Stories about Digital Activism from April, 2015
An Unexpected TV Rerun Sends Serbia's Social Media Into Censorship Panic
Satirical news show 24 Minutes was supposed to air a new episode with Serbia's embattled ombudsman as a guest, but a rerun ran instead. Censorship-weary viewers feared the worst.
Meet the Woman Who's Shaking Up Pakistan's Social Gaming Industry
Global Voices' Faisal Kapadia speaks to Mariam Adil, the young entrepreneur who's making waves in Pakistan's gaming industry.
VIDEO: The World Is Saying #FreeZone9Bloggers
Global Voices marks the one-year anniversary of the arrest of Ethiopia's Zone9 bloggers with this crowd-sourced this video of support. Say it with us: #FreeZone9Bloggers!
The Curious Chronology of Russian Twitter Bots
Multiple Twitter accounts were created on the same day, sometimes within hours of each other. This trend, typical for automated bot networks, was evident throughout Alexander's pro-Kremlin bot sample.
Social Media Becomes a Lifeline in the Nepal Earthquake Aftermath
A spontaneous global social network is now building data collection to provide key support to people back in Nepal and are calling for action.
A Response to the Kremlin-Bot Skeptics
After Alexander's bot network analysis garnered massive attention from Russian media and social networks, he now addresses some of the skepticism about the bot networks and their provenance.
“Take the Right Side in the Struggle of the Oppressed”: A Letter to John Kerry from Kilinto Prison, Ethiopia
In a letter to John Kerry, jailed Ethiopian blogger Natnael Feleke writes: "Because of the repressive regime, the Ethiopian constitution is powerless to protect citizens from being abused."
Guyana's Health Minister Assails Women's Activist, Says He Would ‘Slap Her Ass’
The Minister of Health's tirade against a women's rights activist raises questions about gender equality, human rights and the political status quo in Guyana.
Japanese University Turns a Blind Eye to the Plight of Campus Cats
Professor Charles Januzzi has worked for nearly 25 years to care and control the population of a stray cat colony on campus, but University of Fukui now says no more.
In Taiwan and on Facebook, the Nipple is Not Yet Free
"Before we label it as "indecent" and "obscene", a body is just a body, a part of the human self." Taiwanese women speak up for the #FreeTheNipple campaign.
Kenyan Lives Matter, African Students Say at Garissa Vigil in Beijing
A group of African students in Beijing organized a vigil to honor the 147 victims of the Garissa attack. China has little tolerance for shows of public sentiment, even grief.
‘Anonymous International’ Wants You to Think the Kremlin Can Hide Nothing
'Anonymous International' continues to leak confidential government correspondence in Russia, while the group's methods and motivations remain shrouded in mystery.
Bangladeshis Stand Up to Sexual Violence Following New Year's Assaults
Netizens have used social media to try to identify the assailants, who were captured on film in the act. Meanwhile, social media is brimming with protests against sexual violence.
Syrian Blogger Stabbed in His Istanbul Home After Receiving Threats Online
Threatened online by different Syrian factions, Global Voices author Asaad Hanna was last night stabbed four times in his home in Istanbul, Turkey. He is now recovering.
The 7th Summit of the Americas in 35 Tweets
Global Voices collects 35 tweets by representatives of the 35 countries that participated in the 7th Summit of the Americas, held in Panama.
How Blogging is Held Hostage by Ethiopian Politics
"Why is there just a single—and poorly functioning—Internet service provider for Ethiopia’s 90 million people? We know better than to ask this of public officials."
France Launchs National Campaign to Curb Racist and Anti-Semitic Acts
On April 17, the French government unveiled a national campaign to combat racism and anti-Semitism in France. The objective of the campaign is to fight all prejudices, raise awareness and get citizens engaged in the conversation. One hundred euros will be allocated over three years to educate and promote cultural diversity. The...
Japan's ‘Vagina Artist’ Denies Obscenity Charges
Japanese artist Megumi Igarashi, nicknamed "The Vagina Artist" by the Western media, says there's nothing obscene about artwork based on her genitalia.
Liberland, the Balkans’ Newest Micronation, Is Looking for Citizens
To apply for citizenship, just send an email with a photo ID and cover letter. But will Liberland, set between Croatia and Serbia, really become Europe's third smallest microstate?
How Do Madagascar's People Get By on So Little? With Lots of Ingenuity
"Ady Gasy", a documentary by rising filmmaker Lova Nantenaina, portrays the resourcefulness of Madagascar's people to overcome their daily struggles.
Mocking Ecuador’s President Can Cost You Online Anonymity
After sending a threatening gift of flowers and exposing the individuals behind Crudo Ecuador, however, the Internet satirists surrendered, using the hashtag #UstedGanó (#YouWon).
