· January, 2010

Stories about North America from January, 2010

Global Voices in Haiti: Talking to Volunteer Régine Zamor

  31 January 2010

Alice Backer, on assignment for Global Voices in Port-au-Prince, interviews Régine Zamor, a Haitian-American who travelled to Haiti after the 12 January earthquake and has helped dozens of people as an independent volunteer. "Many Haitians and others willing to help took matters into their own hands during the first-response period."

Haiti: Wired Money May Help Rebuild Before Aid

  30 January 2010

With phone lines being restored in Haiti, money sent from families abroad “by wire” is again arriving, and helping reconstruction even where international aid has not arrived. Remittances from family members living abroad represented at least thirty percent of Haiti's Gross National Product before the January 12 earthquake.

MENA: Breaking the veils

  28 January 2010

AltMuslimah reviews the exhibition Breaking the veils: Women artists from the Islamic World, which contains art and literature from women in over 20 countries, including Palestine, Yemen and Morocco. The exhibition, which stated in Jordan, is now touring the US. The review can be read here.

What the Tibetan Language Needs is Space

  27 January 2010

A young Tibetan blogger based in the US, who goes by the name of “Jhutok” (one of those untranslatable Tibetan words that describes someone who is nosy and likes to interfere, gossip and busybody all in one), has written a blogpost about written Tibetan, arguing for language reform to written...

Guyana, Haiti, U.S.A.: Redemption Song?

  26 January 2010

Signifyin’ Guyana responds to a compatriot's comments about aid to Haiti: “I'm inclined to believe the incentive to give to Haiti is more in search of some kind of redemption, rather than a calculated move to keep Haitians out of America…”

Haiti: Youth Step It Up for Earthquake Relief

  26 January 2010

As Haiti's government raised the confirmed earthquake death toll to 150,000 earlier this week, there is particular concern for the well-being of the country's most vulnerable - its young people. But youth within and outside of Haiti are contributing to efforts to raise aid and awareness.

Haiti: Media Operations Center launched for Haitian journalism

  25 January 2010

Réseau Citadelle announces the launch of the Media Operations Center, an initiative from Reporters without Borders and Quebecor, aimed at facilitating the field work of local and foreign journalists in Haiti as well as establishing collaboration between the media and NGOs.

Video: Drug legalization and life post-prohibition

  22 January 2010

There are groups of people advocating for the legalization of drugs, but what would that actually mean? From Hungary to Colombia, from youth to teachers, from cops and clergy, individuals and groups are taking to citizen media to put forth their arguments regarding this potentially controversial subject.

Japan: Differing viewpoints on the US base relocation issue

  21 January 2010

The southern Japanese island of Okinawa, the first colony of Japan in the 19th century and the site of one of the bloodiest battles in the WW2, has become in the past months both the symbol and the object of a diplomatic dispute between Japan and the U.S. It began...

Haïti: No haste about adoptions!

  20 January 2010

Haïti, après le séisme warns [Fr] about the evacuation of children waiting to be adopted : “To act in haste would be disastrous”. Facing adopting families’ growing impatience and lack of understanding, the NL, U.S. and French governments are taking different stances. From Canada, Secrétariat à l’adoption internationale, as well...

Barbados, U.S.A., Haiti: Business as Usual?

  19 January 2010

Barbados Free Press harshly criticizes a cruise line for proceeding with business as usual in the midst of disaster as its passengers “continue to enjoy themselves at the ‘five pristine beaches’ leased from the Haitian government.”

USA: Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

  19 January 2010

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 and became arguably the American Civil Rights Movement's most prominent advocate and speaker. In the United States, he is honored by a national holiday, observed the third Monday in January of each year. Today, many bloggers in the United States are honoring his memory with dedicated posts, linking his legacy of social justice with issues of today, demonstrating that 42 years after King's assassination, his words are just as relevant.

Haiti: Online Maps Shift from Charting Damage to Targeting Aid

  18 January 2010

Marc Herman takes a closer look at some maps that humanitarian aid responders are using to communicate the evolving situation in Haiti’s earthquake zone. Nearly a week after the disaster -- and aftershocks equal to major temblors -- the maps and satellite imagery are proving some of the most reliable information available.

Canada: Aboriginal Youth Suicides Hit Crisis Rate

  18 January 2010

Suicide rates have declined in Canada but not in Aboriginal communities, particularly among the youth. Suicide among Aboriginal youth continues to occur at alarming rates, leading to crisis-like situations in some communities