· November, 2008

Stories about Digital Activism from November, 2008

Brazil under flood: Bloggers form solidarity networks

While mainstream media was first slow to report news of the grave floods that have devastated the south of Brazil and then sensationalized the tragedy, bloggers responded by creating a network of support. This post explores the difference in the approaches between conventional media professionals and amateur and freelancer produced news blogs.

30 November 2008

Japan: Mainichi's Wikipedia Slip-up

Ignoring the fact that Wikipedia timestamps are in GMT and not JST (Japan Standard Time), on the 18th of November the Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun published an article entitled, “Attack on the former vice-Director's home: crime announced on the Internet six hours earlier… hinting at the crime?”, in which a Wikipedia contributor (”Popons”) was erroneously identified as involved in the attempted murder of Kenji Yoshihara, wife of former vice health minister Kenji Yoshihara. Bulletin board commenters quickly spotted the mistake, and bloggers responded with criticism, but the Wikipedia editor in question was apologetic about the ordeal.

30 November 2008

Iran: Do not Execute Farzad Kamangar

Several human rights activists and bloggers warned that Farzad Kamangar, a teacher and trade unionist may be executed in the near future in Iran. Farzad Kamangar, who is from Kurdistan province in Iran, is accused of being affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

29 November 2008

Cuba: Youth Activist Jailed

Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense highlights the plight of a Cuban youth activist who “was sentenced this week to 3 years in prison for ‘offenses against authority.'”

28 November 2008

Puerto Rico: Status Quo?

“Our struggle for self-determination, to be free from outside impositions, is ideological and it is not what's best for the majority of the people who live here”: Gil the Jenius...

28 November 2008

Dominica: Sexual Offences Act

Dominica's Speaker of the House thinks that non-consensual sex – even within marriage – should be deemed criminal and Chris at Dominica Weekly agrees: “A lot of men in Dominica...

28 November 2008

Cuba: Indebted

“If Cuba was a household, the repo man would have been sent in a long time ago”: Child of the Revolution examines Cuba's balance sheet.

28 November 2008

India: Lack of Original Citizen Media Reporting

Gauravonomics Blog analyzes the role of social media and citizen journalism in the 11/26 Mumbai terror attacks and opines: “The (..) terror attack was a time for first-hand original reporting,...

28 November 2008

Thailand: Airport takeover and Twitter

Twitter has become an interesting and good source of information about what is happening in Thailand. Twitter users in Bangkok have been exchanging travel tips, news updates, and opinions about the current situation.

28 November 2008

Iran: Send Love to Iran

Pars Arts presents Bri Olson, an American artist who was recently able to achieve her goal of visiting and seeing the real Iran. She shares her experience in her blog:...

28 November 2008

Bulgaria: Inadequate Media Coverage

Veni Markovski writes about a recent case of misrepresenting Bulgaria in the International Herald Tribune and posts his letter to the editors. He also writes about the European Commission's decision...

28 November 2008