Stories from November, 2021
A century of Etel Adnan: a mountain who leaves behind mountains
With colourful palettes, careful strokes and moving poetry, mountains were sensual beings in Adnan's artwork, regarded in confluence with the skies and earth, erupting in volcanoes.
As shorebird populations drastically decline in the French Caribbean, hunting traditions persist
The colonial era practice is still popular in Martinique and Guadeloupe, and also takes place in French Guiana, Suriname and, to a lesser extent, Barbados.
Jamaicans mourn the passing of human rights defender Nancy Anderson, who worked to assist the island's most vulnerable citizens
As "a very proud advocate for human rights," one of Anderson’s key achievements was to help make legal services more widely available to the poor in Jamaica.
Making Turkish music in Hungary: Can this be a ‘Nasip Kısmet’ moment?
How fortunate is it to be able to play Turkish folk songs in Hungary, despite the anti-immigrant, Christian-values agenda of the prime minister, Victor Orbán.
In Azerbaijan, bullying in schools is still a problem
Ali Malikov, a high school senior, is boycotting his school after lack of action by the school administration and the Ministry of Education to address bullying and harassment.
Barbados forges a digital path by becoming the first country to establish an embassy in the metaverse
While operational specifics are still unclear, Michael J. Casey, Chief Content Officer at CoinDesk, which broke the story, says the Barbados government's move has the potential to be "quite disruptive."
In Turkey women faced rubber bullets, tear gas from police as they marched to end gender-based violence
The protestors' main demand was for Turkey to rejoin the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty pledging to eliminate domestic violence and promote gender equality, which Turkey withdrew from this year.
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan tighten the screws on media freedom
The Uzbek government banned entry to a foreign journalist, while in Kazakhstan journalists and activists were targeted by state security services.
Jamaica officially recognises the life and legacy of iconic wartime nurse, Mary Seacole
"[Especially during the] COVID-19 outbreak, when healthcare professionals have been similarly challenged by a pandemic, it is an appropriate time to mark her birth, life, legacy and example.”
An interview with media scholar Rose Luqiu about WeChat and techno-nationalism
"A major factor is censorship or 'coerced loyalty.' As other communication tools like Facebook and Twitter are unavailable in China. WeChat has a very special [monopoly] status in China."
‘In my country, I feared the war. But here I feared the Home Office': Asylum seekers speak on the UK refugee process
While the UK has some of the highest living standards in the world, financial resources and legal guarantees are scarce for the most vulnerable people.
Human-elephant conflict could lead to the extinction of elephants in Bangladesh
Around three dozens of resident and migrant elephants were killed in different parts of Bangladesh since January 2020, seven were killed in November 2021 alone.
Cambodian rapper vows to continue writing critical songs after a year in jail for incitement
"I will not stop writing and singing my songs about my country. I will continue to educate the people through my songs and keep the patriotic spirit going."
France complicit in heinous crimes committed by Egyptian state, website reveals
'Strikes often destroyed several vehicles, and the number of victims could be as many as several hundred. According to UNGA resolution 56/83, France's complicity in these illegal executions could be established.'
Press freedom and the Indian judiciary
In India, journalists are being unfairly charged with defamation, sedition, and publishing fake news. Despite the constitutional guarantee of press freedom, threats to the press are rampant in the country.
‘Unfit for military service': How Azerbaijan stigmatizes LGBTQ+ military personnel
In Azerbaijan, though homosexuality is not legally considered a disease, when it comes to military service it is registered as either a neurological/psychological illness or a personality disorder.
Myanmar rappers express rage and resistance against the military regime
"Myanmar hip hop will never be silenced. We come together, not because we are the same but because we are united as one."
‘Bitcoin City’ in El Salvador seen through local memes
Most memes highlight the stark contrast between the government's over-the-top efforts to attract foreign investors and its limited investment in lowering crime rates.
Protests sweep Turkey as Lira plummets to an all-time low
Protests erupted across several cities in Turkey in the evening hours of November 23 after the Turkish national currency hit a record low against foreign currencies earlier in the day.
Undertones: Nicaragua's “sham” elections have cold shower effect on media
Journalists practice self-censorship, with propaganda channels dominating attention.
Introducing Undertones, Global Voices’ media analysis newsletter
This newsletter synthesizes Observatory research and analysis of key narratives and ideas circulating in the public sphere.