Stories about Citizen Media from June, 2011
Uruguay: Controversy Over Open-Pit Iron Ore Mining Project
A project to build an open-pit iron ore mine in central Uruguay has divided the country's citizens, who are manifesting their differing opinions on the streets and online.
Peru: Peace Restored in Puno Following Agreements
Through the enforcement of recent statutes put in place by the executive, little by little peace is being restored in the Puno region after recent conflict and social unrest (both related to mining) that resulted in the death of 6 and more than 30 wounded and millions in material losses. Social networks are buzzing with commentary.
Vatican: A ”Historic” Tweet From Pope Benedict XVI
“Dear Friends, I just launched NEWS.VA.Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI“: this is how Pope Benedict XVI engaged Twitter users on June 28,...
Belarus: Report from Another Non-Violent Protest Event
Belarus Partizan publishes [ru] a detailed report (with photos and videos) on another non-violent protest action (#2906v1900 [ru/by]) in Belarus that took place on June 29, 2011. Police assisted by 3 buses...
Malawi: Meet Global Voices Author Victor Kaonga
Victor Kaonga started his blog, NDAGHA, in 2006, joining a small but dedicated band of Malawian bloggers. A broadcast journalist by profession, he holds a graduate degree in Global Journalism from Orebro University, Sweden. Here Victor talks about how he became involved with Global Voices and shares his thoughts on the Malawian blogosphere and the stories that are being discussed in his corner of the world.
Republic of Congo: Widows Demand Their Rights
minguabiango [fr] writes on congo-liberty about the cruel treatments and deprivation of their rights suffered by some widows in the Republic of Congo: “In Congo-Brazzaville, some widows are daring to...
Guinea: “Democracy, Backwards”
Guinean novelist Tierno Monénembo, who won the French literary award Prix Renaudot in 2008, examines the early record of the new President of Guinea, Prof. Alpha Conde, writing [fr] in...
Senegal: President Wade's Failure
Barka Ba writes [fr] on blog leral.net, about the constitutional amendment proposed by President Wade of Senegal: “Now, the emperor has no clothes. His gambling on an election reform, that...
Lebanon: “Welcome to Lebanon” as Seen By a Migrant Worker
In June 2011, Migrant Workers Task Force responded to three promotional videos launched by the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism with three video clips. The Beirut based NGO parodies the official campaign...
Uruguay: In Cerro Chato Citizens Protest in Favor and Against the Aratirí Mining Project
Citizens of Cerro Chato in central Uruguay are divided: over the weekend manifestations took place both in favor and against the Aratirí mining project. The blog Aire Libre [es] posts...
Michael Sandel in China
Last month, renowned Harvard professor Michael Sandel delivered a lecture on justice and morality at Tsinghua University in China. He also talked about how his theories relate to contemporary China in an interview with the Guangzhou-based Southern Metropolitan Weekend.
Senegal: Power Shortages in Dakar Lead to More Riots
Website politicosn.com has provided real time coverage [fr] of the protests against power shortages in Dakar, Senegal, on June 28, 2011: “Ongoing demonstrations have flared up in Senegal capital, public buildings...
Spain: Police Violence Against Peaceful Demonstrators in Barcelona
Friday, May 27, 7 pm had not yet arrived when the police raided Catalunya Square in the center of Barcelona where the camp of “outraged” of 15 May were located. The hundreds of protesters in attendance refused to leave and the situation escalated. Many calls were made through social networks and access to the Square was quickly blocked by a...
Video: Celebrating the Solstice
The celebrations for Summer and Winter Solstices were full of lanterns, dances, flowers and bonfires. Lets tour around the world to check out the different celebrations: Solstice at Stonehenge, Feast of Saint John's bonfires in Spain, Inti Raymi in Peru, we tripantu in Chile and Kupala Day in Russia or Midsummer's night in Poland.
Argentina: River Plate Football Club Relegated to Second Division
River Plate, one of the oldest and most successful football clubs in Argentina and in the world suffered one of its worse defeats recently: on June 26 it tied with Belgrano Athletic Club in a match where its membership of the first division of Argentine football was decided.
Peru: Residents of Puno Resume Protests
Once again the inhabitants of the Puno region have taken to the streets in protests, this time against the contamination caused by the mining of minerals. Six people died as a result of the protests on the day when Peru celebrates the Day of the Peasant.
Syria: French Embassy Website Hacked
On Saturday, June 25, since at least 3PM GMT, the website of the French Embassy in Syria appears to have been hacked: anyone connecting to the French embassy website is...
Lebanon, France: Amin Maalouf Elected Into The Académie Française
“My favorite novelist has just been elected into the Académie française“” write Khira [fr], from Morocco, and Patricia [fr], on behalf of the Lebanese diaspora, happy to announce on their...
Zambia: How Will Chiluba Be Remembered?
How will Chiluba be remembered? That is the question that is being debated by Zambian netizens on various networks. The buzz on the late former president’s death and his legacy is almost reflective of one of Zambian language sayings which states that on the day an elephant dies, it is the talk of the village.
Senegal: Proposed New Election Law Sparks Riots in Dakar
President of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade's, proposed amendment to the Constitution and election law, in anticipation of the presidential elections of 2012, has made a lot of Senegalese angry and sparked demonstrations and riots in the capital Dakar on June 23. This popular unrest has since forced the government to drop the suggested amendment.
Colombia: Video Mapping the City to Hip Hop
In just four days, a creative cast of characters got together in the city of Medellin, Colombia, where they set out to produce videos and place them on a map of the city to reflect topics that affect their communities: militarization, poverty, forced displacement, crimes of state, resistance movements and more.
