Featured stories from July 2023
Stories from July, 2023
Hong Kong court rejects government application for ban on pro-democracy protest song
A Hong Kong judge believes that perfectly innocent people might refrain from engaging in lawful acts involving the song for fear of trespassing the injunction.
Can Taiwan become a hub for journalists fleeing mounting authoritarianism in Asia?
Taiwan is rated as one of the freest societies in Asia, but are the Taiwanese authorities ready to turn the island into a welcoming and safe haven for journalists fleeing authoritarianism in their home countries in Asia?
Commentators discourage extending national security crackdowns to ‘soft resistance’ in Hong Kong
The government is considering clamping down on “soft resistance” when drafting the local version of National Security Law (HK-NSL).
Sustainable innovations: Dang, Nepal turns dung into energy
Nearly 90 percent of the garbage in Dang district's semi-rural Ghorahi city is biomass that includes kitchen waste, farm residue and livestock dung that can be turned into flammable methane gas.
Haitian refugees land on Jamaican shores, while CARICOM’s efforts to help its troubled member state falter
"The anxiety among many social media commentators over the treatment of the refugees reflects an appreciation of the historical ties, and mixed feelings of admiration, helplessness, and obligation towards Haiti ..."
Can Algerian human rights defenders be safe in Tunisia?
Tunisia's strong reliance on Algeria places it in a vulnerable position, as Algiers expects reciprocal compliance with its demands, including in the extradition of Algerian human rights defenders in Tunisia.
A 1961 Senegalese novel shows the enduring wealth of African literature
Cheikh Hamidou Kane's novels are penetrating explorations of the deep-seated unease within Africa's intellectual class amid French colonization — still relevant today
An interview with Aïssatou Fofana, environmental investigative journalist in Ivory Coast
Aïssatou Fofana, an Ivorian journalist specialising in environmental investigations, talks to Global Voices about her passion but also the dangers of the job, and about her own media platform.
Mongolia turns to its dinosaurs in an attempt to attract more tourists
Out of 400 species of dinosaurs discovered so far, 80 came from southern Mongolia, where they lived in the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era.
In Turkey, when forests are not on fire, they are being destroyed by greedy men in suits
The ruling government lacks any green vision, prioritizes the economy at the expense of the environment, and allows greedy companies to fill in their coffers at the expense of citizens.
The future of Ukrainian New York
A frontline town in eastern Ukraine restored its historic name and gained fame in 2021. Now, activists and supporters are trying to preserve what they can after losing their home and friends.
New Taiwan TV series tackles sensitive issue of race and makes it to Netflix
A Taiwanese TV series called "Port of Lies", now also showing on Netflix, is addressing one of the most sensitive issues in Taiwan today: Race.
Barbie in the Balkans: From disinformation to Yugonostalgia
The news about the ban of Barbie movie in Vietnam was used as inspiration for disinformation in the Balkans, with false claims about censorship in Serbia.
Taiwanese citizens take the nation's defense into their own hands: Interview with scholar Wen Liu
For people in Taiwan living under regular military threats from China, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has prompted queries about the Taiwanese military forces' own readiness and resilience.
‘Indigenous languages are asleep, not extinct,’ says Kokama linguistics researcher
The UN has instituted the period between 2022 and 2032 as International Decade for Indigenous Languages. In an interview for GV's partner Amazônia Real, professor and researcher Altaci Rubim, from the Kokama people, talks about the importance of it.
‘Welcome to Sex': Australian sex-ed book tops bestseller list, despite campaign to block sales
"If you are not providing your young teen with sex education then you’re relying on what they learn from porn or from chatting with other students."
Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan commit to intensifying bilateral cooperation
The outcomes of the past official visits and talks show that the two countries remain friendly toward each other and ready to explore avenues for cooperation.
A documentary showcases why some Taiwanese consider Southeast Asia a land of opportunity
A documentary portraying a Taiwanese shrimp expert trying to find success in Myanmar tells in a very nuanced way the misperceptions many Taiwanese harbor about Southeast Asia.
Permission to restore century-old houseboats in Kashmir's Dal Lake is a welcome move for tourism
The recent government decision to withdraw a five decade old ban on repairs, comprehensive facelifts and restorations of interiors of all the century-old houseboats in Kashmir was welcomed by all.
How companies collect private data about reproductive health
Data about reproduction is tracked and gathered by many companies worldwide without people’s awareness, which has profound consequences for people’s reproductive rights.
The Great Leap Backwards of media in China
To understand the nuances of censorship, state violence, resilience and journalistic courage in China, Global Voices interviewed Cédric Alviani, head of the Taiwan-based office of RSF for East and Southeast Asia.
