Stories about Citizen Media from May, 2021
South Asian examples show the centrality of nature in indigenous art
Modern societies can learn much from indigenous art about the importance of nurturing our relationship with nature.
As tourists party, citizens under COVID lockdown ask: Are there ‘two Jamaicas'?
When video of an event at a popular entertainment spot emerged, the images of hundreds of maskless revelers partying in close quarters prompted a wave of anger across Jamaica's blogosphere.
Trinidad and Tobago loses two cultural icons on the same day
Though lost under very different circumstances, condolences pour out to the families of steelpan arranger Bobby Mohammed and dance icon Torrance Mohammed, both giants in their respective fields.
Belarus grounds Ryanair flight, detains independent journalist amid regime's crackdown on media
Pratasevich was formerly an administrator of NEXTA-Live, the Telegram channel covering the anti-government protests in Belarus. He is currently editor-in-chief of Belarus Golovnogo Mozga, another independent media outlet.
‘Kakoli Furniture’ viral video spawns funny memes in Bangladesh and West Bengal
A low budget video advertisement containing a repetitive six-word sentence “Low price, good quality, Kakoli Furniture” has become an online sensation in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India.
People of Gaza take to social media to share days of horror and loss under Israeli fire
Of horror, pain, anger and resistance, Gazans wrote on social media about how they suffered from Israeli bombing, attempted to escape death or coexisted with it.
Protecting its people and preserving democracy: Germany's pandemic predicament
Support for the government's response to the pandemic wavered by December 2020, as many Germans began to feel "mask-tired" and frustrated by a problematic vaccine rollout campaign.
Israeli settlers’ aggressive takeover of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem is part of a decades-long struggle
Tensions have brewed in the occupied territories of Palestine for weeks, starting with Israel assaulting Muslim's holy site of Al-Aqsa Mosque, evicting Jerusalemites from their homes and restricting their movement.
A battle for information is sweeping Colombia amid nationwide protests
Journalists, K-Pop fans, and community radio stations fight to share information on the country's protests.
Who is artist Luis Manuel Otero, symbol of the resistance and thorn in the side of the Cuban regime?
Events surrounding the life of Luis Manuel Otero unleashed an unprecedented international media campaign in his support, and have even influenced the course of relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
Several NGOs denounce censorship of Palestinian voices by tech companies
The NGOs' statement labelled as "improbable mistakes" the fact that Facebook reported two "technical issues" within 48 hours which they said targeted Palestinian users and "compromised Jerusalemites’ right to freedom of expression..."
Destruction of coastal forest for a major tourism project raises questions about Jamaica’s climate change posture
"A development of this nature is inappropriate for an area which has been afforded several levels of environmental protections, and is well recognised for its diverse and healthy coastal ecosystems."
Using Clubhouse to counter Beijing-imposed amnesia: An interview with Ai Weiwei
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei continues to fight political censorship in China by using art, sound and social media to maintain the memory of the school victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
Facebook removes Ukrainian pro-government and opposition networks for ‘coordinated inauthentic behaviour’
Two different networks combined fake and authentic Facebook accounts and pages to push a mix of legitimate and manipulative content, COVID-19 satire, and political memes to Ukrainian audiences.
Imagining the Caribbean's architectural alphabet
As his contribution to the online design challenge "36 Days of Type," Trinidadian artist Nicholas Huggins decided to create a visual alphabet inspired by the architecture of the region.
Russian feminist activist Yulia Tsvetkova announces hunger strike
Demanding a swift trial, Tsvetkova wrote: "Let’s stop waiting for people being persecuted to be heroes. We don’t need heroes. We need to prevent the persecution of the innocent."
In the grip of pandemic, ‘the time is now’
"I don't know, but I want to be here, persisting. Intemperately. Ridiculously. Maybe even foolishly. And the difficulty has been in believing I deserve that grace. Maybe you feel the same way."
‘Industrial Heaven': A Ukrainian Instagram account digs deeper into the Donbas region
The visual archive portrays “a split region” through a curated collection of current photos, found imagery, and ephemera such as propaganda posters and postcards, and archival images from bygone eras.
In Turkey, satirical TikTok video leads to arrest and travel ban
The video, titled "Areas where the Turkish passport is used," was intended to be comedic, Instead, it got its young creators in trouble with the authorities.
Heavy rains worsen the effects of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ La Soufrière volcano
As the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season draws closer, the country has been experiencing heavy bouts of rainfall, which have contributed to the creation of lahars, or destructive volcanic mudflows.
