· April, 2007

Stories about Digital Activism from April, 2007

Saudi Arabia: Saudi Women Bloggers

Saudi blogger Ahmed Al Omran reports that we will soon be able to hear the voices of young Saudi women through blogs initiated by their teacher. “Mrs. Lobat Asadi who teaches English at Al-Yamamah College in Riyadh has sent me a link to her project website that is used as...

Bahrain: Multi-Cast a First!

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif took part in a multi-cast, the first in the Middle East, in which an Egyptian judge accused of plagiarism was expected to make an appearance. “The next session, which I am part of, is supposed to make history in that it is going to be...

Arabeyes: On Selling a Palestinian Kidney and Changing the Israeli Flag

Do you want to know why a Palestinian wants to sell his kidney, or what had happened to the bicycle of a Lebanese blogger on September 10, 2001? What is more difficult: returning home after living abroad for five years or demanding that Israel changes its flag just as the Kurds want to change the Iraqi flag? And last but not least: why does Ala'a Abdulfattah - the Godfather of Egyptian bloggers - say he isn't and was never a blogger? To know more, read on.

Egypt: Worldwide Free Kareem Rallies

A series of rallies were held worldwide to draw attention to jailed Egyptian blogger Kareem Nabil Suliaman, who have been sentenced to four years in prison for insulting both Islam and Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Supporters gathered in Berlin, Germany, the United Kingdom, Bucharest, Romania, Stockholm, Sweden, Washington DC, US...

Egypt: Sandmonkey Quits Blogging

Egyptian blogger Sandmonkey is hanging his boots and calling it quits. “One of the chief reasons is the fact that there has been too much heat around me lately. I no longer believe that my anonymity is kept, especially with State Secuirty agents lurking around my street and asking questions...

Egypt: Freedom of Speech Campaign

Egyptian blogger Nora Younis wonders why free speech ends people in prison in her country as she spearheads a campaign for freedom of speech. “Egyptian pro-democracy activists and bloggers are facing various forms of prosecution everyday,” she explains.

Egypt: New Bahai Blog

Egyptian blogger Issandr El Amrani links to a new blog about Egyptian Bahais. “Seeking Justice focuses on Egypt’s official discrimination against Bahais, an issue we’ve talked about before. It has links to other Egyptian Bahai sites and blogs,” he notes.

Iraq: Satirical Stats

I have found a great Arabic Wiki called Beidipedia (lit. Eggepedia) about the Middle East in general but is predominantly focused upon Iraq, its approach is to present satirical items in the traditional neutral news/encyclopedia approach a la The Onion, writes Iraqi blogger Konfused Kid, who is based in Jordan.

Bahrain: Noaimi Site Up

A site completely dedicated to a giant of a Bahraini, Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Noaimi, the Godfather of the National Action Democratic Society has been launched containing a section to register your “get well” messages to this Bahraini personality as well as sections detailing his biodata and a collection of articles he...

Syrian Independence Day and Elections

Syria celebrated it's independence and Parliamentary elections with a lot of official fanfare, but very little excitement from bloggers as a reported two per cent of the constituents turned up at the polling stations. Yazan Badran sums up the reactions as bloggers debate the results and updates us about the jailing of a prominent human rights lawyer.

Iraq: Islammemo is Back

Iraqi blogger Ladybird reports : “If anybody interested Islammemo (Arabic) back to business, it is unknown yet if (Saudi national) Alhajiri released form prison or not but the team managed to comeback. The 65-year-old Alhajiri is well known among among Arab news-addicted seekers. Started Islammemo in 2001 alone with two...

Brazil: ‘Reverse Globalization’

  25 April 2007

In an act of “reverse globalization”, a North American in Brazil reports on the ‘Amazonia’ soap opera, the Santo Daime religion, the legacy of Chico Mendes and current efforts to protect of the Amazon forest. Lou Gold reports about ‘Amazonia, Acre and Earth Day‘ at VisionShare.

Bahrain: Bandargate Revisited

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif breaks a total ban on media outlets to discuss a political scandal better known as Bandargate in Bahrain by publishing a post with a link which sheds new light on Salah Al Bander from a different perspective.