Stories about Weblog from October, 2017
After 121 Years, the First Indigenous Singer Performs at Brazil’s Teatro Amazonas
The theatre was built in the late 19th century with the wealth from rubber exploitation in the Amazon, which brought devastation for the indigenous communities in the forested region.
In Paraguay, a Community Fights for the Right to Grow Food
The community of Primero de Marzo can't sell their produce in a country where 700,000 people go hungry every day.
Global Voices Summit 2017: Countdown to Sri Lanka!
Over 50 countries will be represented at the Global Voices Summit 2017. Join us in Colombo, Sri Lanka on December 2-3!
The Venezuelan Crisis Understood Through Video Games
Creative ways of protesting in Venezuela leave traces in different spaces and amplify a variety of points of views around the Venezuelan conflict.
The Portuguese People Want Justice for Victims of Fires That Ravaged Their Country This Year
According to the European Forest Fire Information System, around 500,000 hectares of forest have burned in 2017 alone – an area roughly twice the size the district of Lisbon.
Jamaican Prime Minister’s Barefoot Campaigning Inspires Laughs—and Questions About Infrastructure
Despite the showmanship involved in the campaigning in a key constituency in an important Jamaican by-election, netizens wonder whether anything will actually change after the votes are in.
Japan's Largest Diwali Celebration Featured Food, Dancing and a Naan Flatbread Mascot
Thanks to increasing ties between the two countries, the number of Indians living in Japan has increased over the past two decades to at least 28,000.
A Son of Indian Billionaire ‘Resides’ in a Modest Post-Communist Building in Macedonia
Indian billionaire son's residence in Skopje -- and whether or not he actually resides there -- has brought up questions of corrupt ties to the former ruling party of Macedonia.
In Trinidad & Tobago, It's No ‘Small Thing’ How People Rallied After Flooding
While most people had "no words" to describe the damage caused by days of flooding, the deputy head of the country's disaster agency called the situation "a small thing".
Kyrgyz People of Central Asia Shocked to Be the Bad Guys in New Japanese ‘Tokusatsu’ Movie
In Japanese, the 'kyr' in 'Kyrgyz' sounds a lot like 'kill'.
Indonesian Law Makes It Easier to Disband Extremist Groups, but Could Undermine Civil Liberties
"There are many ways for the government to combat radicalism and defend social cohesion. Removing meaningful legal protections of freedom of association is not the way to do that."
Netizen Report: Voices of Yemen’s ‘Forgotten War’ Speak Out, Despite Legal Barriers
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
The Families of Trafficked Boys From India's Arwal Say Police Don't Care
"There were eight of us...They would beat us if we didn’t chop wood and not give us food...They killed four boys. And threw them in the river nearby."
After 113 Days Behind Bars, #Istanbul10 Human Rights Defenders Are Released Pending Trial
“I don’t have anything to regret. I just did my work as a human rights defender,” Idil Eser told the court.
Albanian Prime Minister Insults Journalists After Parliament Votes to Protect Lawmaker From Arrest
The Albanian Journalists' Union condemned "that such behavior and insulting communication is directly related to the dire situation faced by journalism in Albania."
A 21-Year-Old American Sings the Praises of President Xi's Chinese Dream—Literally
Dylan Walker sang the song “China Dream and My Dream” during the country's October 1 national holiday, leading some netizens to speculate he was a paid propagandist for the government.
Czech President ‘Jokingly’ Threatens Journalists With an Assault Rifle Replica
Last Friday, Czech president Miloš Zeman brandished a wooden replica of an assault rifle with the inscription 'for journalists' written on its side. Journalists, however, failed to appreciate the 'joke'.
The Latest Threat to Beleaguered Environmental Activists in Honduras Comes from the Law
Protesters have long been victims of extrajudicial assassinations and arbitrary incarcerations. Now they have simply been criminalized.
Tonga Government Accused of Controlling State Media Ahead of Elections
"Government needs to stop using so-called losses as an excuse to apply punitive changes aimed at gagging newsroom and management in a leading public broadcaster of the region."
The Battle Over Education in Afghanistan Is Decades Old and Still Only Heating Up
"Education is the antidote to the Taliban: education is tantamount to freeing the minds from the cages of extremism and bigotry."
Knife Attack on Russian Journalist Reignites an “Atmosphere of Hate” in the Media
The knife assault on Felgengauer sparked a wave of criticism against the state propaganda apparatus, which has recently intensified attacks on independent media in Russia, specifically Echo of Moscow.
