Stories about Citizen Media from August, 2022
Trinidad & Tobago at 60: Celebration and contemplation
"On an anniversary of independence, we mark transition from being a colony. [...] We breathe into a vision for who we want to be and what we still must achieve."
‘Good morning, Jamaica!’ The voice of a beloved broadcaster falls silent
"Many Jamaicans [...] were deeply saddened [...] following news of the passing of the much loved and admired radio and media personality, Francois St. Juste [who] brightened every space he occupied."
Why the UN added Brazil to the Hunger Map once again
COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, climate change and public policies: despite being one of the world's largest food producers, Brazil has now returned to the United Nations' Hunger Map.
Towards digital authoritarianism in Nepal: Surveillance, data collection, and online repression
Nepal government’s COVID-19 response opened the door to various threats to human and digital rights. Nepal must decide on its own path if it envisions a democratic digital ecosystem.
‘He was the best of us': Trinidad & Tobago mourns the loss of veteran radio personality David Elcock
Elcock, the self-proclaimed “morning man with the morning plan, the rooster with the booster," dominated drive time with his unique mix of inspiration, information and musical vibrations.
Trinidad & Tobago's ‘Great Race’ is one of the oldest powerboat events in the world
On August 2, 1969, the first ever Great Race was held. A field of 62 boats sped off from the Trinidad and Tobago Yacht Club to conquer what was then a 72-mile course.
A mother confesses to killing her child in Trinidad & Tobago, prompting discussion on violence, depression, poverty and mental health
"There is a lot of speculation [with] blame on state agencies [but] no one, unless familiar with the situation should be making any judgement."
Are Carnival revellers in Trinidad & Tobago getting their money's worth?
Some say, "They cannot be serious." Others maintain, "You can't put a price on memories."
Undertones: Anti-war activity is not over in Russia, says Russian researcher
"It's hard to know all that is being done, because journalism is nearly dead, even though there is still a lot going on in spite of circumstances."
As part of a beloved square is cordoned off for construction, Trinidadians defend their right to green space
Those involved in the project say they have conducted consultations, but stakeholders seem blindsided — and of the opinion that any such efforts were as weak and desultory as past iterations.
We must question colonialism in legal discourse, says Colombian lawyer
"I believe that we need a legal system that takes into account the land that we share with multiple beings (...) and that includes in the legal analysis the knowledge of the ancestral peoples."
Rising sea levels in Bangladesh are driving women to take the pill to stop menstruating
Many girls and women in the coastal areas of Bangladesh who don't have access to fresh water are taking birth control pills, often stolen from married women to stop their periods.
Missing, presumed dead: A sensational murder case in Jamaica highlights the plight of many vulnerable Caribbean women
The high-profile case of Jamaican social media influencer Donna-Lee Donaldson is just one of many tragic stories of femicide across the region.
Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago celebrate 60 years of independence
Both Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago are celebrating their diamond jubilee of independence from Britain, but some netizens wonder about their countries' priorities.
Disruptive technologies, demagogic governance: Data (un)democracy in India during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic not only resulted in a great loss of life in India, but also provided an impetus for authoritarian control.
Nepali activists protest Myanmar executions
On July 26, Nepali rights activists took to the streets of Kathmandu against the execution of four democratic activists by Myanmar’s ruling army junta.
Bangladesh government instructs TV channels not to use the word ‘Indigenous’ when referring to ethnic tribes
On July 19, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a notice to 35 TV channels asking the media and civil society not to use the word ‘Adivasi’ (indigenous people).
Undertones: How a composite sketch gone viral sparked a debate in Nicaragua
A digital campaign pressured the Nicaraguan government to show images of a political prisoner
Unfreedom Monitor Report: Sudan
Advox research into digital authoritarianism in Sudan is now in a report. Read an excerpt and download the full pdf.
A new exhibit in the UK reframes the legacy of a brutal British governor; will Trinidad & Tobago follow suit?
Picton's portrait, which occupied an eminent space in the National Museum Cardiff for more than a century, was removed last year, but his name still echoes in Trinidad and Tobago.
