Stories about Digital Activism from July, 2010
Russia: Collection of Online Ideas
Blogger fritzmorgen published [RUS] a collection of ideas gathered from various Russian bloggers. Most interesting ideas include: Russian laws put into Wiki-like engine [RUS], several implementations of ‘Taxi 2.0′ idea (collaborative taxi service), hostels that travel with the travellers [RUS], etc.
Côte d'Ivoire:3 Journalists Including Théophile Kouamouo Arrested for Posting Classified Documents on Coffee and Cocoa
Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) reports that three journalists were arrested on July 13th in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire for publishing classified documents regarding coffee and cocoa production [Fr]. Among them is Théophile Kouamouo, the founder of Abidjan Blog Camps, a Rising Voices project grantee. Here is a petition to show support...
Cuba: Biscet Stays
“Oscar Elias Biscet, perhaps the best-known political prisoner in the Cuban gulag, has refused to take exile in Spain as a condition of his release from prison”: Uncommon Sense reports.
United Kingdom: Video Tagging to protest Nokia's Actions in Iran
Reverse the Wave is a blog by Ms.Deena DeNaro-Bickerstaffe, an artist who is “video tagging” public buildings with documentary footage from the Iranian election protests in 2009 to draw attention to Nokia's sale of technology used for surveillance by the Iranian government.
Costa Rica: The Power of Blogs
H3dicho from ticoblogger.com writes [es] about the power of blogs, ending with an analysis of blogging in Costa Rica: “In Costa Rica blogs have become so important that traditional media and the politicians that govern us are constantly monitoring what we write.”
Global: A Contest to Promote Youth-Driven Media in The Francophone Regions
Radio France International (RFI) has launched a contest, Mondoblog, that will short list 100 young francophone bloggers to become the “Ambassadors of their City on the web” [fr]. Registration will close on July 30th; aspiring bloggers who do not have easy access to ICT training are specifically encouraged to participate.
Cuba: Remembering the Massacre
Uncommon Sense remembers the '13 de marzo’ tugboat massacre.
Cuba: True Freedom
Uncommon Sense applauds the political prisoners who “refuse ‘freedom’ if it means having to leave Cuba” saying: “They are the ones who are truly free.”
Cuba: No Real Progress?
Blog for Cuba comments on a statement from the Vatican with regard to the “progress” taking place on the island: “I ask which of Cuba's repressive laws has been rescinded? None, absolutely none, and a maneuvered release and exile of dissidents is an old ploy used by the regime to...
Palestine: Workshops Inspire Bloggers in Gaza and West Bank
Recently the director of Global Voices Advocacy, Sami Ben Gharbia, gave a series of blogging workshops in Gaza and the West Bank. The workshops were organised by the Arabic Media Internet Network (AMIN), which is aiming to increase the number of bloggers in Palestinian society.
Russia: New political blogger community
A new LJ community – the association of political bloggers [RUS] has been founded in Russia, aiming to assist and facilitate cooperation among this variety of bloggers.
Trinidad & Tobago: Crying Wolf?
Jumbie's Watch says that some “draconian measures” are being proposed to combat crime in Trinidad and Tobago, adding: “No one supporting these measures think far enough ahead that the erosion of human rights for SOME really means an erosion of human rights for ALL.”
Cuba: The End of the Beginning
Even as Guillermo Farinas ends his hunger strike, another Cuban political prisoner begins his own.
Sudan: Activists abused, newspapers closed
Laura writes about the plight of activists in Sudan: “A tense two days fortunately ended with the release of three Sudanese activists detained and beaten by the notorious security forces in Khartoum this week.”
Brazil: Yellow Whistles Warn about Global Hunger
The 1 Billion Hungry campaign was officially launched in Brazil on July 1st. The purpose of this global initiative is to put pressure on politicians to combat hunger. Bloggers have started to debate hunger and to raise concerns on this subject, while trying to virtually catch the attention of audiences.
Cambodia: Decline of Monk Morality?
A monk in Cambodia was arrested for illegally taping a video of nude ladies in a monastery. The video was widely shared through mobile phones and the internet. There are also other reports of monks getting drunk and watching porn. Cambodian netizens react
Cuba: Ready for Release?
As news circulates of Cuba's intention to release 52 political prisoners, Guillermo Fariñas, who has gone on a hunger strike to protest the detainment of 25 prisoners of conscience that he says "the homeland needs as leaders", is reportedly close to death.
Barbados: Where is the Justice?
“Where is the outrage? Where is the accountability for the incompetent prosecutors and managers…?”: Barbados Free Press takes the justice system to task for its inadequate response to prosecuting child rapists.
Kuwait: My Blog is for Sale
As expected, news in a local newspaper that the Kuwaiti government is studying a proposal to monitor blogs did not go well with bloggers. One popular blogger decided to confront the news head on - announcing that his blog was for sale. Readers took the opportunity to vent.
Iraq: Layla Anwar marks Blogging Anniversary with War of Words
Iraqi blogger Layla Anwar writes about four years of blogging in this post entitled War of Words.
Lebanon: Three Arrested for Facebook Postings
Lebanese Naim George Hanna, 27, Antoine Youssef Ramya, 29, and Shebel Rajeh Qassab, 27, have been arrested for posting Facebook statuses against the Lebanese President Michel Suleiman. The Lebanese online community is outraged because of the invasion of their cyberspace and here are some of their reactions.
