Stories about Citizen Media from February, 2010
Chile: The Legacy of the 1960 Earthquake in Valdivia
Fifty years ago, the strongest earthquake ever recorded in history rocked the city of Valdivia, Chile. The legacy that the earthquake has had on Chile's history was on the minds of many around the country, including many Twitter users in that city.
Chile: Powerful 8.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Country
At 3:34 a.m. local time, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 struck off the coast of the Maule region in Chile. Extensive damage has been reported throughout the country, and the number of casualties continues to go up.
Voices of the Wives of China’s Prisoners of Conscience
This month, on the occasion of the Spring Festival (the Chinese New Year), the most important time for family reunion in China, Duting (杜婷) interviewed the wives of China’s prisoners...
Silence Speaks: Multimedia storytelling in Republic of Congo
Amy Hill, the director of Center for Digital Storytelling, describes the process and ideas behind a 4-day digital storytelling workshop in November 2009 with seven women affected by Congo-Brazzaville’s (also known as Republic of Congo) civil wars from 1997-2003.
Ghanaian students contribute to virtual media library
We are interviewing Jonathan Thurston who carried out a book-making project with students in Elmina, in the Central Region of Ghana using simple, portable technology to inspire creativity and social media tools to network with like-minded individuals and organisations.
Russia: Closure of Torrents.ru Makes People Suspicious of .Ru Zone
The decision to close Torrents.ru is certainly controversial and became one of the major discussion topics in the country. Going beyond the copyright concept, bloggers wonder how safe it is to have a domain in .ru zone.
Dominican Republic: Colorful Characters of Carnival
Carnival celebrations in the Dominican Republic begin in February and are characterized by colorful characters that are the main attraction in festivities across the island.
Global: Concerns About Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)
The last meeting of negotiations for the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) has provoked the protest of online communities against both its content and the circumstances of their negotiations
South Africa: Mr Gay World 2010 is a South African blogger
Mr. Gay World 2010 has been won by Charl van den Berg, a 28-year-old South African restaurant manager. He uses his blog to thank Nelson Mandela, his sponsors and supporters.
Nepal: Monarchists Shut Down Capital Kathmandu
Pro monarchy groups demanding restoration of constitutional monarchy, and establishment of a Hindu state in Nepal forced its capital Kathmandu to shut down.
Americas: International Mother Language Day
February 21 marked International Mother Language Day promoted by UNESCO. It was a time in the Americas to reflect on the use of Spanish, as well as the importance of preserving indigenous languages.
365: A video a day from Cartagena, Colombia
Today from Cartagena in Colombia: UNESCO World Heritage Site and a top travel destination we bring you a selection of videos from the 365 video project participants, who are uploading one video a day during 2010.
Russia: Seeking Justice by Linking and Re-Posting
The recent story of a car crash in one of Siberian cities and reaction of boggers to the incident illustrate how an improvised online campaign attempts to affect gloomy reality.
Uganda: On the screening of gay porn in church
Has Pastor Martin Ssempa gone too far? Over 300 people were gathered in church last week in Uganda by the controversial anti- gay bill supporter Pastor Ssempa to watch gay porn for back up support for the anti- gay bill.
Russia: New Military Doctrine and Information Security
The new Russian military doctrine provides an interesting opportunity to evaluate the role of information from security perspective. This may apply to the issues of cyber security and Internet, as well as other information platforms.
Chile: Annual Viña del Mar Festival is Underway
The annual Viña del Mar Festival is underway in Chile. However, part of the tradition is the annual debate about the musical artists chosen to perform. Even though many Chileans love the festival, and others are indifferent, it still remains a widely watched event.
Colombia: President Calls on Citizens to be Crime Informants
In light of rising crime in many Colombian cities, President Uribe called upon university students in Medellín and taxi drivers in Cali to act as informants and provide tips on possilbe crimes.
Coup in Niger: Bloggers sigh in relief at the ousting of President Tandja
On Thursday, February 18th a coup d'état took place in Niger, in which President Mamadou Tandja was captured after a gun battle in the capital. A few months ago Tandja illegally changed the constitution to allow him a third term in what was generally considered a mass fraud referendum. Bloggers react to these latest developments.
Colombia: The Closure of Cambio Magazine
The Colombian magazine Cambio, known for its investigative reporting, was recently closed by its owners, who say it was an economic decision. However, journalists say that it was a politically motivated decision.
Congo: The Coltan Conflict is in Our Hands (and Cellphones)
Coltan, columbo-tantalite, is a mineral used to make resistors in our cellphones, video games, computers and home electronics. Like blood diamonds, its mining has not only caused ecological damage, human rights abuses, but some say is also fueling the conflict in the Congo.
Russia: When Politicians Go Online
When more and more Russian politicians become bloggers and seek the help of PR firms to develop and manage their blogs, people wonder about the future of the Russian blogosphere as an independent information platform and valuable public sphere.
