Stories about Citizen Media from September, 2016
The UAE Has Avoided an ‘Arab Spring’ by Systematically Repressing Critical Speech
Wary of an Arab-Spring like uprising within its borders, the UAE government launched an unprecedented crackdown on critics and activists.
There’s a Teacher Roaming Rural Colombia Atop Two Donkeys, Bringing a Mobile Library to Children
"One day, teacher Luis decides to load his two donkeys, Alfa and Beto, with books and takes them to remote areas for children who can't access them otherwise."
Are There Prospects for Peace and Stability in South Sudan?
"It is time for both #SouthSudan president Salva Kiir and former VP Riek Machar who have ruined their country to both step down"
There's a Premier Dinosaur Museum in Japan's Oft-Overlooked Fukui Prefecture
The Fukui Dinosaur Museum is one of the top tourism attractions in Japan, allowing visitors to get an up-close look at fossil remains from millennia gone by.
Japan Finally Gets Free Public WiFi… Just Not For Japanese Residents
"Japanese government has announced plans to expand public WiFi access points across Japan. But just for tourists."
‘Convenient Outrage’ in Trinidad & Tobago Over Demolition of Dance Pioneer Beryl McBurnie's House
"What's the point of outrage now if you didn't actually give any thought to the deterioration of this historical building over the years?"
Why Do So Many Eritreans Risk Their Lives Fleeing the Country?
"Eritrea is an authoritarian state. There is no independent justice system, no parliament, no democratic institutions to speak of. "
Meet the Street Kids of India Who Have Their Own Paper
"Do media think what a child thinks? Do you know what children want? Do you ever consider these questions?"
Zimbabweans Can't Stop Giggling About a ‘Hideous’ Statue of Longtime President Mugabe
"Good thing Dominic #Benhura made this ugly statue of #Mugabe. Citizens will enjoy knocking it down when he falls."
The Bitter Aftertaste Left by Donald Trump's Visit to Mexico
US presidential candidate Donald Trump made a short visit to Mexico’s capital last month for a private meeting with President Enrique Peña claiming a high cost for the president.
Mexican Protesters Have a Message for the President: ‘Resign Now’
With social discontent reaching a boiling point in Mexico, the country's social media users started sharing the hashtag #RenunciaAhora (Resign Now) to mobilize people for a massive march.
Skopje Authorities Bulldoze Roma Families’ Homes, Then Ignore Their Plight
"Without electricity, water supply or sewage, with high risk from infectious diseases due to the floods and lack of minimal hygiene conditions, they dread the coming of winter."
A Former Street Child in Mumbai Builds a Cafe-Cum-Library for Homeless Youth
"I sold books for nearly three years to collect funds to set up this cafe. We will always be open to street children and never reject their entry..."
Havana Is a City That Lives and Breathes Beyond the Limelight
In recent years, Cuba has become fashionable, and Havana is a star in the world market.
The Feud Between Two Indian States Over Water Has Taken a Violent Turn
"If you set fire to things to protest the scarcity of water, then the protest goes from agitation to irony."
‘El Hombrecito’ Breathes Musical Life Into Literature in the Dominican Republic
In the Dominican Republic, a group called The Little Man (El Hombrecito) is offering a new way of experiencing the arts by combining music, poetry and visual arts.
Macedonia’s Amazing Disappearing Interior Minister
Macedonian politicians appoint a placeholder crony to ensure that party loyalists get the Interior Ministry's top positions ahead of snap parliamentary elections.
Charlatans and Mainstream Media Try to Profit From Earthquake Panic in Skopje
Alternative medicine TV show host "Ivan the Healer" published a post and backdated it to make it seem that he had predicted the series of earthquakes that shook the city.
Meet Capital Finder, a Free Tool for Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries
"By filling the information gap and removing barriers to funding, we hope to unlock capital for projects that alleviate poverty and further economic development where it is needed most."
Insects Swarm Japanese Social Media: Beautiful, Breathtaking, and Bamboo
A Japanese artist is using traditional artisanal craft techniques to create compelling bamboo insects that have developed a devoted following online.
Puerto Ricans’ Struggle Against US-Imposed Austerity Heats Up
"It is a huge disappointment to see our fellow Puerto Rican policemen brothers being used as pawns to repress their own people."