Stories from January, 2014
Films on Digital Security Turn a Shade of Noir
Tactical Technology Collective, an organization dedicated to the use of information in activism, has produced a series of short films that focus on digital security and privacy. The movies are in a film noir style and include three interviews with human rights defenders from different regions, talking about the digital...
A Visual and Musical Journey Through Myanmar
Like a visual postcard, the short video A handful of Myanmar by Berta upe Tilmantaitė invites its viewers to marvel at the wonders of the Southeast Asian country. Reid Willis‘ music replaces the natural sounds of the place, as rhythm and tempo adapt to the flow of the rivers and...
Photos Uzbek Authorities Do Not Want You To See
EurasiaNet.org presents “Twenty Photos Uzbekistan Does Not Want You to See“, a collection of black-and-white images by photojournalist Timur Karpov. The photos were removed [ru] from a group exhibition at Tashkent's House of Photography two hours before the beginning of the show on January 25, apparently because they were deemed to be “undermining” national pride....
Have Acne? South Korea Will Tax Your Treatment
Taxing your pimple outbreak? It is indeed a creative way to collect more taxes.
“Disaster” for Supporters of Ukraine Protests in Uzbekistan
On January 29, police in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, detained eight individuals for picketing the Ukrainian embassy in support of Euromaidan protesters. Those arrested for holding an unsanctioned rally included a prominent photographer Umida Akhmedova, photojournalist Timur Karpov, and culture blogger Alex Ulko. Following the activists’ arrest, blogging platform NewEurasia.net asserted: What happens when you mix...
Teaching of “Religion and Morality” In Bangladesh Schools
Blogger Bhaskar comments in Mukto Mona Blog about the newly introduced subject ‘religion and morality’ in school curricula of Bangladesh: In Bangladesh, teaching of ‘religion and morality’ in secular schools, we are talking about, is an extension of Maktab, Madrasa [Muslim religious schools] and dictatorial position held by Ulema in...
Birds Avoiding Bhopal
Bhopal, the capital of the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh, lies in the North-South corridor of the migratory path of birds coming from Northern Asia, Russia, Afghanistan, China, Mongolia etc. Blogger Proloy Bagchi reports that several species of migratory birds which used to congregate in and around the Bhojtal (former...
Iran: Several Miners Arrested
Iran's Anarchist Workers’ Facebook page reports that several striking miners got arrested in Yazd province.Iran's students tweeted Security Forces Illegally Arrest Striking Workers http://t.co/M0f8faTlqw #Iran #IranElection — Iran دانشجویان ایران (@GreenQuran) January 31, 2014
Whistleblower Barrister Expelled for Denoucing Dictatorial Trends in Burundi
Isidore Rufyikiri, Barrister at the Bujumbura Court in Burundi has been expelled from the Bar Association for denouncing dictatorial practices by the regime in power [fr] : J'ai osé dénoncer ce que les autres n'osent pas dénoncer, à savoir la dérive vers l'instauration d'un régime dictatorial au Burundi et la...
GV Face: Social Media and the Meteoric Rise of India's Aam Aadmi Party
"Indians are demanding accountability today." This Friday in our weekly Hangout series, we discuss the role of social media in the Aam Aadmi Party's meteoric rise in India.
Don't Stop the Party: Copyright Issues Threaten Trinidad Carnival Fete
The Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago has threatened to shut down a popular Carnival fete, but organisers and patrons alike now have a voice through social media.
How Brazilian Taxpayer Money Finances Construction Projects in the Amazon
During three months, reporters from Agência Pública sought to uncover the trail of investments of the National Bank of Economic and Social Development (BNDES) in infrastructure projects in the Amazon.
Egypt's Anti-Terrorism Law to Target Internet
Facebook, among other sites, will come under new scrutiny in Egypt, when a draft "anti-terrorism" law comes into effect.
China: A Glass of Swine
“300 Shots at Greatness” introduced one of most distinctive alcohol in China. The distilled rice spirit, Yubingshao, has the taste of fat aroma as it is aged with jars filled with pig fat. The blogger describes the taste: I took a sip, and noted what appeared to be a flat,...
Old Video of Official Slapping Chinese Tennis Star Li Na Goes Viral
China's sports system is notorious for its abuse of athletes.
Australian Journalist Peter Greste Caught in Egypt's Media Crackdown
Writing in Working Life, Andrew Casey highlights the risks to media freedom in Egypt as international journalists and other media workers face terrorism charges. Among them is Australian Peter Greste, an Al Jazeera journalist.
Everyday Ukrainian Life in 1942 Depicted Through Fifty Color Photos
As anti-government protests that started on November 21, 2013, burden Ukrainian life today, a vintage photo blog takes a look back on another harsh period of the country's history – through 52 amazing color photographs [photo] of everyday life in Ukraine in 1942. In 1942, like many other European countries,...
Landfill Smoke Continues To Hold Trinidad's Capital Hostage
For the fourth consecutive day, anyone venturing into Port of Spain has had to endure thick, toxic smoke drifting from the city's main landfill. Netizens are complaining on Twitter.
The Cost of Living in Rio de Janeiro Is Too Damn High
In Rio de Janeiro, you'll pay 72 reals (30 US dollars) for chicken stroganoff or 43 reals (18.20 US dollars) for a green salad. Residents have had enough.
New Spanish Cardinal Believes that Homosexuality is a “Defect”
"With all respect I am saying that homosexuality is a defective way of expressing sexuality," said the Spanish cardinal Fernando Sebastián Aguilar.
Château-Rouge: A Prominent African Food Market in Paris
In order to find ingredients for African cuisine in Paris, the go-to place is still the Château-Rouge area located in the 18th District, specifically in the Rue Dejean street market [fr] that operates every day except Monday. The African Expatriate explains why the market is such a draw for many...
