Stories about Citizen Media from September, 2013
India: The Prime Minister Nominee & His Criminal Records
“Can a person with Criminal Records become the PM of India?” – asks Dr. Abdul Ruff while discussing the nomination of the right wing leader and Gujarat chief-minister Narendra Modi. He is the prime ministerial candidate of the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance for the upcoming 2014 Indian general...
South Korea: President's Failed Welfare Promise Sparks Criticism
President Park is under fire for her retreat on campaign promises of higher pension and tuition subsidies. Critics say her campaign pledges adopted against her own identity as a conservative candidate, helped Park to rake in more votes in the last presidential election. @metempirics gathered relevant links and web reactions [ko] in...
Heavy on the Politicking, Light on the Substance in Cameroon's Elections
Many of the candidates running in Cameroon for National Assembly and municipal council seats are lacking well-defined platforms that tell voters where they stand on the issues.
Doctors in Panama Launch Strike Over Foreign Recruitment Law
Law 611 has put local doctors on the warpath, while the government assures that foreign doctors will not pose a problem for national workers.
‘How Much Are You Paid?’ Young Nigerians Ask Their Members of Parliament
Young Nigerians on and offline ask their members of Parliament some hard questions.
Crowd-funding Revives Australian Climate Council After Government Axe
Following the axing of the Australian government Climate Commission it has been reborn as the not-for-profit Climate Council thanks to crowd-funding.
IBM, Cisco Supply Brazil with Surveillance Tools for World Cup
With the perspective of mega events, Brazil became a priority for the global surveillance industry. On the front line of the technological centers which concentrate decisions concerning security during the games is the American multinational corporation IBM.
Russian News Websites Black Out to Protest Journalist's Arrest
A photographer was among the 30 activists arrested by Russian border guards on board Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise. His detention has riled up Russian journalists and other media figures.
“You Can Kick Female Flight Attendants” in Kazakhstan
A former government official in Kazakhstan recently kicked a female flight attendant, reportedly because she did not speak Kazakh. The story has caused a stir on social media. Blogger Pivovar offers [ru] the most interesting and most widely shared Twitter posts on this incident, such as the one below: Казахстан-2013: бить...
Developing Latin America 2013: An ‘Apps Challenge’ for Social Impact
This year Developing Latin America goes from being a Hackathon to an Apps Challenge, an event to think of better ideas, obtain more concrete solutions, and achieve more sustainable applications.
Russia’s Hunger Games
There are two hunger strikes in Russia today, one by a famous Pussy Riot member and another by a mothers' group. What do the different receptions online say about Russia?
Tajik President's Reelection Bid Finds Support Online
With less than six weeks to go before presidential elections, Tajikistan's incumbent leader has found unexpected support from some bloggers.
Kyrgyzstan: “It is Impossible to Propagandize Homosexuality”
Prominent Kyrgyzstani blogger Bektour Iskander reflects [ru] on on the recent law banning gay ‘propaganda’ in Russia and speculations that some Kyrgyz human-rights NGOs are engaged in such propaganda: It is impossible to propagandize homosexuality. Because a heterosexual cannot turn into a gay, even if she/he communicates with hundreds of...
“An e-Book is a Book” – Nigerian Poet and Linguist
"An e-Book is a Book" - Sticklers for traditional modes of publishing will lament this as retrogression, but they will be wrong, says Nigerian writer Kola Tubosun.
Documentary Films Tackle Child Sexual Abuse in India
Indian documentary films are heightening awareness about child abuse. By talking to children, responsible adults and even abusers, these films are helping open up an erstwhile shuttered space.
Brazil Becomes Hot Market for Surveillance Technology Ahead of World Cup
Giants of the surveillance sector get contracts in a number of Brazilian cities to monitor citizens during the games of 2014 - from security scanners to remote tracking software.
Online Petition Got Sea Turtle Released in the Philippines
Captive sea turtle was used as photo-op to attract tourists. More than 1,500 signed petition to release the sea turtle.
“Fetishization of Somoni” Continues in Tajikistan
As Tajikistan's president unveils yet another statue of national icon Ismoil Somoni, blogger Tomiris criticizes [ru] monument monoculture in the country: Don't we have other historical figures to erect statues to? Was Somoni really the only one of its kind? I understand that this fetishization of Somoni is a political...
Busting Myths about Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is not part of the Middle East; Kazakhs do not have Chinese blood in their veins; and not everything about Kazakhstan is bad. Blogger busts (part 1, part 2) [ru] common myths about the oil-rich Central Asian nation.
When There's No Emergency Phone Number, Kenya Tweets For Help
When al-Shabab gunmen attacked Nairobi's Westgate Mall, Philip Ogola of Kenya Red Cross jumped to action – with a tweet.
Podcast: China's Big Internet Crackdown
Sinica podcast discusses China's recent crackdown on Big-Vs on Sina Weibo and poses questions about whether Sino Weibo will continue to be popular and if online discussions are already moving away from Sina Weibo towards mobile services like WeChat.
