Simon Maghakyan

A native of Armenia, Simon holds a graduate degree in political science from the University of Colorado. He is also an alumnus of the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies. Simon is Eurasia Country Specialist at Amnesty International USA, as well as founding Executive Director of the Djulfa Virtual Memorial and Museum – www.djulfa.com.

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Latest posts by Simon Maghakyan

USA: Has NASA Discovered a Life-Friendly Planet?

NASA has announced the Kepler Space Telescope discovery of Kepler-22b, a planet within the right distance of its star for potentially having a habitable temperature. Science bloggers have reacted to the news with analysis and theories of their own.

14 December 2011

USA: Native Americans Take Offense at Osama Nickname

For the United States government, "Geronimo EKIA" (Enemy Killed In Action) is the code for Osama Bin Laden's death. For many Native Americans, however, comparing their folk hero Geronimo to the world's number one terrorist is offensive. Geronimo was the most famous Chiricahua Apache figure who fought against Mexican and US armies to defend Apache lands.

10 May 2011

Armenia: Ex-President’s Wild Games

Newly-revealed summer 2009 photos of ex-Soviet Armenia’s former president Robert Kocharian posing with hunted “wild game,” including a lion, in Tanzania have Armenian bloggers talking.

1 May 2010

USA: Native Cherokees Fight for Sacred Mound

Cherokee Native Americans in North Carolina are currently fighting the construction of an electrical station they say would impede the spiritual experience at Kituwah, a sacred mound that is cherished as "Mothertown".

15 February 2010

India: Death of a Prehistoric Language

The last speaker of the ancient Bo language, Boa Senior, has died in her native Andaman Islands (part of India) in February 2010. It's a vivid confirmation of last year's report from UNESCO, warning that 2,500 languages are at risk of disappearing.

8 February 2010

USA: Historical Truth of Thanksgiving

“To European-Americans this holiday is laced with fanciful symbolism and metaphorical memories about that great feast between Pilgrims and Indians. But the historical truth often goes untold and unheard,” writes...

30 November 2009

USA: No More Columbus Day at Brown University

In response to protests from Native American and other students, the prestigious Brown University in the United States has changed the name of the national public holiday Columbus Day to "Fall Weekend" on its academic calendar. Bloggers are debating this modification of a holiday that honors the European explorer Christopher Columbus for “discovering” America.

13 April 2009

Georgia: Holy Baby Boom!

The birth rate has increased by 20 percent in ex-Soviet Georgia and the country's Orthodox Church is taking much of the credit. The miracle responsible for the much-needed baby boom in this old Christian country has been a single promise from the head of the Georgian church to personally baptize newborns. Bloggers seem impressed.

30 March 2009

Armenia: International Women's Day action sparks virginity debate

Although couples now marry at a later age than before, some traditions have been slow to change in Christian Armenia. One custom, for example, expects women -- but not men -- to remain virgins until their wedding night. However, a recent rally to mark International Women’s Day after which red apples were buried, a symbol of the bride losing her virginity, has prompted intense discussion in the Armenian blogosphere.

16 March 2009

USA: Native American Consultation Policy

UOB says Native Americans will now advise U.S. Department of Homeland Security on issues concerning American Indians. The policy has been created by new Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

9 March 2009

Armenia: First Anniversary of Bloody Post-Election Clash

Thousands took to the streets of Yerevan on Sunday to remember last year’s post-election unrest in Armenia which left eight civilians and two policemen dead. With some opposition activists still behind bars, Armenia’s government is widely accused of doing little to investigate the clashes properly.

3 March 2009