· May, 2013

Stories about Digital Activism from May, 2013

Media's Too Simple View of Japan LGBT

  15 May 2013

Blogger and activist Masaki C. has something to say about English media coverage of LGBT politics in Japan, arguing that they simplify the issue down to marriage equality: They are, in constructing LGBT politics in Japan as such, erasing local history and ignoring dialogues taking place among queers in Japan.

Is Ukrainian Right-Wing Blogger Eligible for the Bobs 2013 Award?

Ukraine was having a trouble-free debut at this year's The Bobs, Deutsche Welle's international blogger contest, until blogger Olena Bilozerska became the User Winner in the Best Blog Ukrainian nomination. Her victory turned sour and a scandal ensued when the Ukrainian netizens alerted the contest's organizers to her blog's ultra-right content. Oleg Shynkarenko reports.

Anonymous Hacks North Korea Again

  13 May 2013

Hacker collective Anonymous appears to have launched another round of attacks on major North Korean websites over the weekend. A guideline on targets and tools of ‘Operation North Korea Second Project’ was shared via Pastebin, North Korea tech explains in detail.

Ukraine's Freedom Party Crusades Against Gay Pride Parade

On May 25, Ukraine will once again attempt to hold its first gay pride parade ever. The previous attempt failed a year ago, when the event was cancelled shortly before it was to begin and one of its organizers was beaten by a group of masked men. Judging from the online reactions that began to appear as soon as the upcoming Equality March was announced, things may not go very smoothly this year as well.

Mapping the Cuban Blogosphere

  11 May 2013

Blogger Yasmín S. Portales comments on the challenges of mapping the Cuban blogosphere, including everything and anything written in blogs. This is her most recent project: A directory is a map: you have the swamps of glorious battles swamps and the mountains of infamy. You include it all, or it's...

South Korean President's Spokesman Fired

  10 May 2013

South Korean President's press spokesman Yoon Chang-joong was relieved of his duty over allegation that he sexually assaulted a 21-year-old intern during President Park's visit to the United States which he accompanied. A community website for Korean women living in the U.S, Missy USA, first revealed the case and a screen...

Haiti: The “White Savior Industrial Complex”

  10 May 2013

kiskeácity links to a letter which “echoes many of the issues Haitians face with the White Savior Industrial Complex…and its army of 3,000 NGOs, 12,000 UN troops, innumerable speakers for Haiti, appropriators of Haiti's ancestral religion, culture and music and other so-called ‘allies’ who silence Haitians for a profit while...

Conservative Pundit Sues South Korea's Saturday Night Live TV Show

  9 May 2013

Political satire in South Korea is having a rough go of it these days. The country's version of American comedy show Saturday Night Live faces a lawsuit filed by a conservative pundit who was lampooned on the program. And earlier this year, the wildly popular sketch-comedy show Gag Concert was reprimanded by authorities for addressing the South Korean president in too casual a manner.

Watchdog Social Media Monitor Pakistan's Historic Elections

  9 May 2013

As Pakistan nears its first democratic transition of power with the country's historic elections only days away, social media is empowering Pakistanis to take a more active role in the vote. We take a look at two new platforms that are monitoring elections and raising awareness through social media: Pak Votes and Pak Voter.

Crowdsourcing a Fair Election in Bulgaria

In less than five days, on May 12, Bulgarian citizens will elect a new parliament. There are doubts, however, about the fairness of the upcoming vote. To help monitor the violations of the electoral process, Bulgarian activists have created several online tools. Ruslan Trad reports.

Turf War Brewing in Brazil Over Corruption Investigations

  7 May 2013

On the heels of a landmark corruption case in Brazil that saw former members of ex-President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's government convicted of participating in a vote-buying scheme, a proposed constitutional amendment in Brazil would hand over much of the investigative powers of the public prosecutors' office, which prosecuted that case, to police.