Stories about Citizen Media from February, 2016
Ukraine's Eurovision 2016 Entry Is About Stalin’s Repressions. Russia Isn't Thrilled.
Ukraine’s entry for the Eurovision 2016 music contest is a song about the deportation of the Crimean Tatars by the Stalin regime. So why are Russian officials upset?
Body-Policing and Identity Politics Bog Down Trinidad Gymnasts’ Olympic Dreams
"So many countries celebrate an athlete's body. In my country, a female athlete could be shamed and disciplined for showing hers."
Macedonians Protest to ‘Defend the Constitution from the Constitutional Court Justices’
"Apparently it's perfectly legal to do election fraud, and whatever crimes you commit as long as the court approves it"
Colombia Edges Closer to Signing Peace Agreement
The final and hopefully definitive phase of a peace process is underway and the Colombian government is preparing for post-conflict reconciliation with its new plan “Peace for Colombia.”
Macedonian Court Rejects Appeal by Activist Sentenced for Defaming Pro-Government TV Host
Five years after the case first began, Macedonia's judiciary has finally rejected an appeal by an activist convicted defaming a pro-government television show host.
Belgrade Mayor Stands By Police Chief Who Interfered in Journalists’ Work
Belgrade Mayor Siniša Mali has refused to comply with the request of Serbia's Ombudsman to fire the chief of the Communal Police, who interfered with the work of journalists.
Youth NGOs in Central and Eastern Europe Tackle Corruption With a New Documentary Series
In the former Yugoslavia and former USSR, "from kindergarten to university, generations of children and students grow up learning about corruption from their own experiences."
Saudi Arabia Sentences Twitter User to 10 Years in Prison and 2,000 Lashes for Apostasy
Saudi Arabia has sentenced a Twitter user to 10 years in prison in addition to 2,000 lashes for publishing 600 tweets "which spread atheism" online.
Is Japan Having Sex?
How much sex are Japanese people having, anyway, and could having more sex help Japan improve its declining birth rate?
Sexual Violence a Crime Against Humanity, Guatemalan Court Rules in Historic Verdict
In a historic ruling, a Guatemala court sentences former military men for murder, rape and enslavement of indigenous women, categorizing the offenses as crimes against humanity.
Climate Change Is All Too Real in Kenya, Where Drought and Famine Affect Millions
"Kenya has been forced to redefine water as a scarce commodity rather than a basic need. What scares the most out of and me...is our inability to solve the situation."
Desperate for Safer Roads, Russians Are Literally Filling Potholes with Money
In the past five weeks, there’s been a new slew of pothole-related scandals. Depending on your attitude about lousy public services and motorways, these stories will either entertain or disconcert.
Hokkaido's Popular Poplar Cut Down Because of Misbehaving Tourists
The tree had increasingly become a tourist attraction in recent years, with people traveling to visit the tree to snap its picture.
Anti-Extremism Police in Yakutia, Russia, Say They Have Ways of Finding You on WhatsApp
WhatsApp messenger is hugely popular in Yakutia—and the anti-extremist police force are on it.
Efforts Continue to Free Indigenous Activist and Ex-Director of Community Police in Mexico
Thirty months after Nestora Salgado's arrest, efforts to free her continue. The charges against her haven't been dropped even though international bodies have recognized her detention is illegal and arbitrary.
Jamaica Peacefully Chooses a New Government. Young Activists Take a Bow
Close to 35,000 voters joined the electoral list for the first time. Could the youth vote -- and online activism -- have been the deciding factors in Jamaica's general election?
The Fight Continues to Free Detained Central American High Schoolers in the US
"Children who are doing the right things, who are in school, who are living at home with their parents, are not a priority in my opinion."
Animator Chronicles His Family's Experience Emigrating With the Caribbean's ‘Windrush Generation’
"While many of the Windrush Generation experienced similar circumstances arriving in Britain, not much is actually documented. Animation can help to bridge generational gaps when the story is relevant."
Journalists Find Themselves the Target of India's ‘Anti-National’ Narrative
"As goons in black robes rampaged through the Delhi court house where Kanhaiya Kumar is being tried, they assaulted journalists not just on day one, but then once again..."
Ukrainian Court Equates Social Network Profile With Mainstream Media
The social media pages containing "calls to overthrow authorities" were determined by the court to be "mass media" because they were public and accessible to an unlimited number of people.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi Briefly Goes Up for Sale on eBay
A bid offering Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El Sisi for sale went up on eBay minutes after he said he would even sell himself to bail out the country.
