Stories about Weblog from August, 2015
31 August 2015
One Syrian Refugee's Long and Dangerous Journey to Europe
Before the war began, Thair Orfahli studied law in Lebanon and regularly visited his family in Syria. But as the violence intensified, he decided he had to leave.
Journalists Reporting in Mali Receive Death Threats From ‘Guardians of Jihad’
A militant group threatens to kill journalists working for foreign media who report on Mali.
Chairman Mao Wasn't at WWII's Cairo Conference. So Why Is He on the Movie Poster?
Some believe President Xi Jinping is using 'The Cairo Declaration' film and a September 3 military parade to rewrite the Chinese Communist Party's involvement in fending off the Japanese.
Malaysia’s 34-Hour Bersih Rally Against Government Corruption Gathers 100,000 People
"To many, Bersih 4 is something that gave them the courage to dream. To know that a fair and just Malaysia can truly exist."
30 August 2015
Why Indigenous Communities in Mexico Need Community Self-Defence
"Today, the community suffers not only at the hands of criminal groups but also at those of the Federal Police and the Army of Mexico."
Lebanese-French Trumpeter Reimagines ‘Alice in Wonderland’ as a Hip-Hop Opera
A rabbit hole worth heading down? Ibrahim Maalouf has reworked the Lewis Carroll classic, setting it in modern France with a Malian beat.
Tanzania General Elections 2015: A Defeat for Africa's Longest Ruling Party?
"Moved by fear of losing, the ruling party is now resorting to undemocratic methods to maintain its grip on power."
29 August 2015
You Stink Movement Gives Lebanese Government 72 Hours to Meet Protesters’ Demands
Lebanese protesters today gave the government a 72 hour ultimatum to meet their demands or face further protests on Tuesday.
Puerto Rico Organizes From the Bottom Up in the Face of Economic Crisis
Various civil society groups have started to come together to find solutions to the severe socioeconomic crisis that the Caribbean nation faces.
A Week Before a Huge Vote, Demonstrators Fill Guatemala's Streets, Calling For President to Step Down
University students, peasants, families, indigenous groups, artists, cities, towns, hospitals, and more are rapidly joining calls for President Otto Pérez Molina to step down.
India Has a Less-Than-Rosy Track Record on Media Freedom
The government recently threatened to pull the licenses of three news channels over criticism of the execution of Yakub Menon, convicted of the 1993 Mumbai bombings.
Google's Optical Character Recognition Software Now Works with All South Asian Languages
Google's OCR software supports more than 248 world languages, including all the major South Asian languages, bringing together hope for the large-scale digitization of old texts.
28 August 2015
The Lebanese Get Creative in Their Protests Against the Trash Crisis
The Lebanese people show some humor and creativity in the way they protest. Over 20,000 people took to the streets in Beirut last weekend carrying all kinds of signs
Uncovering Attempts to Hide Oil's Footprints in Peru
This is the first part of an investigation by Convoca based on more than 1,000 environmental monitoring reports of hydrocarbons and electricity that were archived by three governments in Peru.
Brazilian Police Are Preventing Poor Black Teens From Visiting Rio's Upscale Beaches
"They think we're thieves because we're black," a 15-year-old told a reporter.
Argentina Has Had Decades of Democracy, So Why Do the Disappearances Continue?
Despite 32 years of democracy, thousands of people—particularly women and young girls—are still unaccounted for in Argentina. And more keep disappearing.
Migrant Filipinos and Their Families Tell the Government: ‘Hands Off Our Balikbayan Boxes!’
"The implied accusation that they are out to cheat government is an insult they can never forgive and forget."
Ousted Trinidad & Tobago Minister ‘Gypsy’ Is Singing a Bitter Tune—Literally
When a government minister learns he has not been chosen to run in the country's upcoming general elections, things degenerate into nasty -- albeit melodious -- name calling.
Bahrain's Opposition, From Dialogue Tables to Prison Cells
Bahrain is closing in on Al Wefaq Islamic Society, the country's largest opposition group. One after the other, it's leaders are rounded up and jailed.
8 Ways Climate Change Is Already Affecting Africa
According to the Climate Change Vulnerability Index for 2015, seven of the ten countries most at risk from climate change are in Africa.
