Stories about Weblog from April, 2018
Though opposition remains, Trinidad & Tobago takes a historic legal step towards LGBT equality
"We are all humans. We are all the same. When are you going to realize you’re on the wrong side of history?"
Magdalene magazine gives a platform to women and other marginalized sectors of Indonesia
"We channel the voices of feminists, pluralists and progressives, or just those who are not afraid to be different, regardless of their genders, colors, or sexual preferences."
What were Global Voices’ readers up to last week?
During the week of April 9-15, 2018, our stories and translations attracted readers from 211 countries. Number 95 on the list? Azerbaijan. And number 154? Niger.
Liberian journalists detained, slapped with US 1.8 million lawsuit amid political feud
Only weeks after FrontPage Africa reported on the LEITI scandal, the newspaper was slammed with a crippling libel civil lawsuit. Press freedom activists believe FrontPage Africa has been targeted.
School history assignment stirs up a storm in Jamaica over how slavery should be taught
"Now to the assignment at hand, would Hillel have asked on an assignment about World War 2 to come up with ways for Nazi Germany to annihilate the Jewish people?"
Jamaican Dancehall Star Buju Banton's Impending Release from Prison Sparks Renewed Controversy
"If Banton[...]retracted his hideous views on homosexuality and sought to amend the damage he has done to men and women across the Caribbean, he would be worthy of a platform."
Netizen Report: Around the World, Activists Demand Answers From Facebook
The Advox Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
Will Tanzanian Bloggers Pay Up or Push Back Against ‘Blogger Tax'?
In Tanzania, where media historically holds strong ties to government interests, blogging opened up possibilities for individuals to establish private news outlets that proved immensely powerful.
#GirlsOnBikes: Women Ride Bicycles To Reclaim Public Spaces in Pakistan
"We wish to encourage each other to participate in this collective movement to assert our right to navigate public spaces on our own terms."
New Sexual Harassment Accusations Against Professor Jorge I. Domínguez Spark Heated Online Debate
"...it seems incredible that, at this point, our testimony is still put into question."
Ugandan Government Plans to Tax Social Media Users for Too Much Gossip
"Uganda wants to profit where it did not invest. Social media owners gave it out for free and you wanna tax it?"
Brazil's Black Population Dominates Popular Politics, But Remains Left Out From Government
Brazilian scholar Flávia Rios reflects on achievements and challenges in the struggle for racial and gender equality.
How RootIO Broadcasts Radio in Uganda Using a Bucket
RootIO provides an open-source toolkit for communities to create their own micro-radio stations using easy-to-find materials.
No Laughing Matter: China Shuts Down Popular Joke-Sharing App
"A country, a government, a supervision department. They are all scared of a joke-sharing application."
Trinidad & Tobago's LGBT Community Speaks Out as Court Decision on ‘Buggery’ Law Approaches
"Religion must not trump reason when it comes to basic human rights."
By Attempting to Curb Disinformation on Slain Politician Marielle Franco, a Brazilian Judge Hands Facebook Censorship Powers
The order could set a dangerous precedent for freedom of speech online in the country.
What Were Global Voices’ Readers up to Last Week?
During the week of April 2-8, 2018, our stories and translations attracted readers from 209 countries. Number 53 on the list? Thailand. And number 182? São Tomé & Príncipe.
Amid Crackdown on Dissent, Six Vietnamese Human Rights Activists Are Dealt Long Prison Sentences
“I will continue the struggle and if I must sit in jail, others on the outside will fight on for me and they will never stop.”
How Nationalism Played a Role in Preserving Orthodox Christian Cultural Heritage During the Soviet Union Era
Some of the artistic legacies of Orthodox Christian religion were used to promote patriotic pride during the Soviet Union era.
On World Health Day, African Nations from East to West Struggle to Improve Basic Health Care
Whether it's psychiatric illness and stigmatization in Somalia, the rising drug abuse epidemic of Nigerian youth or the exodus of Nigerian doctors, the state of health across Africa remains precarious.
A Rural-Born Peace Movement Turns Heads Amid the Carnage of the Afghan War
"The only aim of the sit-in is to stop fighting from both sides. The Taliban should not send bombers and the government should not drop bombs on them."