Stories about Digital Activism from November, 2013
Jamaica: Abuse of Police Power
If the police involved…are allowed to go unpunished aren’t you sending a message to other cops with no respect for human rights, especially the rights of the poor, that they have a license to behave like this? Active Voice issues a plea to Jamaica's police commissioner after two teens were...
Ukraine Suspends EU Deal, Protesters Fill Kyiv's Independence Square
On the eve of their Orange Revolution anniversary, Ukrainian citizens take to the streets to protest a suspended EU deal that would help their country grow closer to the West.
Japan's Open Data Policy Still Needs Work
Even though the Japanese government is working toward advancing its open data policy, the country has a ways to go, ranking 30th out of 70 countries, according to an index compiled by Open Knowledge Foundation. Masahiko Shoji of Open Knowledge Foundation Japan writes: 日本は、政府支出、企業登記情報、交通時刻表、立法の分野で低い評価を受けました。また、どの項目もオープンライセンスの採用については「Yes」の評価を得ませんでした。これらの課題は６月に発表されたG8諸国における速報の時点と同じであり、日本の取り組みが大きくが進んでいないことを表しています。 Japan's open data on government spending, company register,...
Exposing the Invisible: Video Profiles of Info-Activists
A new multimedia project called Exposing the Invisible tells the stories of activists, hackers and journalists who work “at the new frontiers of investigation.” Through short films and text, the digital project by Tactical Technology Collective explores the missions of these experts and the tools they use to carry out...
“Catalan Independence” Explained in 16 Languages
The debut video of The Catalan Project (@Catalan_Project) features Fernando de Castro, “a Catalan from Galicia and Spanish”, presenting the project and explaining why some Catalans want independence from Spain using the 16 languages he is able to speak. Subtitles are available in English, French, German, Spanish and Catalan. The Catalan Project, an...
‘Japanese Banksy’ Bashes Nuclear Industry With Street Art
Anonymous Japanese street artist 281_Anti Nuke takes inspiration from his British counterpart Banksy to take on Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of the crippled nuclear plant in Fukushima prefecture. You can see more of 281_Anti Nuke's works on his website.
Iran:Eight Netizens got Arrested
Iranian authorities announced that eight netizens including one woman were arrested in Rafsanjan,in Kerman Province, on charges of “insulting Islamic sanctities and values”.
PHOTOS: Voters Turn Out in Droves for Nepal's Constituent Assembly Elections
A record 70 percent turnout was recorded in Nepal's first post-monarchy elections. Will this assembly accomplish what the last could not and draft a constitution?
“Underground” Newspaper Launched in Mozambique
A new “underground” newspaper called “Vigilant Citizen”, launched in Mozambique on the eve of elections, is being shared in .PDF by the blog Moçambique para Todos [pt]. Its cover carries the iconic image of protesters with the poster “Who keeps voting for these guys?”
South Koreans in US Hold Candlelight Vigil Over Spy Agency Scandal
South Koreans living in the United States held a candlelight vigil in Times Square, New York, denouncing the state spy agency's interference with the latest presidential election. @Metempirics posted photos and a video clip of the protest.
#BlogsNi: Nicaraguan Blog Carnival Focuses on Identity
Nicaraguan bloggers will be sharing their ideas and reflections about identity [es] throughout November 2013: #BlogsNi ha llegado, todos y todas están invitados. Textos, imágenes, vídeos, audio y todo, todo en tu blog. — Néstor Arce (@NestorArce) November 7, 2013 #BlogsNi is here, everyone is invited. Text, images, videos, audio...
Croatian Activists Protest Concert of Nationalist Rock Band in Zagreb
These signs were placed on the Hall of Sports in Zagreb by Croatian activists just days before Thompson, a Croatian rock band, held their concert there on Saturday, November 16. The band bears its name after the nickname of their lead singer, Marko Perković, received during service in the military...
Chileans Abroad Hold Symbolic Vote with Surprising Results
Results show a surprising difference with the forecasts made by pollsters, which placed Michelle Bachelet as the winner and Evelyn Matthei in second place.
Online Magazine Publishes Leaked Emails of Serbian Government Agency
Online magazine Balkanist was among several media to receive over 300 leaked emails from the Investment and Export Promotion Agency of the Republic of Serbia (SIEPA) that allegedly reveal corruption, nepotism, misappropriation of Agency funds and several other malpractices of the government agency's top officials and employees. SIEPA Director Božidar...
Waiting for Freedom of the Press in Bulgaria
Bulgaria has been rated as having the least media freedom in the EU. During a time of political turmoil in the country, Bulgarians are turning to new media tools.
Anonymous Hacks Ukraine's Customs Services, Leaks Documents
Watcher.Com.Ua reports [uk] that hackers representing themselves as members of the Anonymous group have hacked into one of the servers of Ukraine's customs officials, leaking a number of documents pertaining to the operations of Danube and Black Sea marine customs. In particular, the group stated [en] the following: Inside you...
Polish Right-Wing Nationalists Hijack Country's Independence Day
Poland's National Independence Day, traditionally celebrated on November 11, ended in violence this year during a march organized by a nationalist movement. Police detained around a dozen individuals.
How You Can Help Philippine Typhoon Victims
Thousands are dead in the Philippines and millions are homeless because of a super typhoon which hit the country last week. Here are some ways you can help.
Russia's Potemkin Hospitals?
Are modern hospitals shown on television fakes rolled out to bamboozle VIPs like Prime Minister Medvedev?
South Koreans Furious Over Never-Ending Crappy Soap Opera
Although K-drama (South Korean soap opera) seems doing well internationally, South Koreans’ discontent and complaints on its repeated patterns and cliched scenarios and characters are bubbling under. Recently, as major network TV, KBS decided to extend a poorly-written soap opera ‘Princess Aurora’ which many call an ‘insult to viewers’ intelligence’,...
#ReformáÉsta: Daniel Ortega Looks to Reform Nicaragua's Constitution
Mildred Largaespada [es] from the blog 1001 Trópicos [es] writes that Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega “wants to reform the country's political constitution in order to be forever re-elected, among other issues in which he also wants absolute power.” In a post [es] dedicated to President Ortega, Mildred concludes: We don't...
