Stories about Citizen Media from May, 2012
Kazakhstan: 12 Border Guards Found Dead After a Blaze
Following reports that 12 border guards have been found dead in a burnt-out frontier post in southeastern Kazakhstan [ru] and the lack of immediate reaction from the authorities, local blogger Almazinho1978 writes [ru]: “At the very least, they could have declared a period of official mourning… My condolences to the relatives...
India: User's guide to Indian free speech
Nila at Akhond Of Swat lists some controversial subjects the Indians should not write about to avoid offending someone (and going to jail).
Cuba: Bloggers Discuss Mariela Castro's US Visit
On the heels of United States President Barack Obama's support for gay marriage, Mariela Castro, the daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro and Director of the country's Centro Nacional de Educación Sexual (National Center for Sex Education), has been addressing gay rights activists during her tour of the United States. Her trip has been stirring up some controversy in the Cuban blogosphere.
Russia: #OccupySeliger?
Earlier this week, blogger and photographer Dmitri Ternovsky starred in the latest Nashi controversy, announcing on that he has agreed to lead the "Politics and Civic Society" section of pro-Kremlin group Nashi's 2012 summer festival at Lake Seliger. Dubbing the initiative "#OccupySeliger," Ternovsky says that he hopes to expand the opposition's message to a new audience.
Afghanistan: Will Kabul Follow in Washington's Federal Footsteps?
At a meeting earlier this year, prominent Afghan opposition leaders called for restructuring the country's political system along federal lines. Now Facebook users in the country discuss the pros and cons of a federal system for Afghanistan.
Uzbekistan: Facebook Clone is Launched
YouFace is a new social networking site launched in Uzbekistan. Its interface is strikingly similar to that of Facebook except that YouFace quotes Uzbek President Islam Karimov on its welcome page. Another local social networking platform, the Uzbek-language Muloqot.uz, was established about a year ago.
Trinidad & Tobago: What Have We Accomplished?
Coffeewallah suggests that when it comes to how the country is governed, “perhaps we need less public holidays, less ‘celebrations’ and more concentrated effort.”
South Sudan: Blogging the Newest Country in the World
South Sudan declared its independence on 9 July 2011 to become the world's newest country. We have compiled a list of blogs with regular reports, analyses, updates, and opinions relating to South Sudan. These blogs cover a variety of subjects such as gender, politics, language, health and humanitarian work.
Syria: Curating @TweetWeekSyria
Have you heard about Rotation Curation? It is the process of rotating the spokesperson on a social media account. It was originated in December 2011, when a project called Curators of Sweden was launched, handing the official Twitter account @Sweden to a new Swedish person every week. Now this initiative has...
Brazil: More TV Humiliation of Young Man
Brazilian journalist Rodrigo de Almeida denounces [pt] the existence of a longer video of that shown in the GV post (from May 26, 2012) about the TV humiliation of a young man. The video shows the host of the TV show Brasil Urgente, Uziel Bueno, going further in the humiliation...
Portugal: Police Evicts Squatted Building in Lisbon
Going against an injunction approved by the Supreme Court of Lisbon, the police evicted today, May 31, the collective São Lázaro – “the only public squat in the capital” of Portugal. There are reports [pt] of detentions and violence. The activist platform Tugaleaks is sharing updates on its Facebook wall.
Bangladesh: Questions Over Indian ‘Tourism City’ Investment Proposal
The story of a 10 Billion Taka (US$120 million) investment in Bangladesh has made it into the country's headlines, following a visit by Subrata Roy Sahara, chairman of Sahara India Pariwar, one of India's largest business conglomerates. The group are planning to develop a 40 square kilometre housing project situated approximately 50 kilometres from Bangladesh's capital Dhaka.
Kazakhstan: Where Central Asia's Bread Comes From
On Vox Populi, photographer Kanat Beysekeev presents an annotated photo report [ru] on wheat sowing and the everyday life of farmers in northern Kazakhstan. Much of the wheat flour consumed in Central Asia comes from this area.
Tajikistan: Hospitals as “Machines for Sucking Money” out of Patients
Blog Avestiyca writes [ru] about health care facilities in Tajikistan, portraying the country's ill-planned and graft-ridden hospitals as “machines for sucking money” out of patients.
Sri Lanka: Cast As A Mother
One year ago – 13 Sri Lankan women of the Stage were invited to look at their experiences of motherhood, through the lens of theatre and write about them. At the Passing Stage blog you can follow their progress.
Brazil: Questions Surrounding Rio's ‘Pacifying Police’ Units
The state government of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, has adopted a security policy based on the installation of Pacifying Police Units who tackle crime in favelas (shanty towns) but also promote social policies. But there are questions about the motivations behind this strategy and whether the voices of residents are being heard.
Lesotho: Peaceful Elections You Did Not Hear About
Lesotho, a tiny landlocked country in Southern Africa, held peaceful parliamentary elections on Sunday, but the polls drew very little mainstream media attention.
Greece: Citizens Protest Against Major TV Station
Greek netizens via Twitter and other social media organized a protest on May 17 before the MEGA TV station in Athens, under hashtag #oloimega (All to Mega). The station has been accused of allegedly displaying government driven propaganda. Stathis Kalligeris released a photo collection on Demotix, while Peru21.pe offers [es] a...
Bangladesh: Shawpno Rath – A School For Slum Children
A group of young people have started a school 'Shawpno Rath' (Chariot of Dreams) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with the aim of providing schooling to disadvantaged children.
Ethiopia: EPRDF’s Anniversary: What is There to Celebrate?
The Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Front (EPRDF) celebrated its 21st anniversary on 28 May. Some Ethiopians consider the day a ‘National Day’ while others see it as a day when one oppressive regime replaced another one. Netizens have taken to blogs and Facebook to reflect on EPRDF anniversary.
Zambia: Mixed Feelings Greet Big Brother Eviction
The eviction of Zambia’s representative, musician popularly known as Mampi, from the on-going Big Brother Africa, has been received with mixed feelings from netizens. Big Brother Africa: StarGame is the seventh series of Africa's most popular reality television series.
