Stories from October, 2016
Caribbean Bloggers Week 2016 Seeks to Amplify the Region's Online Voices
Caribbean bloggers are out there, and they do have voices that deserve recognition.
Iran Is Poised to Limit Press Freedom Even More Than It Already Does
The government of President Rouhani is preparing two bills that media experts and journalists say could further erode press freedom and freedom of expression in Iran.
Revellers in Costume Descend on Tokyo by the Thousands for Halloween
Halloween has been growing in popularity in Japan over previous years. In 2016, there was more money spent in Japan on Halloween than on Valentine's Day.
Timbuktu, Where There's ‘Justice for Monuments, but Not for Victims of Rape’
"In Mali, rape is a taboo subject. The victims’ lips are sealed by society’s gaze."
‘Stand with Standing Rock': Demonstrators in the US Rail Against the Dakota Access Pipeline
"Sometimes, you wake in 2016, but it feels like 1875 because Natives are still fighting for our land." --Sherman Alexie
A Syrian Refugee in the US Wants Americans to Understand Their Country's Vetting Process
The city of Boise, Idaho, is taking in a lot of Syrian refugees: 122 so far this year. Asmaa Albukaie, who arrived in November 2014, was the first.
Tension Mounts After Demonstrators Promise to “Take Back Venezuela” in Countrywide Protests
"We're tired. Stop screwing us."
‘The End of the World’: A Poet’s Journey from Syria to Algiers
Syrian-Palestinian poet Dima Yousef left Yarmouk, Syria, in 2015 for Algiers. This is her story.
100 Years of Beauty in Central Asia and the Caucasus
Countries that shared a similar existence under the Kremlin's yoke found in their national wardrobes rich sources of self-expression.
Yet Another Scandal for Russia's Orthodox Church as Clergyman Is Spotted Wearing $40K Rolex
The Russian Orthodox Church has another scandal on its hands, or rather on the wrist of one of its top clergyman in St. Petersburg.
After Rejecting the Peace Agreement, Colombia Seeks a New Path
"Who is going to go to the regions that voted for YES to explain to them what's the route to follow after the NO won in the national referendum?"
How a Glove Factory in Rural Armenia Is Beating Back Labour Migration to Russia
"Everyone is like me. They love their village, land and water. These things call us back."
Report Shows How Ghana's Politicians Are Using Social Media Ahead of Elections
The second edition of the Governance Social Media Index assesses and ranks the presence of political parties, political party leaders and key election management bodies in Ghana on social media.
Rural Women in Northern India Are Challenging Patriarchy by Removing Their Veils
"If women want to wear veil let them. If they do not want to wear veil let them. It is [as] simple as that."
Netizen Report: Protesters Flush SIMs, Set Fire to Modems in Saudi Telecom Boycott
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
Fonseca Says High Voter Abstention Doesn't Diminish His Presidential Win in Cape Verde
Jorge Carlos Fonseca won a recent presidential election in Cape Verde with 74 percent of the votes, renewing his term for another five years.
Conservationists in Madagascar Race to Exterminate Troubling Toad
Conservationists seek to eradicate a deadly Asian invader, but finding the necessary funds is proving difficult.
Russia's 2018 World Cup Mascot Has a Hilarious Name and You Don't Even Get It
It's too soon to know if this creature will make a good ambassador for Russia or the World Cup, but it's fair to say already that “Zabivaka” has gone viral.
After a Well-Known Artist's Tragic Death, Taiwan's LGBT Community Demands Marriage Equality
"Don't just pay lip service to "equal rights for the LGBT community". Words are empty! As long as same-sex marriage is not legalized, it means nothing!"
Upscale Chocolate Could Help Turn the Tide on Haiti’s Devastating Deforestation
When a tiny Quebec chocolate maker won a gold at this year’s premier International Chocolate Awards for a bar made with Haitian cocoa beans, it rocked the specialty chocolate world.
Locals Want a Disruptive Dam Project in Northern Myanmar Terminated Once and for All
Ethnic Kachin oppose the dam not only because it puts lives at risk, but also because it endangers the historically valuable Irrawaddy River