Stories about Digital Activism from February, 2016
Three Important Hashtags Muslim Women Used to Battle Islamophobia and Sexism
Increasingly, Muslim women are turning to Twitter to take on people who use them as pawns to justify misogyny, racism, imperialism, and militarism.
Remember When the Mayor of Port of Spain Promised to Resign for Victim-Shaming a Murdered Woman? He Doesn’t.
Port of Spain's mayor promised to step down after blaming a woman's murder on her choice to wear a bikini. Then he un-promised, refusing to leave office.
A Pakistani Artist Remembers Sabeen Mahmud and her Valentine's Day Campaign
According to one of activist Sabeen Mahmud's killers, her '"un-Islamic" Valentine's Day rally was "the sin she eventually paid for."
This Valentine's Day, a Crash Course in Thinking Critically About Love
Could Valentine's Day be a good date to think critically about love and its relationship with politics, social conventions, or even violence against women?
Malaysian Police Threaten Internet Users for Sharing Clown Memes of Prime Minister
"Public scrutiny is part of the democratic process that serves as the foundation of Malaysia. Satirical images and comments made against government official[s] should not be considered as a crime."
An LGBT Blog Is Suspended Over Mention of Cuba’s 1960s-Era Labor Camps
"I honestly hoped it was a technical glitch...I don't know how this 'defames the Revolution,' as the judgment issued to us says."
Kremlin Censor Finally Brings Down the Hammer on the RuNet’s Pluckiest Freedom Advocates
Government censors have blocked the website of Russian digital rights organization RosKomSvoboda for a page with instructions on how to circumvent online censorship and access blocked websites.
The YouTube Women: Delivering Hard-Hitting Digital Video Activism
"In Brazil at least, where we have a very communicative culture, it is [...] far easier to persuade someone to watch a video than to read an article."
Chinese Authorities Pressured a Bangladesh Art Summit Into Censoring a Tibet Exhibit
"The underlying threat to this message is: If you do not comply, we will cut economic ties or otherwise make it difficult for you."
Starved of National Media Coverage, Student Occupation Movement in Central Brazil Encounters Strong Police Response
There's been a slew of reports about threats and police violence in schools in the Brazilian state of Goiás, where high schoolers have occupied buildings since late last year.
Will Armenian Civil Society Remain Electric?
"Thanks to #ElectricYerevan we see there are other better possibilities. That was a first great step."
Twitter-Based Doodling Community Inspires Creativity Across Eastern and Central Europe
Dozens of artists and amateurs take part in a Twitter-based drawing initiative every week with the aim of bringing more fun and art to the Internet.
Malaysia's ‘Toxic’ Politics Are Similar to ‘Game of Thrones’, Says Prime Minister's Brother
"The future terrifies me: I just can't see how our institutions can recover, how our political atmosphere can become less toxic, how our international reputation can be repaired."
The Movement for Affordable and Accessible Sanitary Napkins in South Asia
In Bangladesh, India and Nepal, efforts are underway to provide women with a sanitary napkin they can afford in order to improve health and remove social stigmas attached to menstruation.
Netizen Report: From Egypt to Kenya to Venezuela, Online Political Speech Feels Riskier Than Ever
Social media activists face legal threats in Africa and Latin America, Malaysia blocks Medium over corruption coverage, and Saudi pulls back death sentence for Palestinian artist Ashraf Fayadh.
Kazakhstan's Requiem for the Tenge Drowns Out Upbeat President
"It seems it is time to start exporting organic fertiliser. This is a particularly promising direction, given we are now fairly deep in shit."
ISPs Take Kremlin to Court Over Online Surveillance
“We’ve found a couple of brave providers that are ready to come with us on a crusade against SORM,” announced Leonid Volkov, co-founder of the Society for Defending the Internet.
How to Train for Digital Literacy in Venezuela—When Internet Isn’t Always Available
What is it like to provide digital literacy workshops in countries with low Internet penetration? From Venezuela, Marianne Díaz shares her experience for the Global Voices Exchange project.
A Sexy Guide to Digital Security and Safer ‘Nudes’
The group Coding Rights says sexting can be a “pleasurable resistance to misogyny, conservatism, and heteronormavity,” but it's also seeking ways to protect people from forms of violence.
Spaniards Fired up Over Photo of Bullfighter With a Baby in His Arms
From "irresponsible" to "guardian of traditions": A photo of a popular matador fighting a heifer with his baby in his arms provokes a strong and mixed reaction in Spain.