Stories about Weblog from July, 2017
Thai Academics to Be Summoned by Military for Raising ‘Anti-Junta Placards’ at an International Conference
The Thai Academic Network for Civil Rights reminded authorities that the country's constitution does not forbid people from holding up placards.
Netizen Report: Authorities in China and Indonesia Threaten Whatsapp, Telegram Over Political Content
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
Up-and-Coming Trinidadian Soca Singer Devon Matthews’ Journey Comes to an End
The 36-year-old, whose "star was on the rise", collapsed after performing at a Carnival band launch and was rushed to hospital, where he could not be revived.
Dhaka Citizens Show Mayors Red Card for Failure to Control Mosquito-Born Diseases
"No, Mr. Mayor, nobody has called you to fix mosquito nets inside their homes. You were given the responsibility to kill mosquitoes so we don't require mosquito nets..."
Caracas the Deceiving City (and Other Forms of Pain)
“Caracas is different, it has a sense of identity. There is fear for sure, but there is also the happiness of small things. [...] The small hidden treasures.”
I Dread Setting Foot on U.S. Soil While Trump is President
Visiting the U.S. now "would mean having to overcome too much frustration over how the country I used to know has changed."
“In Spain We Have The Best System To Get Rid Of Racism – Denying It Exists.”
"...I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this is happening in this country, my country, to those who aren't like us... It is racism."
A Look Back at Japan's Transformative ‘Showa Era’
One Twitter account combs encyclopedias, photo magazines, guidebooks and other sources for nostalgic images from Japan's postwar recovery.
A Water Weed Is Damaging Ethiopia's Largest Lake and Putting Livelihoods at Risk
The lake has become a symbol of the dire state of Ethiopia’s natural resources at a time when Ethiopia’s fast-growing population needs more of everything.
How the Assault on Independent Media in Bahrain Silenced a Trusted Regional Watchdog
"Freedom of expression is under sustained attack here. With the shuttering of Al Wasat, there is no real journalism left.”
Is the Legalisation of Marijuana in Trinidad & Tobago an ‘Idea Whose Time Has Come'?
"The only ones benefiting from keeping marijuana illegal are the drug gangs and they will be forced out of business by legitimate dealers..."
China's Xinjiang Residents Are Being Forced to Install Surveillance Apps on Mobile Phones
Local netizens reported that police officers at check points are randomly searching residents' devices to see if they have installed the surveillance app.
Ethiopia's Music of Resistance Stays Strong, Despite Repression
Amid wide-scale protests and a violent government crackdown, Afan Oromo musicians have begun to rise as a visible — and audible — driving inspiration for the opposition movement.
Mexican-American Researchers Reclaim Heritage to Radically Change the Way We Eat
"Decolonizing our diets is a political stance, one that rejects white supremacy and Eurocentrism as the organizing narrative of “healthy” food and recognizes cultural knowledge held by our immigrant communities."
In Bangladesh, Fear Drives Headline-Making Spate of Snake Killings
"The mainstream media is spreading the news with enthusiasm. This is leading to more people being interested in killing these animals."
In State of Emergency, Turkey Jails Six Human Rights Defenders Pending Trial
"The accusations of aiding an armed terrorist organisation against them are groundless. Workshops of this kind are common, essential education for human rights organisations."
What Will it Take to End Child Marriages in Afghanistan?
Practices such as “baad” and “baadal” were prohibited under a 2009 law, but continue unhindered in the country today.
The Venezuelan People's Vote of Rebellion
"Wherever we may be, Venezuelans just want to vote. Even when we have to organize the elections ourselves. To vote and vote, even if the government denies us the right."
Bangladesh's ICT Act Paved the Way for Hundreds of Lawsuits Over Online Speech
There are currently 319 cases being heard in the courts under Bangladesh's notoriously broad ICT Act. Many of them involve lawsuits against journalists.
An Indian Woman's Eco-Friendly Venture Creates Paper Gifts That Grow Into Plants
"Just think about it, the packets that end up on a street corner or in a dump grow into a plant."
Censorship After Death: Chinese Netizens Quietly Mourn Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo
"After [Liu Xiaobo's] death, any mention of his name in English and Chinese is enough to get messages blocked."