters also voiced objections against the budget of the new government, which is expected to significantly raise taxes on Israel's lower and middle-class, while at the same time cutting government services on which those classes rely. The protest, despite being peaceful and rather small (a few hundreds of protesters) was met with an unusually high level of random police brutality.
Families of Saudi's ‘Arbitrarily Imprisoned’ Protest from Home
Friday, June 7th, marked the Second Detainees Day, an event called for by anonymous advocacy group @e3teqal and @almonaseron to raise awareness about the issue of arbitrary detainment in the absolute Saudi monarchy. Participants in the protest hang the photographs of detainees on their homes to draw attention to their plight.
Yemen's Jailed Revolutionary Youth Go on Hunger Strike
In December 2011, 22 youth were abducted during the uprising against ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Five of them still remain in jail, without charges or trial. Yemeni activists and netizens are now calling for their release, writes Noon Arabia.
Norwegian Music Video Offends Kyrgyzstanis
For small, landlocked and little-known countries such as Kyrgyzstan, "self-branding" is a slow and difficult process. So, when stars from foreign countries arrive to shoot a video in your countryside, the hope is that the message they take home with them is the right one. But unfortunately, it doesn't always work out like that.
PHOTOS: ‘A Window into Paraguay for the World’
In the blog Yluux, Paraguayan photographers Tetsu Espósito and Elton Núñez cover different themes and stories through photos of nature, religious traditions, sports, music, and more.
Turkey: A Social Media Chronology of Occupy Gezi
On April 10, a hashtag on Turkey's Twitter proclaimed, #ayagakalk ("stand up"). This came from a small group of activists trying to preserve the standing park, Gezi Park in Taksim Square, against plans to build a mall on the area. Nobody expected to this little incident to turn into biggest protest in the country’s republican history
Snowfall in the Tropics
The tropical Island of La Réunion experienced a relatively rare snowfall on the top of the volcano, Piton de la fournaise on June 3. Linfo.re explains that [fr] the first snowfall on the island was observed in 1988 and the latest was in 2007.
Extreme Anti-immigrant Groups Spread Throughout Europe
Plagued by one of the worst economic crises in recent history, extreme anti-immigrant parties are once again on the rise in 21st-century Europe.
Kyrgyzstan: Rule of Law Versus Rule of the Mob?
A week-long wave of regional unrest, ostensibly due to disagreements over the fate of a key gold mine, has sent Kyrgyzstan into a state of disorder that looks all too familiar for citizens of the republic.
Indian Filmmaker and Gay Icon Rituparno Ghosh's Death Stuns Fans
Known for his masterly storytelling and sensitive portrayal of human relationships, gifted Indian filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh, was equally known for the bold flamboyance with which he celebrated his alternate sexuality and gender choice. Fans mourn his untimely death.
Spaniards Vote for Universal Healthcare in Popular Referendum
Almost 1 million people in Madrid, Spain, voted in favor of universal healthcare in a popular referendum carried out by various independent groups in May in Madrid.
