Stories about Digital Activism from September, 2012
Portugal: Massive Protest Against Troika Sparks Momentum
The biggest demonstration of recent decades in Portugal took place on September 15, under the anti-austerity motto 'Screw the troika! We want our lives'. Nearly one million people took to the streets to protest against the government.
Ukraine: “Ashes of Freedom of Speech”
A few hundred people gathered at Kyiv's Independence Square on Sept. 16 to honor the memory of Georgiy Gongadze, a Ukrainian journalist who disappeared on this day 12 years ago, and of more than 60 other journalists who lost their lives in the years since Ukraine gained independence in 1991.
Russia: Forecasts for the Protest Movement's Elections
On October 20, the new "Central Elections Committee" will hold elections to select 45 individuals to form the first "Coordinating Council of the Russian Opposition." When this process is complete, the protest movement will have a representative body for the first time, providing a powerful institution that at last formalizes opposition leaders' legitimacy in Russian politics.
Portugal Protesting: “We Want Our Lives”
Before September 15's anti-austerity protest in Portugal titled 'Screw troika! We want our lives', high participation was expected, at least on social media. The austerity measures recently announced by the Prime Minister Passos Coelho seem to have given plenty of reasons for an increasingly broader section of the population to take to the streets.
Russia: Protest Movement Struggles with Keeping Itself Democratic
Maksim Martsinkevich, who goes by the nickname Tesak (Machete), gained notoriety on the RuNet between 2005 and 2007. A white-supremacist who later spent several years in prison for inciting ethnic and religious hatred, Tesak has returned to public life and is now trying to gain access to the protest movement's internal elections.
Argentina: Protesters Say “Enough” to Government's Policies
Responding to calls on social networks, on September 13 citizens attended mass demonstrations in different parts of the country to protest against the policies enacted by the current government of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
Maghreb, France: The Arc of Revolution is Long but It Bends towards Freedom
Had humanity obsessed itself with the potential pitfalls of every fight for emancipation and always analyze the events under the prism of one segment of society, we all will still be living under the old regime of monarchy. Faysal Riad argues that the revolution in France took almost a century [fr] to reach...
Chile: Reforesting Patagonia through Social Media
Reforest Patagonia has managed to plant 100,000 native-species trees thanks to its creative social media donation campaign, ”Create Your Own Forest.” […] Reforest Patagonia’s main campaigning tool is its online platform, i.e. its virtual forest, which lets individuals and companies plant trees in Patagonia thanks to a small contribution. Anna Heim from The...
Greece: Petition for Neo-Nazi ‘Golden Dawn’ Group Investigation
Twitter users are promoting an international petition to urge a full criminal investigation into the Golden Dawn party in Greece.
Internet Activa: Online Course for Digital Activists
From September 14, 2012 to February 15, 2013, the Karisma Foundation [es] (supported by Google Colombia and RedPaTodos [es]) will teach a free, open and digital course [es] “on civil liberties, digital rights, freedom of expression, collective financing for projects, among other topics.” Read more about the course on the Internet Activa (Active Internet) [es] website and follow them...
India: Koodankulam Nuclear Plant Starts Amidst Protests
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, India started operations recently despite protests to stall it. Police cracked down on some 8,000 people from nearby villages who assembled at the beach and stood in sea water to protest moves to load uranium fuel in one of the two reactors of the plant.
Belarus, Ukraine: No More Gratis UK Visas for Chernobyl Children?
According to this online petition, bringing Belarusian and Ukrainian children affected by the 1986 Chernobyl disaster to the UK for recuperative charity-sponsored visits will soon cost an additional £86 per child in visa fees.
Jordan: ‘Day of Mourning’ as Parliament Approves Internet Restrictions
Jordanian netizens held a mock funeral outside parliament today [Sept 12, 2012] to mourn the death of the freedom of the Internet. Inside parliament, MPs approved a new press and publications law, which will stifle freedom of speech.
Hollister Models Clown Koreans Via Twitter, Offending Asians
It is not the first time clothing brand Hollister went under fire for its racial gaffes. Recently, its male models tweeted several racial messages making fun of South Koreans, including photos of model posing with “Asian squinty eyes”. Korea Bang quoted a comment that read : People talk about how Hollister’s...
Mali: Mauritanian Preachers Killed by the Army
Mauritanians woke up on September 10, 2012, to the news of the killing of 16 members of Jamaat al Daawa wal Tabligh (Society for spreading faith), a movement active in spreading Islamic faith by the Malian army. Twelve of those killed are Mauritanian citizens. Ahmed Jedou compiled netizen reactions to the incident
‘Diversity Within the Unknown’, a Conservation Blog in Bolivia
Few media outlets- mainstream, alternative or citizen-lead-, pay careful attention, or devote themselves fully, to the subject of conservation in Bolivia. Diversidad entre Pendientes is a blog that offers direct contact with the Bolivian biodiversity, home to mountains and sub-tropical valleys. The blog's author, Mauricio Pacheco, spoke with Global Voices about his work, and the state of thematic blogs in Bolivia.
Cuba: For a Census in Which All Unions Count
As the National Census of People and Households approaches, activism on blogs and social networks has intensified after a supposed change in the instruction manual came to light: it appears as though same sex unions were originally to be included, but this later changed. Now the question revolves around why it was eliminated.
Tunisia: Not a Twitter Revolution?
On Tunisian blogging portal Nawaat, Christopher Barrie writes: It is surely not unreasonable to argue that the 2011 revolution which followed this period of unrest could well have happened in the absence of new media. … It is therefore clear that the existence of Twitter was not a decisive element...
Iran: “Soldiers of Islam” Hack Cartoonist's Facebook Page
The Facebook page of a leading Iranian leading cartoonist, Mana Nayestani, was hacked on Tuesday, 11 September 2012, by pro-regime hackers who call themselves “Soldiers of Islam”.
Egypt: Teenager Confronts Militarization of Schools
As criticism of the military institution grows in Egypt, a young man takes a brave step to confront military interference in the education system. Ahmed Awadalla speaks to Ahmed Hassan, who has stood against the militarization of schools.
