Stories from 2013
GV Face: The News Cycle is Broken. Can Solutions Journalism Fix it?
What if the news could inspire and empower us to become more active citizens, to actually have an impact on the world?
Wishing You a Free Christmas from Hong Kong
There are a number of e-Christmas cards that carry political message circulated on social media in Hong Kong. Below are two examples:
Dishing on Sino-American Relations
Chinese food culture constitutes a significant part in the Chinese language. Below is a part of an online fictional story on a conversation between Obama and Xi Jinping on Sino American relation explained and translated by Mary Ann O'Donnell: With respect to the importance of Sino-American relations, we will eat...
Accenting the Positive on the Russian Internet
BestPozitiv.ru, also known as “Tol'ko Pozitiv” (Only the Positive), is a Russian website that promises to “fill you with positivity every day” by bringing its viewers “the most interesting” videos, GIFs, photographs, lists, and other multimedia “that the Internet has to offer.” The site aggregates everything, from memes of cute...
Indonesia's Haunting Tsunami Memorials Foreshadow Our Future
On the anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Ivan Sigal visits memorials of the disaster in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, and finds prophesies of our future.
Haze and Haiyan: Southeast Asia’s Deadly Disasters of 2013
Global Voices coverage of the transboundary haze pollution in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia; and the deadly impact of super typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013
Chinese Challenge State Media's Rosy Take on Mao Zedong's Legacy
"Mao’s biggest crimes were the rectification movement expansion, which killed countless innocent intellectuals; the Great Leap Forward, which led millions of innocent people to starve; and the cruel Cultural Revolution..."
Killing of Two Demolition Officials by Chinese Veteran Farmer Wins Public Sympathy
The arrest of an old farmer for killing two men sent to evict his family in the east China city of Suzhou has provoked outcry on China’s social media.
Ukrainians Demand Justice for Beaten & Jailed #Euromaidan Protesters
As Euromaidan protests in Ukraine continue, reports and evidence of police brutality against protesters and journalists grow. Netizens are organizing to protect victims of police brutality.
Merry Christmas from Syrian Artists
A nation's distress can be described in a single artwork better than a million words. Here is how Syrian artists celebrated Christmas.
Debate on the Translation of Christmas into Chinese
Ann O'Donnell explains the debate about the translation of Christmas, whether it should be “holy birth festival” or “Jesus birth festival”. For those advocating for the rectification of the Chinese translation, believe that the expression “holy birth festival”, which also means “the Sage’s birth festival” should designate Confucius’ birthday.
Victim of China's One-Child-Policy, 7-year-old Boy Plans Revenge
As a result of one-child policy, many children do not have proper government-issued identification and documentation and are deprived of rights to free education and other social services. A recent report on the problem of undocumented children included an interview with a 7-year-old boy who said when he grows up...
#askPussyRiot Wants Your Questions
After almost two years in federal custody, Pussy Riot's two most famous members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina, will hold their first post-prison press conference [ru]. The event will be hosted by the online TV station Dozhd and take place on Friday, December 27, 2013, beginning at 2:00 PM Moscow time (5:00 AM...
Impact Of Social Media In The Delhi Elections
Prior to the Delhi Legislative Assembly election (4 December 2013) the Delhi Election Commission vowed to monitor the social media for political campaigns looking for breach of model code of conduct by the candidates. However the commission later said that there were loopholes in monitoring and it is virtually “impossible”...
“Dekh Le” – Reminding How Men Look at Women In Public Places
Whistling Woods International (WWI), an institute for studies in film, media and fashion, released a YouTube video on December 16, 2013, exactly a year after the much talked about rape case in Delhi to aware people to think, reflect & act on violence against women. Vinaya Naidu at Lighthouse Insights...
Chinese University Professor’s Resignation Letter Censored
One day after professor Chen Hongguo posted his resignation letter on Weibo that has triggered hot discussion on academic freedom in China on December 23, 2013, his letter was deleted. A search on professor Chen's name on Sina Weibo shows the following message: 根据相关法律法规和政策，“谌洪果”搜索结果未予显示。 According to relevant regulations and policies, search results...
Pussy Riot Free to Tweet at Last!
Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova are already micro-blogging up a storm.
‘Round the Christmas Tree in Trinidad & Tobago
Tattoo captures the Christmas spirit by posting a video of one of Trinidad and Tobago's most beloved seasonal songs.
Guyana: Family Ties
At this time of year, Guyana-Gyal considers the true meaning of family.
The Caribbean Just Might Be The Next Big Thing in Music
With the recent victories of performers like Tessanne Chin and Bunji Garlin, Caribbean music appears to be emerging as the next big thing.
PHOTOS: Humans of the Middle East and North Africa
The "Humans of" movement has gone viral, covering our planet city by city. The Middle East and North Africa has proven to be no exception, writes Joey Ayoub.
