Stories about Digital Activism from May, 2009
Fiji: Police detain, seize laptops of three suspected bloggers
Police in Fiji detained three local lawyers and seized their laptops, supposedly because of a possible connection to a popular anti-government blog. The lawyers, Richard Naidu, Jon Apted and Tevita Fa were taken into custody Tuesday, May 19, held for a few hours and then released
Pakistan: A Humanitarian Crisis
Pakistan has been hit by a severe humanitarian crisis as a result of the military onslaught against the Taliban insurgency in the Swat Valley. Over one million people have fled their homes from various areas in the Malakand division and FATA including Buner, Dir and Swat. A massive relief effort has been launched by many organizations and individuals and the Pakistani Blogosphere is also taking a leading role to seek help for the IDPs.
Jamaica: Discussing Human Rights
“Traditionally, the discussion of human rights in Jamaica has been conducted in what may be considered ‘the privileged voice'”: Raw Politics…Jamaica Style! questions the value of this norm.
Bermuda, Cayman Islands: Referendum
Bermudian bloggers Vexed Bermoothes and Catch a fire are paying attention to the Cayman Islands’ recently-concluded elections and citizens’ participation in a referendum vote on the country's new constitution.
Jamaica: The Ananda Alert
Jamaica's Yardflex.com finally sees “a glimmer of light on the horizon when it comes to the protection of our children.”
Iran: In presidential race, ex-revolutionary guard leader uses internet least
Former leader of the Revolutionary Guard in Iran, Mohsen Rezai, was among the lucky four candidates selected by the Council of Guardians to run in the presidential elections on June 12. Rezai's digital campaign is lightweight compared to that of his three rivals, but he has listed the names of bloggers who support him on his campaign website.
Iran: An award for a blogger
Potkin Azarmehr,was awarded the Cutting Edge Breakaway Prize for New Talent at the Next Century Foundation’s annual International Media Awards on 11th of May.
Taiwan: LiveCast and music for saving rural livelihood
Citizen journalists, activists and artists use different forms of media - LiveCast, written reports and musics- to save rural livelihood and Taiwan's agriculture from destructive government rural policies.
Madagascar: Protester Freed, Journalists Demonstrate Against Censorship
The Malagasy online community was relieved to hear the news that Razily, a protester who was arrested in late March, was seen in public and he seems well and about. While much is still unknown about the circumstances of Razily's release, many bloggers hope that this event signifies the beginning of a return to normalcy with respect to the conduct of the country's security forces.
Saudi Arabia: Tweetup Planned for June 4
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is gearing up for its second Tweetup, which aims to bring together people located in the Saudi capital who use Twitter to socialise and meet face to face. The segregated event, will be held on June 4, from 8.30pm to 10pm. More details are available here.
Cuba: Blossoming Blogosphere
“A lot has changed in the ‘Made in Cuba’ blogosphere,” reports Generation Y, for whom there is “no greater happiness than to see the rise of so many plural, different and free spaces.”
Dominica: Brain Drain
“When are we going to realize that knowledge is a wealth-creating asset to our country’s development?”: Dominica Weekly is concerned about the island's brain drain.
Jamaica: Big Money?
“It is a sign of the times, showing how Jamaica’s economy is suffering, devalued you could say”: Jamaica Salt says that the country's new 5,000 dollar bank note is “not much to celebrate”.
Cuba, U.S.A.: In Solidarity
Blog for Cuba and El Cafe Cubano support Cuba Solidarity Day.
Jamaica: Thief!
“Some police, no wonder why the crime rate in Jamaica is so high. When you call them you can't get an answer and when they do finally arrive…they are basically of no use”: Stunner recounts the details of an attempted robbery.
Myanmar: Facebook campaign for Aung San Suu Kyi
A Facebook page was created by pro-democracy activists who are demanding the release of democracy icon and Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Almost 50,000 people have registered their support in the website.
Macedonia: Seasoned Journalist Talks About New Media
NGO New Media Center provided a video recording of the presentation entitled “New Media Vs. Old Media” given by retired Time journalist Barry Hillenbrand on May 5, 2009, at American Corner in City Library “Braka Miladinovci” in Skopje [MKD], Macedonia. The video is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Bahrain: Activism Widget Generator Launched
Mideast Youth has launched a widget generator to raise awareness on imprisoned bloggers, journalists and activists. “Setting up campaigns is not an easy task if you don’t have the right tools. There was one tool that we at Mideast Youth always felt was missing, and that was the ability to...
Trinidad & Tobago: Why the Enquiry?
Trinidad & Tobago diaspora blogger Jumbie's Watch has his eye on developments with the Commission of Enquiry into the local construction sector, and fears that nothing with come from its findings: “Why then are we spending millions of dollars for this enquiry? Is the report to be used in place...
Guyana, Cuba: Day Against Homophobia
“What did it mean that there were no openly lesbian women where I lived in Guyana, a little over 20 years ago?” asks Signifyin’ Guyana, as she acknowledges the recent International Day Against Homophobia; Repeating Islands, meanwhile, notes that the occasion was recognized in Havana.
Egypt: Stop the Culling of Pigs Petition Launched
Egyptian Leftist is urging his readers to sign a petition to “stop the senseless slaughter of Egypt's pigs,” following the government's decision to cull more than 300,000 pigs in the wake of the H1N1 Swine Flu paranoia. So far more than 900 people signed the petition which aims to target...
