Stories about Weblog from June, 2021
Vaccine hesitancy in smaller Caribbean islands benefits larger neighbours with high COVID-19 rates
Rather than have vaccine doses expire, regional governments have been donating part of their allocations to larger Caribbean Community (CARICOM) neighbours who need them.
Illegal logging, poaching and waste dumping endanger nature in North Macedonia
North Macedonia's great and varied biological diversity is seriously endangered and was significantly impacted by COVID-19, as protected areas in the country, and national parks' income were impacted.
‘Nothing is braver than a trans woman unafraid to die in order to live’
"The lack of respect within patriarchal societies has internalized through its media the view that certain lives are not worth living."
Global Voices’ top stories on environmental destruction, as the planet just observed World Environment Day
Global Voices has covered environmental issues extensively, and one focus of our stories has been the way pollution, massive urbanization, development infrastructures, and human-caused accidents are destroying fragile ecosystems.
Germany recognizes colonial-era genocide in Namibia, but survivors say it's not enough
More than 100 years after the genocide of Namibia’s Ovaherero and Nama ethnic groups, Germany acknowledges its guilt and will fund projects in Namibia over a period of thirty years.
Laos social media task force: Will it target ‘fake news’ or censor online criticism?
"The reinforcement of social media platforms’ registration and severe control of online information are another reflection of the digital dictatorship in Laos."
Tokyo Olympics: A symbol of the divide in Japanese society
Using Twitter's public API, Global Voices analyzed more than 2.5 million Japanese-language tweets to gauge public sentiment around the Tokyo Olympic Games.
World Oceans Day: The Caribbean Sea faces dual threat of climate change and overfishing
It is clear the Caribbean is on the frontline of climate change, and its creeping impact on the marine environment is showing itself in various ways.
Mexican registry for cell phone users sparks privacy concerns
"The creation of a similar registry was attempted in 2009, but the database ended up being leaked and for sale."
Pressure on journalists, bloggers mounts ahead of Uzbekistan's presidential elections
A foreign journalist loses accreditation, a pro-LBGT blogger is beaten and another blogger gets a heavy sentence on dubious charges.
Belarus bans foreign travel for citizens, EU closes airspace to Belarusian flights
Most Belarusians, including many foreign residency permit holders, have been temporarily banned from going abroad, while new EU air space restrictions further narrow travel options to and from Belarus.
Late-night raid at Turkey's Boğaziçi University as students continue resisting interference in campus affairs
Six months later, university students, alumni, and faculty members are still agitating against the government-appointed rector Melih Bulu and his policies, which they claim are eroding the campus' democratic culture.
Belt and Road Initiative projects ramp up Nigeria’s favourable perception of China
The BRI initiative enjoys a favourable perception because Nigeria has an infrastructure deficit that China is correcting. This programme will endure for some time in Nigeria.
Indigenous people denounce Chinese oil giant's extractions in Peru's Amazon Forest
A coalition of non-governmental and indigenous organizations came together to hold their government and companies accountable
Barbados’ prime minister chastises musicians for violent lyrics; artists defend freedom of expression
Prime Minister Mia Mottley dismissed the “artistic license” defence by noting that some people in Barbadian society lack the maturity required to not interpret the musical message literally.
Myanmar’s long history of revolutionary poets
In Myanmar's history, poets have shown solidarity with the ordinary people and have been at the frontline in every revolution.
Jamaica’s ‘Mommy Rocket’, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, is the fastest woman alive
On June 5, Jamaica's two-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce became the second fastest woman in history to win the 100 metres with a blazing 10.63-second run.
Pop-rock music and changing attitudes to the personality cult of Josip Broz Tito
" ... the generations of children born in Yugoslavia in the 1970s reacted to the break-up of the value system that put Tito on a pedestal with a growing dose of cynicism."
No wedding, no live music: Macedonian musicians protest selective reduction of COVID-19 restrictions
Performers have lost their patience, taking to the streets in protest after having been ‘thrown to the streets’ due to their inability to work.
Daraa protests burst the Syrian regime's bubble of election day
'Al-Assad voted in Douma, a prominent opposition stronghold, to send a message that the war ended and that he's the victor. But Daraa's protests thwarted the play he tried to pass'
Diversity is key: Speaking with Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted, winner of the 2021 World Food Prize
"Immediate actions are needed as the numbers of those who are becoming malnourished and do not have access to nourishing foods are growing rapidly."