Stories about South Asia from November, 2012
‘Industrial Scale’ Hunting of Migratory Amur Falcons in Nagaland, India
Each year thousands of migratory Amur falcons are hunted by locals in the Indian State of Nagaland during their passage through that region. On November 1, 2012, Shashank Dalvi and Ramki Sreenivasan first documented the massacre at ‘Conservation India‘ site and the news went viral on social media which resulted in a ban on capturing or killing of the raptors.
Deadly Factory Fire in Bangladesh Raises Questions of Worker Exploitation
The recent tragic fire at a clothing factory building in Ashulia, near Bangladesh Capital Dhaka, that killed more than 110 garments workers, has raised many questions. Bangladeshis are expressing their anger on poor working conditions and exploitation of workers.
India: Wither Glass Bangles?
“Bangles are considered auspicious, and at one time, it was considered inauspicious for a woman not to wear bangles,” writes Anuradha Shankar at ‘A Wandering Mind’. She notes that glass...
Mumbai Terrorist Executed in India, But Will it Bring Peace?
On November 21, Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, a Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba militant and the only terrorist to be captured alive following the 2008 attack on Mumbai, was executed. His hanging rekindled the debate about the death penalty in India and whether it was likely to deter future terrorist attacks.
The Plights Of The Stateless Chakmas of Arunachal Pradesh
Paritosh Chakma recently visited Chakma villages in Papumpare district of the Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh and wrote about their plights. Thousands of Chakma refugees were transferred to the Chakma...
Bangladesh Protests Against Open Pit Coal Mining in Phulbari
In Phulbari, 350 kilometers northwest of the Bangladesh capital Dhaka, local communities have come together to raise their voices against the proposed Phulbari open pit coal mining project. If implemented, it will evict almost 100000 inhabitants from more than 100 villages within a 59 sq. km radius and will create a long term impact on the environment.
Bangladesh: Disappearing Playgrounds
The Bangladesh Capital Dhaka has seen one of the largest price-booms in the real estate sector which resulted in the decrease of the number of open fields in the city....
Pakistan: Five Bomb Explosions Rock Three Cities In A Day
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 was a horrendous day when a series of suicide bombings were targeted at Imambargahs (Muharram mourning processions) and law enforcement agencies in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Quetta. However, netizens noted that acts of terrorism perpetrated against Shia Muslims didn't get the same level of attention compared to Israel's attacks on Gaza Strip.
Pakistan Stands With Palestine
A number of rallies and protests were held in Pakistan to show solidarity with the Palestinians in their recent conflict with Israel. Using social media, people have raised concerns over the grave situation, displayed support and also condemned the government for being more involved in Gaza rather than dealing with the increased terrorism back home.
Mobs Burn Dalit Homes in Response to Intercaste Marriage in India
On 7 November 2012 up to 2,000 people attacked three Dalit settlements in the Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu, India. A nursing student, from a Shudra community married a man from a Dalit community and when the father of the bride committed suicide in disgrace, mobs attacked the Dalit community.
Hardinge Bridge Over A Dried-up River Bed
Lonely Traveler posts photos of the century old 1.8 kilometer long Hardinge bridge over the Padma river in Pabna, Bangladesh. The upper-riparian country India erected barrage on the Ganges river...
Outrage as Facebook Post Leads to Arrests in India
Police detained a 21-year-old woman after she posted a Facebook a status update protesting the total shutdown of Mumbai city following the death of the founder of the Shiv Shena party. Her friend, who ‘liked’ the update was also arrested. Both were later released on bail.
Bangladesh: Money Doesn't Build A School
Shawn Ahmed of Uncultured.com explains in a video blog that donations only doesn't help building a school. Watch the video to see what he means:
Maoists Chairman Prachanda Under Attack
Pradeep Kumar Singh reports that on the 16th of November Maoists Chairman Puspha Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda was slapped by a 25-year-old Maoists cadre at a tea reception program in...
Mumbai Comes to a Halt After Bal Thackeray's Death
"Mumbai Shut - Fear or Respect?!" Balasaheb Keshav Thackeray (86), founder of the Hindu right-wing Shiv Sena party in India, died today. Mumbai soon came to a halt - shops shut, public transportation stopped and residents stayed inside their homes.
Call For De-weaponization of Karachi
Journeys To Democracy reports that some Pakistani activists have sent out a petition for peace and de-weaponization of Karachi city to the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The brutal violence, armed...
Bridge Blog for Afghanistan and Pakistan: ‘Understanding the Neighbor’
In a fellowship program 22 journalists from Afghanistan and Pakistan gathered together twice, once in Islamabad and once in Kabul to understand each others, share value and make cultural exchanges. The documented their experiences in a blog titled ‘Understanding the neighbor' and are ready to challenge the decades old established narratives about their neighbors.
Sri Lanka: The Trouble In Putting A Child Into A Local School
Ratmale shares his experience of putting a child into a Sri Lankan local school. Without purchasing or political power “one has to go through a minefield of hurdles,” he thinks.
The Present Status Of Maternal Mortality In Bangladesh
Amader Kotha (Our Stories) analyzes the present status of Maternal Mortality in Bangladesh and things are looking promising for Bangladesh.
Street Children of Bangladesh Vulnerable to Abuse
The total number of street children in Bangladesh is estimated at 400,000. Almost half of these children live in Dhaka city alone. A very large percentage of these children are young girls. These female street children are living in a dangerous situation vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
Thousands Celebrate Malala Day & Sign Nobel Peace Prize Petition
15 year-old education activist Malala Yousufzai, who was shot on 9 October 2012 by members of the Taliban, is recovering slowly. On November 10, 2012 people around the world celebrated Malala as a beacon for 32 million girls who can not go to school.
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