Stories about Digital Activism from May, 2021
Colombians ‘save the evidence’ as they denounce social media censorship of protests
Different strategies have been created to preserve the record of ongoing protests and state violence, as well as of the content being censored on social media.
Trinidad and Tobago edges closer to amending its Equal Opportunity Act to include sexual orientation
Discussions about the need to amend Trinidad and Tobago's Equal Opportunity Act have reignited after one of the country's biggest banks made a major move towards diversity and inclusion.
Hacker group Anonymous leaks Colombia's police and army files amid protest crackdown
The police data leak was in retaliation for "aggressive and cruel repression to the demonstrations of popular and democratic power," a member of the Anonymous group told Global Voices.
Belarus grounds Ryanair flight, detains independent journalist amid regime's crackdown on media
Pratasevich was formerly an administrator of NEXTA-Live, the Telegram channel covering the anti-government protests in Belarus. He is currently editor-in-chief of Belarus Golovnogo Mozga, another independent media outlet.
People of Gaza take to social media to share days of horror and loss under Israeli fire
Of horror, pain, anger and resistance, Gazans wrote on social media about how they suffered from Israeli bombing, attempted to escape death or coexisted with it.
Istanbul mayor surprises users on live streaming platform Twitch
The first appearance on the platform of Ekrem İmamoğlu, Istanbul mayor and member of the main opposition Republican People's Party, coincided with a national holiday celebrating youth and sports.
Protecting its people and preserving democracy: Germany's pandemic predicament
Support for the government's response to the pandemic wavered by December 2020, as many Germans began to feel "mask-tired" and frustrated by a problematic vaccine rollout campaign.
Demolition of iconic dragon mosaic in Almaty stirs debate on urban art in Kazakhstan
The dragon, which used to adorn the façade of a Thai restaurant, was a landmark of Almaty’s city center.
A battle for information is sweeping Colombia amid nationwide protests
Journalists, K-Pop fans, and community radio stations fight to share information on the country's protests.
Several NGOs denounce censorship of Palestinian voices by tech companies
The NGOs' statement labelled as "improbable mistakes" the fact that Facebook reported two "technical issues" within 48 hours which they said targeted Palestinian users and "compromised Jerusalemites’ right to freedom of expression..."
Destruction of coastal forest for a major tourism project raises questions about Jamaica’s climate change posture
"A development of this nature is inappropriate for an area which has been afforded several levels of environmental protections, and is well recognised for its diverse and healthy coastal ecosystems."
A proposal by a Brazilian senator resurrects ideas of restrictive abortion law
A poll conducted at the Senate's page shows about 87 percent of Brazilians oppose Girão's bill, with more than 291,000 votes against the proposal versus 42,560 in favor
Using Clubhouse to counter Beijing-imposed amnesia: An interview with Ai Weiwei
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei continues to fight political censorship in China by using art, sound and social media to maintain the memory of the school victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
Women leaders discuss campaign for digital rights in Thailand
'...the government must learn to use technology as a tool to create more positive connections with the people on the ground, not using technology to oppress people.'
Russian feminist activist Yulia Tsvetkova announces hunger strike
Demanding a swift trial, Tsvetkova wrote: "Let’s stop waiting for people being persecuted to be heroes. We don’t need heroes. We need to prevent the persecution of the innocent."
#YoTeCreoVZLA: The movement that breaks the long silence on sexual abuse in Venezuela
A new wave of accusations has given rise to Venezuela's #MeToo movement.
