Stories from June, 2018
Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari shot dead
"It is virtually impossible to know who are our enemies and who are our friends."
Taiwanese and Vietnamese activists are working together to pursue justice for the victims of the Vietnam marine life disaster
"This is the pain of Taiwanese. If we experience this kind of pain, we should not then inflict it on Vietnam."
Port Harcourt: Nigeria's city of ‘soot so thick’
Soot causes cancer and lung disease, and long-term exposure to soot increases the risk of coronary artery disease.
On being black in the white-dominated aid industry
"...the responses of other black women in the sector about the mental gymnastics and marginalization one has to engage in to survive were all too familiar."
Nicaraguan protesters and journalists face violent attacks on the streets and online
Journalists are being assaulted and have their equipment stolen, Nicaraguans’ Wi-Fi identifiers have been hacked.
Trinidad and Tobago's religious leaders ‘unite to divide’ people around the issue of gay rights
"Doing what you can to reduce murder, child abuse, domestic violence...nah, more important to use your leadership position to say who should or shouldn't be allowed to love each other"
What were Global Voices’ readers up to last week?
During the week of June 4-10, 2018, our stories and translations attracted readers from 200 countries. Number 2 on the list? Brazil. And number 40? Mozambique.
Plastic trash is a serious problem in Uganda
"You can do the same ...its a habit of travellers to litter along as they travel .Keep your trash and dump when you get to your destination"
Leading independent websites go dark as Tanzania’s ‘blogger tax’ deadline approaches
"It is not only a self-censorship license but a way to become the state's tool to censor others (contributors) civic right to express."
Argentina counts down the hours to the vote on legalizing abortion
"If the law is not approved, those responsable for that torture and the eventual deaths will be the deputies who voted against it..."
‘You cannot be a liberator and a thief at the same time': Video shows Russian forces disciplining Syrian soldiers for looting
"Russia appears to be casting itself as a protector of the same people whom its forces have either killed, maimed or made homeless"
Telegram channel administrator could get death penalty for “insulting the Prophet”
Article 262 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code dictates that “Anyone who swears at or commits qazf [slander] against the Great Prophet [of Islam]...shall be sentenced to the death penalty.”
Iranian parody band sings a love song for Telegram after its block
"Just when I was relying on you, you were suddenly blocked and gone and all I have left is this VPN, that's the only bridge between you and I."
Could Jamaica's Data Protection Act shield politicians from journalistic scrutiny?
"This Bill [...] does not adequately distinguish gathering ‘data’ for journalistic activities from gathering data for regular commercial purposes [which] may have a chilling effect on press freedom."
Should you have to save a child to be allowed to stay in France?
"...police force will continue to pursue all of his unfortunate brothers and to harass the allies who come to their aid. A sinister and immoral comedy of power without principles."
Meet the candidates competing to be Mexico's next president
Introducing Mexico's presidential candidates. Among them, a third time presidential hopeful, and a candidate proposing to amputate the hands of corrupt officials. Literally.
Russian journalist forced to resign for criticizing pro-Putin propaganda on Instagram
"We wish the Earth could live in peace, but if our commander in chief Beckons to fight the final battle, we are with you, Uncle Vova!"
Algerian blogger sentenced to ten years in prison, in another blow to free expression
Prior to his arrest, Touati covered anti-austerity strikes and job protests, and rights violations committed by Algerian authorities.
Japan's Hirokazu Kore'eda wins big at Cannes. Here's a short selection of his films.
"I have never made a film to praise or to criticize something. That kind of filmmaking is nothing but propaganda."
Jogging through Tiananmen Square: What happens when Facebook meets China's censorship regime?
"The floor you stepped on has been covered by blood from students who fought for democracy. But, enjoy your running in China, Mark."
Whether or not Papua New Guinea bans Facebook, critics say free speech still under threat
"If the government is serious about protecting its citizens, then creating an environment where they can safely use the internet should be the goal, not blocking parts of it altogether."