Stories about Citizen Media from December, 2021
Hong Kong police raid pro-democracy Stand News, arrest six on sedition charges
"Founded in December 2014, Stand News is an independent, non-profit, Cantonese-Chinese news website that undertakes to defend fundamental Hong Kong values – democracy, human rights, freedom, rule of law and justice."
The return of the rufous-necked hornbill to Nepal
It took nearly 200 years to establish the existence of the rufous-necked hornbill in Nepal, which is categorized as "vulnerable" by the IUCN. It was last seen in the country in 1829.
Ukraine to get support from Apple with conducting national census in 2023
Commenting on the collaboration with Apple for the 2023 national census, Ukraine's President Zelenskyy said digitisation was "an unconditional priority for our state".
Russian censors block website of legal aid non-profit OVD-Info
"We see this as a continuation of the state's attack on civil society. It is no surprise that the attack is now focused on OVD-Info."
Indian migrant workers fight for their right to get paid in Serbia
Indian migrant workers have been targeted to work at mega construction projects in Serbia. Several workers are not willing to give up fighting for their back pay, despite legal loopholes.
A certificate for grazing cattle: Empowering Bolivia's Aymara people by recognizing their work
The certification process allows a community that was valued before colonization to be revalued in order to be self-sustainable and for the reproduction of the life systems.
2021 in review, from a Caribbean point of view
While the Caribbean was primarily focused on rising COVID-19 infection rates, a steady stream of variants, and strong vaccine hesitancy, the pandemic wasn't the only story affecting the region in 2021.
In Nigeria, the government weaponises the law against online expression
The Nigerian Communications Act of 2003 (NCA) has been employed by the government in justifying various violations of online freedom of expression in Africa's most populous nation.
Despite updates in legislation, organisations in Uganda struggle with data protection and privacy compliance
While Ugandan legislation was recently updated to include more provisions aimed at protecting digital privacy, reality on the ground shows the majority of Ugandans are not guaranteed those rights.
2021 in retrospective: Authoritarian practices threatened journalists and restricted media freedom in South Asia
In this retrospective, we will review issues of online and press freedom, censorship, the safety of journalists and digital rights in South Asia that we covered during the year.
Tunisia: New prosecutions resurrect shadow of dictatorship
The use of military law by Kais Said's government to prosecute journalists and restrict freedom of expression foreshadows a return to the nightmare governments of before the Arab Spring.
In the midst of floods and climate change, these are the local systems that hold the fabric of Assam together
Flooding leaves devastation in its wake every year in Assam. As climate change erodes an already vulnerable landscape, people band together to adapt and save each other.
Arrest of activist Khurram Parvez shows ‘a new hostility towards civil society in Kashmir’
Arrested and charged under the much-criticized Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for “terror-funding” and “conspiracy,” Khurram’ Parvez's internationally acclaimed body of work is being tarnished by allegations of terrorism.
St Lucia announces it will host a ‘vaxxed’ Carnival in 2022, but is it realistic?
"We have to ensure that we preserve the health of St. Lucia while creating an economic activity for our people to benefit from.”
How new generations are reinventing antifascism in Bosnia and Herzegovina
"How can we truly recognize manifestations of fascism and antifascism in societies that are free from direct physical conflict, where the definition of the 'other side' is becoming progressively more blurry ... ?"
‘Unmatched’ and ‘irreplaceable': Jamaica’s iconic bassist, Robbie Shakespeare, has died
"Rest in Power, Robbie Shakespeare. No one— I mean no one—held it down like you did."
The Uranw of Nepal seek official recognition of their Karma Festival
The Indigenous Uranw of Nepal have been lobbying for the Karma Puja to be recognized nationally so that community members can attend a festival of social cohesion and community bonding.
Russia blocks access to Tor browser website
The push for greater online censorship is part of the country's "sovereign internet" strategy which seeks to cement centralised state control over internet infrastructure and online spaces.
High infection, low vaccination—could mandatory COVID-19 vaccines be the answer for Caribbean nations?
"Having demonstrated that mandatory vaccination is constitutionally appropriate given the leeway granted in favour of public health imperatives, [...] employers could justify a requirement in a pandemic context."
Belarus, transformed: political analysts track social and political change in the country
"The Belarusians have re-envisioned their national identity, giving birth to a new civil society and reformatting social processes that generate new patterns of behavior."
Barbados becomes the world's newest republic
"The president of Barbados is now someone that any Barbadian child can aspire to be—and that's so powerful.”
