Stories about Digital Activism from June, 2010
Russia: Ramzan Kadyrov's Blog and Plagiarism Controversy
Sean's Russia Blog notes that “just when [Ramzan] Kadyrov thought he had a clear path to becoming a star of the blogosphere, his second post, “My city, Grozny” was accused...
Haiti: MSM Coverage
The Haitian Blogger says that “mainstream media pieces about Haiti are like Swiss cheese, full of holes.”
Haiti: Five Months Later
Haiti, land of Freedom takes a look at the country just about five months after the devastating earthquake.
Lebanon: No to The Rule of Dinosaurs
A new Facebook group named No to Dinosaur Rule: So that Lebanon Doesn't Turn into a New Arab Prison (Ar) has been formed. The group advocates freedom of speech.
Chile: From California to Chile on Biodiesel
Maria Jose Calderon and Carlos Herrera embarked on a 6-month road trip from California, USA to Chile in a biodiesel truck. The couple traveled Latin America in search of grassroots initiatives to help the environment, and they documented their findings and their journey through videos, photos and blogging.
Cuba: Spotlight on Fariñas
“In the wake of the death of political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo, Cuban independent journalist Guillermo Fariñas started a hunger strike to demand the release of some two dozen seriously...
Egypt: The Ministry of Interior Seeks Revenge
Egyptian activists have utilised citizen media to the fullest in exposing police torture and corruption. Marwa Rakha writes about their newest initiative and uncovers the case of an Egyptian activist held in neighbouring Libya in this post.
Italy: Large protest against “gag” rule bill on local media
“No Bavaglio” (No Gag) is a large protest movement in Italy against a proposed privacy law that would impose heavy fines on newspapers (and blogs) that publish transcripts of phone...
Lebanon: Letter to the President
Lebanese blogger finkployd writes a letter to the Lebanese President Michel Suleiman after three people were arrested for insulting him on Facebook.
Argentina: Social Media Day in Buenos Aires
Listao [es] shares that on June 30, the official Social Media day, social media users are invited to get together to celebrate the day in Buenos Aires. Users can sign...
Armenia-Azerbaijan: More Conflict Voices
As mentioned in previous posts on Global Voices, new and social media is increasingly playing a role in facilitating communication between Armenians and Azerbaijanis online. Locked into a bitter conflict over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, there are few other possibilities for connecting other than meeting in third countries.
Russia: Chechen President Launches Blog
Ramzan Kadyrov [EN], president of the Chechen Republic [EN], launched a blog ya-kadyrov [RUS] at Livejournal. In his first post Kadyrov writes that he is “a sociable and to the limit outspoken...
Iran: People resisted the Morality Police
A video film shows how people in Rasht, in the northern Iran, resisted the Morality Police when they wanted to arrest a woman. Read more here.
East Timor: “Blogs Factory” Announces Production Cuts
Fábrica dos Blogs [Blogs Factory, pt], a collective that feeds blog Timor Lorosae Nação (one of the most active sources of information and places for discussion about that country, in...
Cuba: For the Bloggers
Generation Y posts interviews with Dr. Darsi Ferrer and Juan Juan Almeida.
Taiwan: “When the Excavators Came to the Rice Fields”
Now occupying only 1.8% of total GDP in Taiwan, no one can deny that local agriculture has lost its once highly-respected status and is almost dying under many political decisions...
Cuba: Ferrer Released
Several Cuban bloggers report that prisoner of conscience, Dr. Desi Ferrer, has been released, but must serve the remaining four months of his prison term under house arrest.
Cuba: Letter for Ferrer
“Just know I will be watching. And as I have done for almost 5 years on my blog, I will be holding you and your government to account what it...
World: Protecting Human Rights on Citizen Video
Making a video to protect human rights might backfire and end up threatening the rights of those who appear or participate in the video. WITNESS' The Hub shares with us how we can make a human rights video that gets the message across while minimizing the risk to those involved.
China: The citizens’ pledge
C. Custer from China Geek translated a citizens’ pledge written by a blogger, Tiger Temple, and circulated around the Internet. The pledge is a moral statement against social and political...
Russia: Famous Blogger and Civil Rights Activist Gives Interview
Marina Litvinovich, one of the top Russian bloggers and a civil rights activist, shares [RUS] her perspectives on online campaigns, civil society, and politics in Russia.