Stories from December, 2019
Risk rooted in colonial era weighs on Bahamas’ efforts to rebuild after Hurricane Dorian
"The different ways in which Abaco and Grand Bahama were affected by the same event is an example of how disaster impacts are rooted in the historical development of society."
As Global Voices celebrates its quinceañera, 15 ‘coming-of-age’ posts from the Caribbean
Happy 15th birthday, GV! The Caribbean team picks 15 of its best posts from 2019, starting with violent street protests, a refugee crisis, and an inspiring story of justice. Part 1 of 5.
Indian police accused of brutality after violently dispersing student-led anti-CAA protest in Delhi
Protests and marches are set to continue across India condemning the police brutality against the students of Jamia Millia Islamia University as-well-as demanding the scrapping of the Citizenship Amendment Act.
The intertwined origins of ‘kawaii’ and Japanese queer culture
"A major part of Rune's work that's rarely discussed is the work he did for the magazine Barazoku [...],the first mass-market magazine that catered to same-sex attracted men in Japan.
Internet blocked as protests intensify in northeast India against the Citizenship Amendment Act
"India leads the world in internet blackouts. We all know what fascist governments do in the dark. Don’t be a bystander; speak now & speak loudly."
Interview with Aleksandra Lun, a Polish native who became a celebrated Spanish-language writer
"A language is simply a world that you choose to live in. If you live in that world, you own its language."
Gambian minister brought Myanmar to The Hague ‘in the name of humanity’
"...No one put pressure on President Jammeh to stop his atrocities. ... We don't want others to feel our pain or our fate," said The Gambia's Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou.
A new Pacific nation? Bougainville votes for independence from Papua New Guinea
"I lost 2 brothers during the crisis, and like countless others, reflect on the legacy of the conflict everyday. May we have a lasting peace."
Anti-street harassment campaign in Trinidad & Tobago: ‘It's high time men are taught to do better’
Street harassment is all too common in Caribbean societies, but the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean has begun an educational campaign to inspire behavioural change.
The extrajudicial killing of four accused rapists in India leads to debate about justice system
Many are applauding the police in Hyderabad for acting as judge, jury, and executioner.
Interview with Bektour Iskender, co-founder of Kyrgyz outlet under attack for corruption investigation
The story's whistleblower was shot dead in Istambul in November, and Kloop.kg battles a defamation lawsuit.
Ethiopia: Stop hate speech, not free speech
Ethiopia's new hate speech bill aims to "tackle the erosion of the nation’s social cohesion, political stability and national unity." But digital rights advocates say it threatens democracy.
Taxing dissent: Uganda’s social media dilemma
Uganda’s social media tax essentially amounted to an internet shutdown, driving thousands offline and silencing dissent for others.
Protests against a media house in Pakistan mount
Pakistan's leading English-language daily Dawn Newspaper has increasingly been under threat with politically motivated attacks.
Battle-scarred: The lasting impact of the PolyU campus siege on Hong Kong’s protesters
"As the siege dragged on, reports emerged of the deteriorating mental conditions of the PolyU holdouts – which included erratic behaviour, paranoia, and even self-harm."
‘Burning books and burying scholars': Book burning causes uproar on Chinese social media
"How come young people just talked about the environmental impact of burning books? Are they not aware of the historical symbolism of “book burning and scholar burying”?"
India's citizenship bill fuels anti-Muslim prejudice fears
As India's ruling BJP pushes for the 'anti-Muslim' citizenship amendment bill, critics say that it violates India's secular constitution and threatens the very essence of India's plurality.
Global Voices is 15!
As we turn 15, we take a moment to thank our brilliant global community of contributors and our readers and supporters for giving Global Voices the strength and energy to endure.
A 1990s Macedonian film set in 2019 foreshadows a xenophobic future
Like other sci-fi before it, it imagined the present year as a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Civil society criticizes the arrest of 18 political delegates in Mozambique
Political delegates of the New Democracy party were arrested, accused of carrying fake credentials.
‘Creating Suspension Between Contradictory States': An interview with artist Parastou Forouhar
"I try to create the potential for suspension between contradictory states that will emotionally and psychologically engage viewers and make them ask questions."