Stories about Citizen Media from October, 2008
India: Transport strike
Channel 19 blog provides some insight into the recent partial transport strike in Mumbai: “This event not only highlights the issues of autorickshaw drivers and taxi drivers in India’s most...
Caribbean: Omar Rains Down
The Caribbean is officially in the midst of its wet season, but many regional territories are battling more than their fair share of sogginess, thanks to the torrential rains that accompanied Tropical Storm Omar - a storm that was soon upgraded to a Category 3 Hurricane as it forged a path through the northern Caribbean.
Americas: Bloggers Participate in Blog Action Day – Part II
October 15 marked the annual event of Blog Action Day. On this date, bloggers from all around the world pledge to publish a blog post aboug a particular topic. This year the chosen subject is poverty. This campaign hopes “to change the conversation that day day, to raise awareness, start a global discussion and add momentum to an important cause.” Latin American bloggers actively participated in the campaign read some of their thoughts in part II.
Central & Eastern Europe: Financial Crisis
Below is a roundup of reactions from the Anglophone blogosphere on the ongoing financial crisis in Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Serbia.
Iran: Bloggers Talk Poverty on Blog Action Day
Iranian bloggers, like many other bloggers , from the four corners of the planet participated in Blog Action Day on 15th of October to talk about poverty. Dreeam writes [fa]...
Cameroon In The Eyes of British And American Volunteers
There are very few Cameroonian bloggers based in Cameroon. This vacuum has been occupied by volunteers working in the country (mainly) for the British organization Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO) and the US Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV). Their attempts to cope with everyday life in an African country is the main stay of their posts.
Americas: Bloggers Participate in Blog Action Day – Part I
October 15 marked the annual event of Blog Action Day. On this date, bloggers from all around the world pledge to publish a blog post aboug a particular topic. This year the chosen subject is poverty. This campaign hopes “to change the conversation that day day, to raise awareness, start a global discussion and add momentum to an important cause.” Latin American bloggers actively participated in the campaign read some of their thoughts in part I.
Taiwan: An online protest against the American Institute in Taiwan
After being denied a U.S. tourist visa in September, Taiwanese artist Chen Chieh-jen started a website against the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) called, "I suspect that you intend to stow away to the U.S.". Here people share their stories of being mistreated by officials and denied entry to the United States.
China: Student killed by police, but wins not much sympathy
Yang jia, all by himself, killed 6 police at Shanghai in July. Then on Oct 11, a few days ago, 6 police killed 1 college student in a northern city of China. Is a vicious circle of violence starting? But after the video clip of the scene was exposed, the victim lost most of his support.
Brazilian myths and haunts on the Lusosphere – Part 1
The first of three articles that will take us around the virtual campfire to hear stories about ghosts and enchantment from Brazilian folklore: Cuca, Negrinho do Pastoreio, Boitatá and Curupira, are just some of the beings that inhabit the nights, dreams, and nightmares of Brazil. We also find a group of artists who are telling anew a long told Brazilian popular story.
Guyana: EPA – To Sign or Not To Sign?
The European Union is ushering in the first phases of a new trade pact between regional territories and the 27 members of the EU. What's the big deal about a little trade agreement? Just the fact that the new rules change the fundamentals of how these two trade blocs relate. Some regional governments - like Guyana - are insisting that they will not sign the EPA as it stands. The problem is, there's a deadline involved. A few Guyanese bloggers have been speaking out...
Poland: Pope production peak
Polandian writes about the tendency to put up an increasing number of statues to deceased Pope John Paul II in Poland.
Kuwait: Assawt Paper to be Launched
Kuwaiti Frankom announces the launch of a new newspaper Assawt [ar] (The Voice) in Kuwait soon.
Azerbaijan: Peace Corps Volunteer Blogs
The U.S. Peace Corps started working in Azerbaijan in 2002. Since then, over 190 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Azerbaijan and a number set up blogs from the beginning of 2006. Operating outside the capital, Baku, the blogs detail life in the regions of an oil-rich country that few would otherwise experience.
Armenia: Peace Corps Volunteer Blogs
While the number of blogs on or based in the South Caucasus is often put in the tens of thousands, the actual number of bloggers is significantly lower. Moreover, the...
Moroccans for Obama?
"When the Americans are getting ready to elect a president, the whole world holds its breath," writes Moroccon blogger, Robin des Blogs [Fr]. It's a sentiment held by many around the world, but some Moroccon netizens aren't sure which outcome--an Obama or a McCain presidency--would be best for Morocco.
Tunisia: National Day for Freedom of Blogging on November 4
Tunisian bloggers are rallying for a National Day for Freedom of Blogging on November 4. The day will coincide with a court hearing for a lawsuit filed by the journalist and blogger Zied El Heni against the Tunisian Internet Agency.
Brazil: A day in jail for blog comments
The first person to go to jail for commenting on a blog in Brazil was a high rank police officer. See reactions from the very close knit police blogosphere. Not surprisingly, with the intelligence monitoring blogs and comment boxes, most of the police officers decide to blog anonymously.
Pakistan: Still ignoring the stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh
“The politicians in Pakistan religiously issue statements each year bemoaning the plight of the stranded Pakistanis,” Raza Rumi writes about the stranded Pakistanis (Biharis) in Bangladesh and the appalling life...
Iran:An Iranian Lesbian needs urgent help in Sweden
Iranian Queer Organization (IRAQO) asks people to help a young Iranian lesbian who escaped Iran to Sweden in January 2008 on base of her sexual orientation. According to this organization...
The Blogging Revolution: from Iran to Cuba
Antony Loewenstein, a Sydney-based freelance journalist and blogger, has recently published his new book: The Blogging Revolution. This book talks about the impact of blogging on six countries: Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, China and Cuba.
