Stories from June, 2012
Mexico: Presidential Candidates Wind Up Their Election Campaigns
A collection of some of the thoughts and observations of Mexican citizens on Twitter and the blogosphere, regarding the end of the presidential campaign period and the approaching election day, which will decide the next president of this North American nation.
Mali: Timeline and Video of the War between MLNA and Ansar Dine in Gao
Weeks removed from striking an alliance to take over the North of Mali, the Tuareg rebel movement MNLA and the Islamist group of Ansar Dine are fighting in the town...
Yemen: Electricity Woes in Yemen
Electricity, food and water are basic human rights and have been the main demands of the majority of Yemenis long before the revolution started and still continue to be so. Nothing seems to have changed with the overthrow of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and living conditions only seem to get worse under the new National Consensus Government.
Georgia: Men Can Wash Their Own Feet
Making Connections not only posts a recent video by Georgian bloggers against homophobia, but also one calling for gender equality in the South Caucasus country. The blog notes that the...
Korean ‘Comfort Women’ Photo Exhibit Sabotaged in Japan
A South Korean photographer explains his ordeal in holding an exhibition in Japan that documents aging 'Comfort Women', the term used for Koreans drafted as sex slaves by the Japanese during World War II. Many South Koreans and fans of the photographer online, accused Japanese extremist right-wing groups of refusing to admit their war crimes and attempting to sabotage the art exhibition.
Saudi Arabia: Will Arwa Baghdadi Have Her Baby in Prison?
Pregnant Saudi prisoner Arwa Baghdadi is about to give birth behind bars. Arwa's brother was killed in violent clashes with Saudi security forces in 2011. Following his death, Arwa was arrested. During her detainment, she has been on hunger strike and has accused Saudi guards of sexually harassing her.
Puerto Rico: Francheska Duarte's Case Causes Outrage
The young mother Francheska Duarte was run over and later abandoned in an emergency medical centre by her ex-boyfriend. The judge presiding over the case found Francheska's former boyfriend Jorge Ramos guilty only of the less serious misdemeanor. The decision has caused an outrage in the island.
Japan: Generational Gap of Hope in Tough Economy
Japan’s younger working generation are leading a very different life from their parents, who prospered in the ‘Bubble Economy’ of the 1980s and 1990s. This generation consumes less, works under stricter conditions, and have less ‘hope’ of their future. Here a working woman in Japan narrates her uneasiness towards her parents’ generation and the society built by them.
Paraguay: Reporters Without Borders Concerned About Public Media
Reporters Without Borders has published a statement saying that their organization, “has every right to be alarmed, as the country’s democracy seems to have been shaken and undermined”, after Fernando...
Saudi Arabia: Tweeps to Remember Detained Protester
Following the overthrow of Tunisian and Egyptian presidents, an anonymous call for a "Day of Rage" in Saudi Arabia on March 11, 2011, was spread. In response, the government deployed heavy police forces in all major cities to ensure that any protest remains virtual. One man, Khaled Al-Johani, turned out to protest and was arrested on that same day. Netizens rally to draw attention to his plight.
Arab World: People With Disabilities Raise Their Voices!
An online campaign was launched to shed light on the struggle of people with disabilities and their neglected rights. Campaign founder Abdallah AlShalaqi, an activist from Saudi Arabia said it aims at raising community’s awareness of the rights of people with disabilities; breaking media silence about it; and giving a message to government officials to take action towards this issue.
Jordan: Women's Basic Rights for Dignity and Social Cohesion
Over 200 people created a human chain in the streets of Amman on the afternoon of Monday June 25th, holding signs demonstrating a stand against crimes in the name of honor, harassment, nationality discrimination against children of Jordanian women, and rapists allowed to marry their victims to avoid prosecution.
Armenia: Online Petition to Support LGBT Rights
Following the recent firebombing of a gay-friendly bar in Yerevan as well as homophobic comments from government officials and politicians setting the scene for the aggressive disruption of a diversity...
Uganda: Breaking the Culture of Silence Around Health Rights
A video produced by Results for Development, an international non-profit organisation whose mission is to unlock solutions to tough development challenges, was released online recently to encourage Ugandans to break the culture of silence and take control of their health rights.
China: Guangdong Village Riots over Land Sale
China Digital Times translates a Caijing news story about a village riot in Guangdong province against local government's secret land sale deal.
Malaysia Indie Music
The Wknd website features Malaysian indie music and other indie artists in Southeast Asia
Singapore Versus Hong Kong
Singapore Armchair Critic compares the economic, financial, governance, and press freedom indicators of Hong Kong and Singapore. The two cities are the major financial centers of East Asia
Thailand: Amnesty or Reconciliation Bills?
After more than six years of protracted political conflict, Thai parliamentarians have began drafting several 'reconciliation bills' to promote national unity. Netizens have many questions regarding the proposed bills. This article also provides unofficial English translations of the draft bills
Sri Lanka: State Of The Government Hospitals
Nanadasiri Wanninayaka writes about the state of the government officials in Sri Lanka.
Africa: Celebrating Humanity through Photos and Videos
An article highlighting 21 pictures that will restore your humanity recently went viral. Unfortunately, Africans and Africa were absent from all of them. Yet, there is no shortage of great testimonies of human spirit from the African continent. Here are a few photos and videos that show, 'Africa's got Heart' too.
Myanmar: Rohingya Boat Refugees Left Floating by Bangladesh Government
The Rohingyas of Myanmar are fleeing from their homes on boats because of local ethnic rioting in Rakhine province and are seeking refuge in neighboring Bangladesh. But the government of Bangladesh is not letting them in, leaving them floating on the sea with their lives in peril.
