protest

This weekend thousands took to the streets in Hong Kong to promote the implementation of a full fledged democracy in Hong Kong.

It is estimated that more than 5000 people attended. The protesters held up umbrellas, that spelled out 2012, the year that Hong Kong wants their democratic reforms enforced by.  

A former officer in the Burma military defected and went into hiding after being ordered to shoot on Buddhist monks.

He is now fearing for his life and the life of his family.

The story is telling of the military situation in Burma.

Read the rest of the story on Al Jazeera.

As the situation in Burma escalates, the world can't help but notice the blatant disregard the ruling military junta has for basic human rights. Dedicated to realizing a democratic future, protesters have grown to an estimated 100,000 people.

In an extraordinary display of solidarity, Burma civilians created a human chain around the protesting monks to protect them against armed soldiers. Scenes such as these remind us that being part of a democratic system is often taken for granted. To find out more about Burma situation, take a look at Al Jazeera and BBC for detailed articles and multimedia content.

In an age of widespread communication technology, secret footage was smuggled out of the country and posted online to display the worsening situation.