Stories from March, 2018
The Dystopian Reality of Being an ‘Accidental American’
"In this dystopian world, you occupy a special place... You've never had any relationship or communication with the US authorities. You don’t have any US paper except your birth certificate."
Uncertainty Surrounds the Upcoming Election in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The coming months will be critical for the elections. Will President Kabila respect the existing electoral calendar?
#SayNOto66d: Documenting the Surge of Online Defamation Cases in Myanmar
The #SayNOto66d website documents online defamation cases in Myanmar while providing information tools to support the campaign to repeal the law.
Encounters with Caribbean Genius: Derek Walcott, Wilson Harris, Aubrey Williams
"So much to praise and cherish forever as long as forever ever lasts." A celebrated Caribbean writer on three of his contemporaries.
On World Poetry Day, Some Verses Straight From Persia's Heart
"The sadness in my heart, like a mountain/The heart under your chest, like a stone."
Homages to Stephen Hawking in Latin America's Media Show How Mourning for the Scientist Transcends Borders
"Everybody knew about Stephen Hawking's cosmic brilliance, but few understood it. Not even first-class astronomers."
What Were Global Voices’ Readers up to Last Week?
During the week of March 12-18, 2018, our stories and translations attracted readers from the majority of the world's countries. Number 99 on the list? Ghana. And number 20? Madagascar.
Anti-Islam TV Spot in the Netherlands Has Dutch Calling for More Love, Less Hate
"Everyday we need to tell each other that their hatred will be defeated by the intrinsic need for peace; to live together; not to hate each other; but to love."
Trinidad and Tobago’s First Female President Claims Her Role as ‘Humble First Servant’
"It finally feels like the narrow vision of the past has broadened to include people on their merits, yet what a heavy burden of expectations the first one [...] carries."
From Sydney Biennale Installations to Film Screenings, Ai Weiwei Highlights Treatment of Global Refugees
"How do we go from a darkness where we have dehumanized refugees and militarized responses, to one where we reclaim a shared human identity?"
“Africa and the Poetry of News”: Global Voices Hosts a Twitter Chat for World Poetry Day
To honor World Poetry Day on March 21, 2018, Global Voices sub-Saharan Africa team will host a Twitter chat on "Africa and the Poetry of News." Join us! #GVSSA #Poetrynews
A Respected Ceramicist and a Skilled Novelist: Jamaica Loses Two Much-Loved Creatives in Two Days
"Jamaica, we mourn the passing of sculptor Gene Pearson and writer Garfield Ellis. But we will celebrate them always."
Ghouta's Youth Become War Reporters to Shine a Light on Suffering Civilians
"I want to be a journalist to convey the innocents' suffering or study chemistry to make medicine to the people." - Noor, 12 years old, Eastern Ghouta
Despite Resignation of Slovakian Prime Minister, Thousands of Protesters Continue to Demand Justice for Murdered Journalist
An estimated 65,000 protesters demanding early elections gathered in the capital city of Bratislava while thousands more rallied in the streets of other cities.
When Indigenous Girls are Raped and Assaulted in Bangladesh, a Queen Rises Up in Solidarity
From 2013 to 2017, violence was committed against 364 indigenous women and girls. In January 2018, 10 women and girls were raped and three of them were killed after rape.
What Japan's 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Mascots Say About Attitudes Toward Disability
On a careful reading of its character description you will notice that unlike its Olympic counterpart, the Paralympic mascot is not explicitly described as “athletic”.
Women Reporters Accuse a Prominent Russian Lawmaker of Sexual Harassment, but His Colleagues Stand by Him
At least three Russian women reporters have accused Leonid Slutsky, a populist parliament member, of sexual harassment. Most of his politician colleagues, even women, are rallying behind him.
How a Viral Eye Roll Broke the Silence on China's Heavily Censored Web
"The rolling eyes are like a bolt of lightening that destroys tens of thousands expressions of praise and outshines speeches made by hundreds of thousands of brain-dead people."
Why Did Women Journalists Strike in Spain?
"...it only took a few women initiating the movement for all of us to dive in headfirst, because the inequalities we face are the same."
Iranian Detainees Face Privacy Violations, Public Smear Campaigns
Two cases in Iran highlight new signs of violations of due process and in how personal electronic devices are seized and the right to privacy is violated.
