Global Voices Online

Sichuan Earthquake 2008

On May 12, an earthquake registering 7.8 on the Richter scale struck in southwestern China's Sichuan province, centered in Wenchuan county, with tremors felt as far away as Beijing and Hong Kong. Thousands have died. Citizens have distributed videos, pictures, and comments in the aftermath. more »

Myanmar Cyclone 2008

A deadly cyclone hit Myanmar (Burma) at the beginning of May, causing massive human loss of life and environmental destruction. International controversy has followed over the military junta's refusals and delays to allow aid workers and journalists to enter the country or reach disaster areas. more »

Global Food Crisis 2008

Bloggers around the world have noticed the global increase in food prices. Global Voices authors translate and link to the observations of ordinary people writing in blogs in many different countries. For some it's a matter of life and death, for others a mere inconvenience. more »

Egypt General Strike 2008

What started as a day of general strike in Egypt on April 6, to protest inflation, low wages, and the ongoing bread crisis, has sprawled into a face-off between authorities and the masses. Now Egyptian bloggers are working around the clock to tell the world about the workers' revolt that is shaking their country. more »

Zimbabwe Elections 2008

On March 29, 2008 Zimbabweans cast their votes in the presidential election. Days later, the official result has still not been declared. MDF opposition leader Morgan Tsvagirai, has claimed victory over the incumbent president Robert Mugabe of Zanu (PF), but power may not change hands without a fight. more »

Tibet Protests 2008

On March 10, 2008 hundreds of Tibetans in Lhasa began protesting on the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Beijing rule. Police arrested protesters, and violence in the streets has escalated in the following days. Bloggers across the region have responded. more »

Border Crisis in South America 2008

On March 1, 2008 the Colombian Armed Forces attacked a camp of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) located in the territory of Ecuador, killing a high-ranking leader, Raúl Reyes. As a result, the neighboring countries Venezuela and Ecuador publicly questioned the incursion into Ecuador, which ultimately led to the breaking of diplomatic ties. more »

Kenya Elections Aftermath 2008

On Dec. 27 a surprise victory for former president Mwai Kibaki (PNU) in the Kenyan presidential election was followed by arson and violence aroused by suspicions of vote rigging. More than 200 have been killed (mostly from the Kikuyu tribe) and tens of thousands displaced. more »

The assassination of Benazir Bhutto

The death of Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan comes at a crucial time for Pakistan, as a political emergency period was recently lifted, and elections are scheduled for January 2008. Bloggers writing from Pakistan and around the world have expressed shock and concern. more »

Climate Change 2007

Global warming is already a life and death matter for many world citizens. Without new political solutions, the environmental crisis will grow beyond control. From 3-14 December representatives of more than 180 countries are meeting at a UN Summit in Bali, Indonesia to discuss a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol. more »

Middle East Peace 2007

Will there ever be peace in the Middle East? Leaders of Israel and Palestine once again showed up for peace negotiations in the United States at the end of November, but evidence of true progress is lacking. Bloggers in the Middle East vent their frustrations, hopes, and first hand experiences on the long, bumpy road towards peace. more »

Pakistan Emergency 2007

On 3rd Nov 2007, the President of Pakistan and Chief of Army Staff Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency. Private television channels were taken off air, local phones and internet were blocked. Bloggers in Pakistan have responded to the situation, even as criticizing the government or mobilizing action could pose a risk to their personal safety. more »

Burmese protests 2007

Democracy activists aligned with Buddhist monks led massive protests of civilians throughout the streets of Myanmar. Burmese bloggers and citizen media were the main source for images, videos and live reports, in a country where Western media has virtually no access. more »