Stories from July, 2016
A Russian ‘Lady Cop’: Part One
Earlier this month, Olga Borisova wrote for the website Batenka.ru about her experiences as a police officer. We are publishing her text in three parts. This is the first installment.
After Turkey's Coup Attempt, the Real Battles Begin
"AKP, which asks its supporters to take to the streets ‘until the problem is solved’, is opportunistically imprinting its own dictatorship project on society."
The Violent Union Protests Happening in Mexico Don’t Represent All Teachers
We interviewed two Mexican teachers about their jobs, their motivations and the conflict caused by the constant protests and violent activism of the National Coordinator of Education Workers union.
It's Personal for a Singapore Property Entrepreneur Who's Taking a Stand Against Racial Discrimination
"Sorry your wife is Indian, landlord won’t rent to you. Next time please indicate earlier, so we both don’t waste time."
Mauritanian Authorities Once Again Go After Anti-Slavery Activists
"Many work without rest, without wages for their master's benefit. They do not have the right to education, to freedom of movement, to travel or marry, without their owner's consent."
Cliffhanger Election Ends in a Close Shave for Australia's Ruling Government
"I wish to thank the Hon The #PrimeMinister for providing the Nation with at least 3 years of high farce in the #Senate"
Netizen Report: What do Zimbabwe, Kashmir, and Turkey Have in Common? Internet Censorship.
In this edition, we report on #ShutdownZim protests that sparked Zimbabwe to block WhatsApp, the full-on Internet shutdown in Kashmir and ongoing social media censorship in Brazil, Ethiopia and Turkey.
Will Trinidad & Tobago Students Be Last Out of the Gate if the Government Stops Funding Tertiary Education?
As the country faces an economic recession, there are concerns that students have been abusing the government's funding of their tertiary education. Will the programme be discontinued or merely restructured?
Turkey Adds Wikileaks to a Long List of Blocked Websites
Blocking information is second nature to Turkey's government. But Turkish netizens are still questioning the value of the leak itself.
A Protection Ritual to ‘Close the Body’ Links Different Religious Traditions in Brazil
The "closing of the body" is supposed to ward off evil. Followers of the Afro-Brazilian religions of Candomblé and Umbanda as well as some Catholics practice the ritual.
Viral Photos of Fukushima Win Media Attention Abroad, Criticism From Some in Japan
"Not only is what he did illegal, but beyond disrespectful to victims of the disaster who had no choice but to leave their homes."
One Children's Song, Translated Into Australia's Many Local Languages
Australia's children are being invited to translate a song into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages for an internet video competition promoting linguistic diversity.
Two Argentineans Travel Throughout Latin America Looking for ‘The Other Education’
“Education in Motion” was created by two young Argentineans who travel throughout Latin America documenting the development of popular education and the proposals inspired by social movements in the region.
As Constitutional Referendum Nears, Thailand Intensifies Censorship
"If Thailand's military junta wants its referendum to be seen as credible, it must stop harassing journalists covering the campaign and let information flow freely to the public."
Chinese Reformist Magazine Shuts Down to Resist Authorities’ Hostile Takeover
"The crackdown on Yanhuang Chunqiu and today's takeover indicates that Xi's government wants to educate its officials into 'fools' like the rest of the society."
PokéStops or Stopping Poké? Iran Reacts to the Pokémon Go Phenomenon
How has one of the most restricted Internet environments, with censors on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, reacted to Pokémon Go?
‘Avocado Talk’ No Longer So Appetizing for Mexicans
Mexico's economic crisis is forcing the country to think about how much people spend on food, and the rising cost of avocados has become a particularly sore point.
A Golden Age for Cow Urine in India
"We boycott the cow slaughter industry for a year. The saved $ purchases cows. We separate the gold from the cow urine. Hapi economics."
The Murder of Trinidad's Notorious ‘Robocop’ Leaves the Country Worried About What’s Next
As some in Trinidad and Tobago plead to "stop the killing", others wonder whether they should brace themselves for more violence after the murder of an alleged crime lord.
Ayatollah Khomeini Died 27 Years Ago, But a Trump Advisor Still Wants Him to Condemn Last Week's Attack in Nice
Appearing on Fox News, Flynn said, “I want the Imam, or Khomeini, to stand up and be counted and to talk about this radical form of ideology in their bloodstream."
Iranian Hardliners Want to Stop Blocking Twitter — to Defeat Saudi Propaganda
Iranian hardliners, typically champions of Internet censorship, are calling on the government to stop blocking Twitter in order to counter Saudi Arabian propaganda against Iran.