Stories about Digital Activism from June, 2012
Pakistan: Video Leak Sends Shock Waves Across The Country
A leaked video showing popular anchorpersons Mehar Bokhari and Mubashar Lucman involved in a set-up interview has sent shock waves across the Pakistani media industry and the citizens, triggering a debate on the credibility of the journalists.
Russia: Crowdsourcing Project for Finding Missing Children
The emergence of the search and rescue team Liza Alert followed Liza Fomkina's 2010 disappearance in the town of Orekhovo-Zuevo (about 50 miles east of Moscow). Compensating for the government's flawed response, volunteers united in order to ensure nothing like it would ever happen again.
Panama: A Country For Sale
Panama is for sale: or at least that is how a large group of Panamanians see the situation after watching with indignation how President Ricardo Martinelli's government is aiming to liquidate a large portion of state assets. The outrage of the Panamanian people can be seen both in the streets and on social networks.
Trinidad & Tobago: Speaking Out Against Sexual Abuse
The case of a 12-year old girl, who recently gave birth to her stepfather's child in Guyana, gets Outlish talking about feminism, education and the everyday reality of women in the Caribbean, while journalist and blogger Lisa Allen-Agostini says it is time to speak out about child sexual abuse.
Cuba: Two Protests, Many Arrests
The Ladies in White (Las Damas de Blanco) are again top of mind with Cuban diaspora bloggers. As one of the oldest and most respected opposition entities on the island, their peaceful protests - and regular arrests by state security forces - continue to attract attention. The most recent confrontation happened this past weekend as members of the group attempted to carry out two protests in Havana.
Algeria: Twitter Protest Against the State of Education
Algerians on Twitter staged a protest against the state of education in their country, with Aboubakr Benbouzid, the Minister of Education, serving as a focal point. Borrowing from the slogan "Ben Ali dégage" (Ben Ali get out) made famous by the Tunisian revolution last year, they adopted the hashtag #BenbouzidDégage.
Togo: Violent Police Clash With ‘Save Togo’ Protesters
A peaceful march by the 'Save Togo' collective on June 12 degenerated into a stand off with security forces and around 120 injuries were recorded. Amongst other things, the protesters are calling for the implementation of recommendations relating to torture and wide ranging constitutional change. Other demonstrations are scheduled for the coming week.
Ukraine: Obstacles to Having a Visa-Free Regime With the EU
On Causes.com, “Make Europe visa-free for Ukrainians” now has 970 members. Odessablogger explains what some of the obstacles to a visa-free regime are: “The 2015 goal for visa-free with the EU, set by the Ukrainian government, looks likely to be 2017 due to its own inability to legislate for biometrics...
Mauritania: Security Forces Break Up March, Arrest Activists
Coordinators of the youth opposition organised a demonstration held after Friday prayers on May 18, which saw opposition protestors leave the Saudi Mosque in the capital Nouakchott in a march headed towards the Ministry of Interior. The demonstration was forcefully suppressed by security forces using tear gas.
Togo: Protests for Human Rights Repressed with Violence
The Association “Collectif Sauvons le Togo (Save Togo) ” published images and videos of violence following marching protests [fr] for Human Rights and Democracy in Lome, Capital City of Togo on June 12 and 13. Hundred of protesters were injured [fr] and dozens were arrested [fr].
Egypt: Ikhwan Twitter Account Hacked
Zeinobia, at Egyptian Chronicles, discusses last month's hacking of the Muslim Brotherhood English website's Twitter account here.
Spain: 15M Presents Legal Complaint Against Bankia
The 15M has presented a legal complaint before the National Audience against commercial fraud committed by Bankia executives. Social media have played a key role in the campaign.
Bulgaria: Protests Against Forest Act in Sofia
For two days, June 13 and 14, Bulgaria's capital Sofia was blocked due to the unsanctioned protests against the modification of the vague Forest Act. The third rally is scheduled to take place today. Ruslan Trad reports.
Cuba: Bloggers say there are more like “Antunez”
Diaspora bloggers still have their attention focused on Cuban dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez (Antunez), who was reportedly beaten and detained following his testimony at a United States Senate sub-committee hearing concerned with infringements on the human rights of Cuban citizens.
Egypt: Right to Housing initiative
Egyptian blogger and urbanism researcher Yahia Shawkat, in association with Mosireen, a citizen-journalism collective, and the Arab Digital Expression Foundation, ADEF have recently launched the “Right to Housing, a Socially Just and Sustainable Built Environment” initiative. This video, subtitled in English, entitled “No sir these are self-built communities” is the first episode...
Mozambique: NGO Launches “Corporate Interests” Transparency Platform
Mozambican NGO Centro de Integridade Pública (Public Integrity Center) [pt] released on June 12, 2012, the transparency database Interesses Empresariais (Corporate Interests) [pt]. This participatory platform aims to make the profiles of corporations and public figures more accessible, as well as to show their connections with the so-called Nomenklatura and national...
Indonesia: Sumatra Deforestation Mapping Tool
There is a new mapping tool that documents the disturbing loss of forest cover in Sumatra Island in Indonesia. Sumatra, one of the largest islands in the world, is known to be the only place where elephants, rhinos, tigers and orangutans coexist. The online map also provides valuable information about the island's rich biodiversity
Portugal: Cartoon Satirizes Merkel's Influence on Upcoming Greek Elections
A cartoon of German Chancellor Angela Merkel as the Uncle Sam of Europe, with her finger pointed saying “I respect your right to vote, as long as you vote right”, is the way Portuguese ‘guerrilla’ designer Gui Castro Felga [pt] addresses the upcoming Greek elections on June 17. She wonders...
Africa: Improving Governance and Accountability with New Media
L. Abena Annan speaks with Kwami Ahiabenu,II from African Elections Project about the impact of new media technologies in coverage of elections in Africa. African Elections Project enhances the ability of journalists, citizen journalists and the news media to use new media tools to monitor and cover elections.
Cuba: Bloggers Rally Around Beaten Dissident
Bloggers from the Cuban diaspora are concerned about the reported beating and detainment of dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez, more popularly known as Antunez, after he testified via teleconference at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing about the human rights situation on the island.
Brazil: Satirical Blog ‘Falha’ Summarizes Censorship Case in Video
Brazilian journalist Lino Bocchini recorded [pt] a 2 minute video that summarizes the case of the satirical blog Falha de São Paulo. Falha was censored and sued by the newspaper Folha de São Paulo in 2010. Global Voices published an update on the story in May, 2012.