Stories about Citizen Media from June, 2010
South Africa: Tonight, it's not just a game
Bafana Bafana take on Uruguay tonight in their second Group A clash in FIFA 2010 World Cup. Bloggers as well as South African citizens are saying that the clash tonight is not just a game. June 16 is a special day for South Africa. It is Youth Day, which commemorates the Soweto Uprising that took place in 1976. It is also Zakumi's birthday.
Brazil: Stefhany, Authentic Pop Star Rises from the Web
Stefhany is known as “Beyonce from Piauí”. Her first video “Eu sou Stefhany” [I am Stefhany], uploaded to Youtube by a friend and fan, has had almost 2 million views so far. She is a great example of Web 2.0's power to create new pop stars.
Kenya: Bloggers react to Uhuru Park bomb blast
Six people were killed and 75 injured in an explosion at a political rally in Nairobi on Sunday. The rally was organized by the "No" team, which opposes the passing of the new constitution. Here are reactions from Kenyan bloggers.
Fiji: Tackling the land tenure issue
Because of its ties to ethnicity, culture and a growing import food bill, land tenure is one of Fiji’s most pressing problems. The government will soon attempt to reform the country’s land tenure system, which has largely remained untouched since the mid-1970s.
Ghana: Bloggers celebrate Ghana's victory over Serbia
The Ghana national football team, the Black Stars, became the first African team on Sunday win a match at the 2010 FIFA World Cup after beating Serbia. Ghanaian bloggers are celebrating this historic win.
South Africa: The Vuvuzela World Cup Debate
Days into the 2010 World Cup, the vuvuzela debate continues by those criticizing and defending the use of the instrument at games, as well as those who make light of those who complain.
Brazil: The “CALA BOCA GALVAO” Phenomenon
Millions of twitter users told Galvão Bueno, a famous Brazilian narrator and broadcaster, to shut up: a phenomenon that soon became a worldwide joke.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Conflict Voices
In the 16 years since a ceasefire agreement put the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh on hold, successive attempts to broker a final peace have faltered. Could blogs and other online tools now offer alternative voices the opportunity to have their opinions on the conflict heard?
Brazil: Graffiti Artists Lighten Up Europe
Once persecuted by the authorities, street art has made it to the mainstream. The Brazilian twin brothers known as GÊMEOS are on exhibition in the first event of street art in a Portuguese museum, according to local bloggers [pt]. In collaboration with Italian graffiti artist Blu, they also left their...
Peru: The Blogosphere Remembers Bagua
A year from the tragic incidents in Bagua, where officially 34 people died (23 of them were policemen) and unofficial reports speak of a much larger number of casualties, Peruvians used blogs to express their different feelings: pain, frustration, and disenchantment were the predominant sentiments.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Finding mutual ground online
As Global Voices looks back at the success of a Rising Voices project, Ceasefire Liberia, a citizen media site dealing with conflict and reconciliation, activity in the same area is starting to be noticed in the Caucasus. New and existing projects working towards establishing dialog and eventual peace in the region are starting to use new and social media in their activities.
India: Bhopal Gas Tragedy Verdict – too little too late?
More than 25 years after India's worst ever Industrial disaster, a court in Bhopal has pronounced a guilty verdict on the Indian arm of Union Carbide (UCIL) and also convicted 8 former UCIL officials for negligence in the large-scale, Bhopal gas leak tragedy. Bloggers react.
Brazil: Brazilian President in Israeli TV Video-Joke
Brazillian netcitizens react to Israeli Latma TV video mocking President Lula da Silva. Hellington from Full ideas blog believes [pt] that the video only shows the ignorance of the world concerning Brazil, though he agrees with the idea that the Brazilian President shouldn't meddle with Iran and other sensitive issues....
China: A traffic incident sparks fury against Japanese
The following post is making rounds in many Chinese forums and blogs. It concerns an accident between a Chinese couple and two Japanese in Beijing two weeks ago.
Peru: A Year Since Bagua
June 5 marks a year of the Baguazo, the name given to the unfortunate events that took pace in Bagua where officially 34 people died, of which 23 were policemen; however, unofficial reports claim the number of deaths is greater, especially from the side of the civilian protesters. Here is an account of reactions and of some events planned to commemorate the first anniversary of the incidents.
Colombia: Parish Priest from Jongovito Bans Patron Saint Festivities
The news from the parish priest of Jongovito, from the city of San Juan de Pasto, banning the celebration of the festivities of San Pedro y San Pablo (which take place June 29) generated a quick reaction from the blogosphere of this Colombian city.
China: Film director beats up foreigner at swimming pool
A skirmish over a swimming pool lane between a Chinese film director and another man led to a fist fight but also to this blog post from the prominent director and some rather strong nationalist sentiment.
China: Lest we forget, Tiananmen Incident 21 years on
On the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Incident (‘June Forth Movement’), Chinese intellectuals, ex-protest leaders, activists, bloggers, writers and ordinary citizens tell us why they refuse to turn their backs on the horrors of the incident, and, in remembering the past, bravely offer insights into how...
Tanzania: Will Tanzania benefit from playing Brazil?
Football fans in Tanzania are eagerly waiting to see Brazil, FIFA world Cup five times winners, taking on Tanzania national Team on June 7, 2010 at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The international friendly between the five times world champions and Tanzania national team is part of Brazil’s World Cup preparations before the opening match of the World Cup on June 11th in South Africa.
Turkey: Can Turkish-Israeli relations be rebuilt?
As the world watched the events that happened on board the Turkish-led "Gaza Freedom Flotilla" it was also witnessing the deterioration of political relations between the governments of Turkey and Israel. Anger at the Israeli government is palpable in Turkey, and returning activists are being greeted by officials among hero fan-fare.
Maghreb: Views on Freedom Flotilla's Unfolding Drama
Reactions to the Israeli raid on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla still reverberate across the world, not least among Maghreb bloggers who have been commenting on unfolding events.