Stories about WORLD from August, 2014
China Will Let Hong Kongers Vote for Their Next Leader — But Only If a Pro-Beijing Committee Selects the Candidates
"We urge all Hong Kong citizens to stand up and speak out. The fact that they refuse to hear us does not mean that we don't exist."
Indian Security Forces Open Fire on Peaceful Protestors in Manipur
The Nagas in Ukhrul are protesting the ban on rallies and the militarisation of their home, which defies decade-long ceasefire between Naga separatists and the Indian Government.
A Home-Grown Campaign in Bhutan Is Giving Refurbished Shoes to Thousands Who Need Them
Bhutanese entrepreneur Dawa Drakpa cleans and recycles old footwear and distributes them to those who can't afford a decent pair. Nearly 1 percent of the country's population have received shoes.
NGO Organizes First Interview via Twitter
NGO Dominemos la Tecnología (Let's master technology) invites to the first #TweetInterview “From softactivism to thinking of a network as a space to protest”, to be held on September 1 from 11 to 13 hs (local time, -3 UTC). The event will take place on Twitter with the participation of...
Mexican Cartoonist Compares James Foley's Execution with Presidential Interview
On August 21, Mexican cartoonist Francisco Calderón raised controversy after publishing on his daily cartoon section on Grupo Reforma, an image depicting president Enrique Peña Nieto wearing an orange jumpsuit and kneeling down in front of a masked executioner. The image is a clear reference to the brutal murder of...
As Bombs Go Silent, Testimonies Mount That Israeli Soldiers Used Gazans as Human Shields
Accusation made by Palestinians, several NGOs, and the United Nations against Israel for its use of Palestinian civilians as human shields.
Bahraini Activist Maryam Al Khawaja Denied Entry to Her Country, Goes On Hunger Strike
Bahraini human rights activists Maryam Al-Khawaja was denied entry to Bahrain upon her arrival at the airport. Now in detention, she has started a hunger strike.
13 Photos by an Exiled Iranian Photojournalist of People Caught in Conflict in the Middle East
Maryam Ashrafi's portfolio spans Iran, Iraq, Turkey and France. Global Voices interviewed her about her work.
Stop Complaining About the Government! Instead, India Wants Citizens to Help
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has launched the “MyGov” website, which invites Indian citizens to participate actively in the country's governance and development.
Azerbaijan's President Doesn't Really Get Twitter. He Doesn't Really Get Azerbaijan, Either
Azeri president Ilham Aliyev's official Twitter feed is so bad it is funny. But behind the comedy lurks the darker realities Aliyev's bumbling forays into social media are covering up.
Between Bombs and Rebuilding in Gaza, Palestinian Activists are Fighting for the Environment
What is it like to be a climate activist in Palestine living under occupation? We speak to a West Bank-based environmental activist.
Ukraine Asks Facebook’s Zuckerberg to Discipline Kremlin Bots
Ukrainian Facebook users have complained to Mark Zuckerberg himself that their accounts are being blocked on the site in droves—and they're blaming the Kremlin's bot army.
Three Years After the Arab Spring, Tunisian and Egyptian Musicians Continue to Fight Censorship
Hind started the TeMa Rebelle Festival to bring together young socially conscious musicians from the Arab world with their European counterparts so that they would meet and collaborate.
From a “Gaza Stripper” in Texas to Chinese Migrants in Egypt, Kim Badawi Photographs Intercultural Encounters
In this interview, photographer Kim Badawi discusses his work on cultural encounters, and on the role of social media when mainstream news fails to report stories that matter to communities.
Powerful Video Shows a Syrian Toddler's ‘Rebirth’ From Under the Rubble of a Bombed Building
A barrel bomb destroyed little Ghina's home and killed her mother. She survived, despite being buried in rubble herself.
Outspoken Mozambican Hip-Hop Artist Azagaia Is Appealing to Fans for Donations to Remove His Brain Tumour
Edson da Luz, better known as Azagaia, has won fans for challenging those in power and addressing social issues in his music.
Shame and Outrage in Algeria After Cameroon Footballer Albert Ebossé Is Killed by an Object Tossed from the Stands
"No desire to resume the league after the death of #Ebosse! #Disgusted. Our lives are worth more than this rubbish."
Activist Blogger in Vietnam Gets 3 Years Behind Bars for ‘Obstructing Traffic’
A court has sentenced a prominent Vietnamese activist blogger to three years in prison for posing a “serious obstruction to traffic.” Her two other companions will join her behind bars.
Locusts Invade Madagascar's Capital City
#valala pic.twitter.com/YHzOx5Q8QU — Vaintche Rahouli (@vincraholi) August 28, 2014 Twitter and Facebook users from Madagascar's capital city, Antananarivo, have posted several photos of locusts invading the city. Locust invasions are not unusual in Madagascar, especially after tropical storms, but they are very uncommon in larger cities. Locusts can have a...
Macau Authorities Crack Down on Pro-Democracy Activists Who Want the Right to Vote for Their Next Leader
Macau, a special administrative region of China, elects its top leader via a committee. Three pro-democracy groups have organized an unofficial referendum on the right to vote in 2019.
Ukraine Blows Up Twitter with News of Russian Invasion
As Russia expanded its push across the Ukrainian border in what the media described as a stealth invasion, Ukrainian Twitter users replied with thousands of posts and trending hashtags.
