Stories from June, 2015
Copa América Shows How Little Love Chileans Have for President Bachelet
"It would've been much more honorable to present herself to the country and take the jokes stoically, but she decided to hide."
The Man Who Supported Ostriches and Other Viral Adventures of Viktor Yanukovych
Did Viktor Yanukovych really just happen to live in a private zoo owned by someone else? And what's the deal with those ostriches? Social media users explain.
Take a Look at the Africa the Media Never Shows You
Western media tends to portray Africa as a dark, hopeless place. African Twitter users have rallied under the hashtag #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou to prove that's not true.
Russia Bans the Internet Archive's ‘Wayback Machine’
The Russian government has blocked the Internet Archive, the San-Francisco-based website that provides the popular Wayback Machine, which allows users to view archived webpages.
Malaysian Lawyer's Viral Post Criticizing the Proposal to Require Non-Muslims to Fast During Ramadan
Malaysian lawyer Azhar Harun criticized the suggestion of some local leaders to require non-Muslims not to eat when Muslims fast during Ramadan. Why the need to close school canteens during Ramadhan? Why must non-Malay pupils be asked to drink behind closed doors and even in the toilet? Just because our...
New Art Project Seeks to Paint the Lives Lost in Palestine
#BeyondWordsGaza seeks to paint the lives lost last summer in Palestine and donate the portraits to the families of the victims.
Armenian Voices Sound Off at ‘Electric Yerevan’
"It is completely wrong to call the movement as the Armenian Maidan ... People are against ineffective, detrimental management of the electricity company."
Why Is the Internet So Much Slower and More Expensive in Mali Than in Senegal or Côte d'Ivoire?
Compared to other countries in West Africa, Mali has low Internet speeds and high prices. A Malian civic group has launched a campaign to change this.
What Sailor Moon Means to Women All Over the World
Sailor Moon may seem like a cutesy cartoon intended just for anime maniacs, but a closer looks shows that the program includes themes of women's empowerment and independence.
Hong Kong's Legislature Went Off Script, and the Pro-Beijing Establishment Is Not Happy
After Hong Kong's legislature vetoed China-backed electoral reform, a pro-Beijing news outlet warned the city's autonomy could be in jeopardy if voters don't kick out pan-democrats in next year's elections.
Bolivia Greenlights Controversial Highway, Oil and Gas Extraction in National Parks
Bolivian President Evo Morales escalates the stakes in the debate over extractivism as an anti-poverty strategy.
Arrested for Criticizing a Former Prime Minister, Singaporean Teen Blogger Amos Yee is Now Being Evaluated for Autism
The 16-y/o blogger who criticized Lee Kuan Yew was suggested to be suffering from autism spectrum disorder, and the judge ruled him to be remanded for another two weeks to assess his suitability for Mandatory Treatment Order.
Social Media Analysis: How an Iranian Kurdish Woman's Death Triggered a Regional Social Media Conflict
Social media controversy following the accidental death of a hotel chambermaid underscored systemic discrimination ethnic minorities face in Iran and the emerging role of Internet censorship in this milieu.
Russian ‘Troll Factory’ Agrees to Compensate Former Employee, But She's Just Getting Started
An alleged Russian "troll factory" has agreed to compensate its former employee for unfair labor practices, but the former "troll" seeks to further expose the company and its inner workings.
What Can the #SaudiCables Tell Us About the Kingdom's Foreign Policy?
Information in the leaked cables range from issues with visas being granted by Saudi Arabia to female singers to regional and international policies. Reading the leaks you can reach several conclusions.
#SaudiCables Show Saudi Arabia Worried About Media Coverage of Bahrain’s 2011 Uprising
Saudi Arabia worked together with Bahrain on shaping media coverage when the neighboring kingdom faced a popular uprising, according to the documents published on WikiLeaks.
The Untold Story of Social Media and the 2015 Nigerian Elections
One of the reasons attributed to the support enjoyed by Muhammadu Buhari’s re-branding and eventual ascendancy to the presidency was his social media strategy.
An Official White House Visit to Ethiopia? Africans Tell Obama ‘Don't Do It!’
Despite recent elections that swept the one opposition member from parliament, US President Barack Obama is planning a visit to Ethiopia.
A Magazine for Bolivia's Iconic ‘Cholita’ Indigenous Women
"...perhaps it's about time to change things up so that women are the ones that have the power."
The ‘Civic Death’ of Dominicans of Haitian Descent
Even though the deadline date for deportations has been extended, the future of Dominicans of Haitian descent remains uncertain, with many calling the DR's stance an attack on human rights.
New Report Details Unanimous Support Amongst Iran's Civil Society for the Iran Deal
Global Voices collaborators the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran released a newly written report yesterday entitled “High Hopes, Tempered Expectations: Views from Iran on the Nuclear Negotiations.” The report engaged with 28 members of Iranian civil society including former members of the Iranian Parliament, journalists, academics, lawyers,...