Stories from September, 2014
Laos Joins Southeast Asian Neighbors in Imposing Stricter Internet Controls
The new law will criminalize online criticism of government policies and outlaw "Spreading information that distorts truth or tarnishes the dignity and rights of individuals, sectors, institutions and organizations."
Questioning Weekend's Media Silence About Ebola
“When will Ebola news go 24/7?,” asks a US/Canadian professor Crawford Kilian: I have long been used to outbreak news dropping off on weekends. The media, government agencies, and NGOs all knock off on Friday afternoon and show up again Monday morning. But after the last few weeks of Ebola,...
Video of Japan's Mount Ontake Eruption as it Happened
One person has been left dead, nearly fifty climbers are severely injured, and ten people are missing after Mount Ontake, a popular climbing spot, in central Japan, erupted.
Violent Clashes Between Hong Kong Police and Peaceful Student Protesters
Hundreds of student protesters raised their hands to show they were unarmed and formed a human shield to block riot police. But they were pepper sprayed and dozens arrested.
What it Means to be Puerto Rican for Political Prisoner Oscar López Rivera
Oscar López Rivera has been imprisoned in the United States for over thirty years because of his political beliefs.
8 Things You Wanted to Know About Madagascar but Were Afraid to Ask
If you ever wonder about visiting Madagascar or simply want to know more about the island, here are a few facts to consider.
Philippine Mall Apologizes For Selling Shirts that Say Rape is a ‘Snuggle with a Struggle’
This week Internet users were also enraged after a female model on a leash was pulled by a man, while she was on all fours, at a fashion show.
Thailand's Military Stops University Lecture on ‘Authoritarianism’ and Detains Professors
Academics from various universities in Thailand have deplored the action taken by the army and the government as an attack on academic freedom.
The Curious Case Of Marrying Out Of Caste in India
Karthik Shashidhar, a freelance management consultant and data scientist, shares interesting statistics from the National Family Health Survey. Shashidhar discusses the percentage of women in India who are married to someone of their own caste. The caste system in India is based on an order of (predominantly) endogamous groups rendering marriage...
Anton Nossik on the Coming End of Facebook, Twitter, and Google in Russia
Media expert and founding member of the Russian blogosphere Anton Nossik explains why he thinks the end is nigh in Russia for websites used by billions around the globe.
In War-Torn Aleppo, There's No Place Like Home
Displaced, like many Syrians, as a result of the ongoing conflict, Marcell Shehwaro reflects on her ongoing search for home.
Non-Japanese Who Stayed in Sendai After 3.11 Earthquake Walk for Recovery
Despite being uncertain of what the future might bring, dozens of non-Japanese people decided to remain in their adopted home of Sendai, a coastal city located in the north of Japan hit by massive tsunami triggered by the earthquake of March 11, 2011. Sharing the footsteps to recovery, those standing together...
Jamaica Considers Developing Goat Islands Despite Environmental Protests
Jamaica's officials recently petitioned UNESCO, but the "lure of a $1.5 billion investment" has brought an about-face. Shackled to the IMF, the money might be too much to pass up.
‘We Should All Care About Climate Change Because It Will Have a Direct Impact on the State of the World’
In the second part of Global Voices' interview with Jonathan Barcant, the co-founder of the non-profit group IAMovement talks about what a world that uses clean energy looks like.
India's Prime Minister Plans Hi-Tech Makeover For Ancient City of Varanasi
India's prime minister is set, it seems, to make good on an election promise to remake the city of Varanasi into a blend of ancient culture and modern technology.
Who Needs Roads? Russia Entertains Lunar Ambitions
Russia is revitalizing its Moon exploration efforts, with plans to launch a full-scale lunar colonization and development program by 2030. Sounds awesome, right? The RuNet begs to differ.
Egypt’s Escalating War on Gays Just Landed 6 Men Behind Bars for 2 Years
While Egypt doesn't have a specific law to prosecute same-sex relationships, the government has been vicious in its crackdown on gays under vague laws such as committing "indecency" and "debauchery."
This Organization Is Fighting the Long Battle Against Poverty in Mexico
The international organization TECHO has helped build more than 3,000 houses in Mexico's poorest areas. Global Voices looks at the inequality TECHO uncovered in Xochimilco.
Here's Why Mail.Ru's Complete Control Over VKontakte Is Bad News
Russia’s Internet group Mail.ru has acquired the remaining stake in VKontakte, and is now the sole owner of the biggest social network in the country.
‘The Dictatorship Devours its Own Children': Has Uzbekistan's ‘Princess’ Fallen Forever?
Once considered untouchable, Gulnara Karimova, diva daughter and apparent prisoner of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, is perhaps closer to discovering what life as a citizen of her country is like.
‘The Right Moment Has Come for People to Rise Up and Say No More’ to Fossil Fuels
Trinidad and Tobago was one Caribbean nation that took part in the global Climate Change Marches last Sunday. Global Voices talks to Jonathan Barcant, who helped organise the local event.