16 March 2012

Stories from 16 March 2012

Nepal: Why Nepal Is Poor

Chandan Sapkota argues that extractive political and economic institutions are the reasons why Nepal is poor.

16 March 2012

Sri Lanka: War On Twitter Between Celebrities

DBS Jeyaraj informs that the Channel 4 Film “Killing Fields” based on Sri Lankan civil war caused an war of tweets between celebrity Sri Lankan born singer MIA and journalist...

16 March 2012

Morocco: A Protest to End Forced Marriage After Rape

Moroccans are taking a stand tomorrow (March 17) in protest against the plight of 16-year-old Amina Filali, who committed suicide after being forced to marry the man who raped her. Amina's marriage to her rapist was approved by a judge. Her suicide has raised a storm of reactions both on social networks and on the ground.

16 March 2012

DR of Congo: Videos Helped Convict Thomas Lubanga of War Crimes

On March 14, 2012 the International Criminal Court found Thomas Lubanga, a former rebel leader in the eastern Congo, guilty of using children in armed conflict. The judge said video interviews with child soldiers formed part of the evidence that helped persuade the court.

16 March 2012

Egypt: The Plight of Rural Women

Egyptian blogger Ahmed Awadalla writes about rural women in Egypt in this eye-opening post. Such women, he says, suffer the “highest rates of illiteracy; bear the heavy burden of utmost...

16 March 2012

Iran: A Nowruz New Year Without Goldfish?

Goldfish have a special place in the Iranian New Year, Nowruz, celebrating the first day of Spring (March 20). But every year animal rights defenders and bloggers launch campaigns to encourage people not to buy them.

16 March 2012

Arab World: Hands Off Clooney!

The United States has arrested actor George Clooney and his father Nick at a protest outside the Sudanese Embassy in Washington DC. Arab Twitter users register their protest on their arrest on Twitter.

16 March 2012

Armenia: Parliamentary elections

Writing on Ararat Magazine, Global Voices’ Caucasus Regional Editor interviews analyst Richard Giragosian and examines the political situation in Armenia ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for 6 May 2012. Following...

16 March 2012