Stories from 19 September 2014
Massive Participation in Earthquake Drill in Mexico
On September 19, 1985, the center, South and West regions of Mexico, in particular the Federal District, were struck by a powerful earthquake, considered the most lethal in Mexican written history. Conmemorating the event 29 year later, the Secretary for Civil Protection of Federal District organized an earthquake drill, for...
Minority Scholar Ilham Tohti Denies Chinese Authorities’ Accusation That He Led a Double Life at Separatism Trial
Lawyers for Ilham Tohti said the prominent Uyghur scholar was chained with leg irons and denied access to food and warm clothes while detained. The verdict is due next week.
The Streets of Lima Are Alive With the Sound of Music
19th-century waltzes, blind saxophonists, musical saws: Lima, Peru resident Juan Arellano pays tribute to the musicians who bring delight and texture to the streets of his city.
Threats to Press Freedom in the Fight Against Ebola in Liberia
The Press Union of Liberia is concerned about the threat to freedom of information as a result of the actions taken by the government to limit the expansion of the Ebola virus. The union wrote a letter to the Minister of Justice to draw his attention to the challenges media...
Bahraini Human Rights Activist Maryam Al Khawaja Is Released From Prison While She Awaits Trial
Maryam Al Khawaja was arrested when she tried to enter the country to visit her jailed father, who is on his 27th day of a hunger strike.
Run! The Muslims Are Coming!
Mainstream perceptions often paint "Muslims" with one broad brushstroke, inevitably peppered with violence. In this irreverent satirical piece, Pakistani stand-up comedian Sami Shah breaks down the different types of "Muslim".
Turkey's ‘School of Nature': Reminding Us of What We Forgot
Doğa Okulu, Turkey's 'School of Nature', is a model of cooperation between activists, local communities and local government. In seven months the school has already done a lot of teaching.
Ice Bucket Challenge, Meet Ukraine's ‘Blood Bucket’ Challenge
A group of European youths are raising awareness of the conflict in Ukraine with a gory twist on the infamous Ice Bucket Challenge. The buckets are filled with metaphorical blood.
Bollywood Actress Deepika Padukone: ‘Yes! I Am a Woman. I Have Breasts and a Cleavage! You Got a Problem?!’
An entertainment news portal tweeted a screenshot of Padukone in the film "Finding Fanny" along with the comment "Deepika's cleavage show." The actress and numerous others hit back on Twitter.
Digital Library of Traditional Philippine Healing Practices
Initiated by several government agencies, the Philippine Traditional Knowledge Digital Library on Health (TKDL-Health) seeks to document and digitize indigenous health practices in the country. The communities, characteristically living in the mountains or their fringes, have depended mostly on plants and other natural products from the forest to prevent or...
China: ‘The More You Exploit Us, the Happier We Get’
Kevin Slaten from China Labour Watch wrote on China File on the situation of labour exploitation in China — the fact that industrial safety and workers’ lives were taken for granted for economic growth, which is reflected in a notorious local Kunshan government's appeal to foreign investors: “The Kunshan people...
