Stories from August, 2021
Masks save lives, but they’re also becoming a gargantuan waste problem
The pandemic has led to an exponential rise in the amount of plastic waste and in Nepal, much of it is not properly segregated or disposed of.
Hydrogen: Savior or boondoggle for Russia?
The Kremlin takes a reactive approach to developing a hydrogen fuel industry capable of competing on European markets.
The plight of Afghan women under the new Taliban regime
With the Taliban taking control of Kabul, women in Afghanistan are faced with the bleak prospect of a return to a society that denies their rights.
Azerbaijani experts debate causes of recent escalation
With violence between Armenia and Azerbaijan spiking, Azerbaijani experts are debating the causes behind the recent escalation, who benefits, and what happens next.
Azerbaijani activists in Georgia want family names “liberated from occupation”
In Georgia, an activist group of ethnic Azerbaijanis, are collecting signatures, to have the Russian sounding endings removed from their last names.
Space for peaceful protests is vanishing in Hong Kong as pro-democracy coalition is disbanded
Throughout its tenure, the umbrella organization frequently hosted major mass rallies in Hong Kong, including the 2019 anti-China extradition protests.
Australia's iconic Kosciuszko National Park faces threats on two fronts
"...commercial interests will be dictating developments within the park with scant attention to nature conservation, landscape, and heritage values for which the park was dedicated."
The evil of banal censorship
Images of peaceful protesters do not fit the narrative that continues to portray the protesters as violent, irrational and emotional.
Venezuela and China: Strong bond or empty words?
Venezuelan authorities claim that the strategic partnership with China remains as strong as ever, but they have reaped little economic benefits from it since 2016.
Blogger gets prison sentence for branding Kazakhstan's language policies “russophobic”
According to Taichimbekov, the Kazakh state has been "sourcing Russian individuals who speak out in favor of banning Russian television, banning Russian language, excluding it from the Constitution."
Kanal Istanbul, Turkey's Middle Corridor, and the Belt and Road Initiative
The Middle Corridor, formally known as the Trans-Caspian East-West-Middle Corridor Initiative, reflects Turkey’s dream of building links to China via the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Belly dancing class in Kuwaiti ladies gym stirs uproar, prompting government intervention
The gym, located in the northern city of Al-Jahra, infuriated its conservative and tribal residents who saw belly dancing classes as violating their traditions and values.
Anti-immigrant sentiments lead to violence in Turkey
A mob ransacked and vandalized stores, homes, and cars belonging to Syrian immigrants in Ankara's Altindag neighborhood.
Japan's ‘Battleship Island’ hides history of wartime forced labor
"Very little of Japan's history of industrialization presented at their new UNESCO Heritage sites is true."
More independent media added to Russia's “foreign agent” roster
"As for the list of foreign agents, by now it has so many decent people and publications on it that not to be on this list is simply indecent."
LIVE on August 25 (in Spanish): How COVID-19 fueled the protests in Cuba, Guatemala and Colombia
From Cuba to Colombia to Guatemala—countries with very different political contexts—people have taken to streets in recent times to demand change. What do these countries have in common?
With attacks on Ukrainian activists on the rise, civic pressure is key to ensuring justice
Harassment and attacks against civic activists in Ukraine are on the rise, say human rights defenders. Anti-corruption work, environmentalism, and LGBT rights remain the most dangerous spheres of activism.
‘I got robbed three times': Fear of crime discourages university enrollment in El Salvador
While the homicide rate decreased, crime, money, and COVID-19 discourage youth to pursue higher education.
Nanjala Nyabola joins Global Voices as Advox Director
As director of the Advox project, Nanjala will guide Global Voices' editorial reporting, research, activism and advocacy on freedom of expression and digital rights and technology.
Chinese investments in Nigeria flourish on a Silk Road of corruption
The willingness of corrupt Chinese businesspeople to bribe equally fraudulent Nigerian government officials is rarely captured by the simplistic mutual understanding narrative pushed by Chinese diplomats.
Russian authorities declare independent election monitor Golos a “foreign agent”
Golos has vowed to continue training Russian citizens as observers and commissioners at polling stations, and said it believes independent citizen observation is key to ensuring a transparent election.