Stories about Digital Activism from March, 2010
Russia: “Battle for Khimki Forest”
A detailed account of the ongoing “battle for Khimki Forest” – by Yevgeniya Chirikova at OpenDemocracy.net: “The plan to construct a section of the new Moscow-St.Petersburg motorway through the legally-protected Khimki Forest Park will destroy a rare eco-system. Dogged local resistance has turned this into a national, even international issue....
Russia: Andrei Loshak's Text on Corruption
Andrei Loshak's much-discussed text about corruption and “the normal functioning of an irrational system” in Russia has been translated into English by OpenDemocracy.net (the Russian-language original is at OpenSpace.ru).
Armenia: Women
Emily Haas’ Armenian Experience, a blog by a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) in the former Soviet republic, post photographs and an insight into the lives of women in Armenia. The blog says that the project is to “show how hard the women in Armenia work and the important and overlooked...
Cuba: Peace Prize Nominee
Uncommon Sense confirms that Cuban dissident leader Oswaldo Payá has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, saying, “There should be little doubt that if he were to be named this year's recipient, it would elevate his status and that of the entire dissident movement on the island. And it...
China: Verdict postponed in Fujian netizen trial
A verdict expected this morning in a case which has seen three netizens in Fujian province held in custody for nine months was quickly postponed pending yet further investigation. Following the decision, locals gathered outside the courthouse had minor scuffles with police while netizens having traveled there from around the country reported.
Belarus: Blogger Attempts to Run Internet Election Campaign
Information Policy writes about a Belarusian blogger's failed attempt to run for Minsk city council, the use of internet in his campaign – and the new internet regulations that might soon be introduced in Belarus: “Lipkovich noted that his video interview in which he had announces his intention to step...
Ukraine: Fundraising Effort to Help Street Children
Scenes from the Sidewalk announces – here and here – a fundraising effort for CrossRoads Foundation: “If you want to be a part of a group of people who are doing amazing work with street and at risk children in Ukraine, please consider helping us raise money.”
Iran: Opposition leader used You Tube for New Year Message
Mir-Hussein Mousavi, one of Iranian opposition leader, and his wife, Zahra Rahnavard, used You Tube to deliver his new year,Noruz, message. He called Iranian people will face very difficult economic situation next year and country has been very isolated in international community. He praised “Green Movement” [Iranian opposition movement] and...
Russia: Blogger Criticizes National Post Service
Blogger cyxoupshk published a video (RU with English subs) address criticizing Russian post service. The video is provoked by increasingly bad quality of service as well as recent DHL's shipping suspension.
Bahamas: Natural Energy?
Bahama Pundit‘s Larry Smith wonders whether natural gas can solve the country's power problem.
Bermuda: Coming to Term
Bermudian bloggers comment on term limits. Politics.bm: “The requirement to prove Bermuda status for entry is draconian and unnecessary…”; Vexed Bermoothes: “I believe that term limits are very dangerous, particularly combined with all the other mixed messages sent by this Government towards international business.”
Iranian women's rights website wins RSF online freedom award
Reporters without Borders and Google have awarded Iranian women's rights website We-change with a "Netizen Prize" for their work in defense of freedom of expression.
Trinidad & Tobago: Issues with the Academy
KnowTnT.com links to “a report entitled The Tragedy & The Hidden History of NAPA” and comments: “I'm hoping that the accusations are fully investigated and that, if they are true, that the powers that be are stung into changing their reprehensible treatment of our artists.
Trinidad & Tobago: Green Fund Gives Green Light
Trinidad and Tobago's environmental Green Fund is supporting two worthwhile projects – a reafforestation initiative and a plastic recycling drive. Greenlight Network has the details.
Cuba: Surviving the Deluge
“A deluge of events is falling on Cuba”: Generation Y explains.
Russia: TV Star Calls For Young Talents Online Project
A famous TV host published a blog post where she called for creating an online initiative that would support young talents from remote regions of the country.
Russia: Anti-Putin Internet Petition
Window on Eurasia reports: “The Internet petition campaign launched last week calling for the Vladimir Putin’s departure from office not only has already collected some 7500 signatories but nearly 80 percent of these have given their names, their professions and their place of residence, thus opening a window onto the...
Poland: Put a smile on a child's face – it's easy!
Tomek and Weronika have always been keen volunteers, despite their young age. Last year, they started Dream Mail, a charity campaign that promotes writing letters and postcards to seriously ill children.
U.K.: Fight to Keep Children Out of Immigration Detention Centres
Late last year a group of U.K. citizens launched a campaign to end the detention of children and babies by immigration authorities. Now they're sharing the stories of two of the detained youth.
Russia: Video of Directed Voting
Political analyst Alexander Kynev posted a video where students of a local college vote preliminarily in the city of Ivanovo. The video shows one of the most popular fraud techniques in modern Russia: directed preliminary vote that gives 10-15% for the ruling party. The students are either forced or paid...
Serbia: Belgrade's Trees Fall Victim to “Chain Saw Massacre”
Belgrade city authorities are in the process of cutting down some 400 plane trees that were planted on Belgrade's longest street in the 19th century. Sinisa Boljanovic reports on the ongoing protest against what is now known as the "Belgrade Chain Saw Massacre."
