Stories from February, 2016
Jamaica Peacefully Chooses a New Government. Young Activists Take a Bow
Close to 35,000 voters joined the electoral list for the first time. Could the youth vote -- and online activism -- have been the deciding factors in Jamaica's general election?
Anti-Aviation Protests in France and the UK Mark a New Wave of Climate Disobedience
"When the political system is so fundamentally flawed that it is unresponsive to an issue of colossal international importance...then every citizen has a responsibility to act. "
The Fight Continues to Free Detained Central American High Schoolers in the US
"Children who are doing the right things, who are in school, who are living at home with their parents, are not a priority in my opinion."
Why It's Essential To Grow Indian-Language Wikipedias
With over 196 Indian languages on the verge of extinction, Wikipedia in Indian languages could potentially preserve and revive many languages.
Animator Chronicles His Family's Experience Emigrating With the Caribbean's ‘Windrush Generation’
"While many of the Windrush Generation experienced similar circumstances arriving in Britain, not much is actually documented. Animation can help to bridge generational gaps when the story is relevant."
Want to Arouse a Peruvian's Passions? Just Talk about Terrorism—or Food
"The only other matter that reliably inflames the passions of Peruvians are the attempts by our southern neighbors to claim the Pisco Sour or the Suspiro Limeño as their own."
Journalists Find Themselves the Target of India's ‘Anti-National’ Narrative
"As goons in black robes rampaged through the Delhi court house where Kanhaiya Kumar is being tried, they assaulted journalists not just on day one, but then once again..."
Prize-Winning Novelist's Facebook ‘Joke About White Guys’ Is Gone—and Back—in Less Than 24 Hours
Facebook's notorious "Community Standards" strike again. The victim in question: popular Jamaican novelist Marlon James.
Ukrainian Court Equates Social Network Profile With Mainstream Media
The social media pages containing "calls to overthrow authorities" were determined by the court to be "mass media" because they were public and accessible to an unlimited number of people.
An Exiled Scholar Says Thailand's Junta Is Harassing His Family
"I already found this injustice unbearable. But to go after my family who had nothing to do with me — this is absolutely unacceptable."
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi Briefly Goes Up for Sale on eBay
A bid offering Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El Sisi for sale went up on eBay minutes after he said he would even sell himself to bail out the country.
Pressure Like Nowhere Else in the World: Journalism in Afghanistan
"Freedom means having voice. @TOLOnews & @TOLO_TV gave us a voice and a #FreedomOfExpression. We stand with MOBY & condemn the attack."
Unlike Past Elections, Uganda's Streets Are Empty of Celebrations Following President Museveni's Win
"People are so happy that they afraid they could die of happiness if they start celebrating," one Facebook user sarcastically quipped.
Fearing Foreign Influence, Iran's Hardliners Bash the BBC Ahead of Legislative Elections
"Those that claim that foreign media is supporting the reformists are charlatans."
How Myanmar Residents Are Coping Up With Rising Temperatures Caused by El Niño
El Niño is already causing water shortages across Myanmar. Take a look at how residents are coping up with the rising temperatures.
UN Human Rights Official Pulls No Punches in Assessment of Hungary
After a nine-day visit, UN Special Rapporteur Michel Forst highlighted the disheartening conditions human rights activists face in Hungary.
Why Are People Calling John Kerry a “Thug” Online?
As the Geneva 3 Conference kicked off on January 29, tens of thousands of tweets used the hashtag #KerryTheThug to condemn US Secretary of State John Kerry's comments on Syria.
This Island in the Indian Ocean Is Small, But the Lessons It Offers on Clean Power Are Anything But
The Indonesian island Sumba is working to provide 100-percent renewable electricity to all 650,000 residents by 2025.
Violence Escalates on Eve of Elections in Jamaica
In the aftermath of a typically turbulent campaign season, polls have predicted a tight race and low voter turnout in tomorrow's elections in Jamaica.
When Elections Are a Joke, the People Tell Election Jokes
Election fraud and other misdeeds have been a widespread problem in the Balkans. As the saying goes, 'If I didn't laugh, I'd cry.'
Bolivians Use Social Media to Expose Electoral Fraud in President Morales’ Referendum
"None of this is new. But this time, it shows the power of social media, and that now we are able to impact a campaign with the truth."
