Stories about Digital Activism from July, 2013
Saudi Families of Detainees Mark ‘Third Detainees Day’
Families of Saudi detainees marked the Third Detainees Day to protest the arbitrary detention of their loved ones. Saudi Arabia is one of the few remaining absolute monarchies in the world and has a devastating human rights record which includes arbitrarily detaining over 30,000 people.
Why Can't Madagascar Settle on an Election Date?
Four years since a military takeover plunged the country into political crisis, Madagascar has pushed presidential elections back again and again. What's the hold up, and who's benefiting from the repeated delays?
Mozambique: Tax Justice Campaign
Between 2003 and 2011, tax incentives given by the Mozambican government to mega-projects in the country have cost around 163,701,400 US dollars each year to the public coffers, Action Aid Mozambique reports on its recently launched Tax Justice campaign [pt].
Bosnian Lawmakers Fail to Meet ‘Babylution’ Protest Demands
Bosnia-Herzegovina's parliament has missed the July 1 deadline set by angry protesters demanding members fix a lapse in the country's law that is preventing newborns from being given an identity number and, by extension, travel papers and healthcare.
Japan: Winny Developer Dies at 42
Isamu Kaneko, the Japanese developer of file-sharing software Winny, died due to an undisclosed illness on July 8, 2013 at the age of 42. He was charged in 2006 with “assisting” Winny users to violate copyright, but the case against him was later overturned and his acquittal upheld by the country's Supreme...
Chinese Social Media Users are Rumor-Happy, Low-Educated, Report Says
A new report from the state-run Chinese Academy of Social Sciences that labels social media in China as a rumor mill and social media users in China as having low levels of education and income is raising alarm among netizens.
Operation Djakpata divides Opinion in Benin
Launched by the Ministry of the Interior, Public Security and Religion, Operation Djakpata has for objective the tracking of all criminals engaged in illegal activities which could disturb the peace of mind of the Benin people. However, for the past few days, public opinion of this project has been extremely divided.
Protests Erupt in South Korea Over Spy Agency's Electioneering
Protests have continued for several weeks in South Korea against the state secret agency’s electioneering. Nine agents from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) created hundreds of Internet IDs and wrote more than 5,000 posts on the Internet and used some of them to attack domestic opposition parties and their candidates ahead of South Korea’s presidential election last December.
How Edward Snowden Divides Russians
When Edward Snowden left Hong Kong for Moscow, it placed Russia at the center of what had primarily been an American story. For Russians, his prolonged stay in Sheremetyevo has turned the question of what should be done with him from academic to practical, as his fate now rests largely in Russia's hands.
The Bahamas: Equality is for Everyone
The Bahamas’ Attorney General recently proposed that the country's Constitution be amended to end all forms of discrimination – except discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Blogworld explains why she has a problem with that.
The Day Russia's Libraries Stood Still
On July 2, 2013 three of Russia's popular online libraries blocked user access to their websites and collections as a way to protest a new law aimed at combating internet piracy: "On their side is money, power and congenital brain failure. On ours -- technology, science and the aspirations of millions of people."
Electioneering Protests in South Korea
Spearheaded by students at major universities in South Korea, protests against the National Intelligence Service's electioneering have continued over two weeks. Several photos of last week's protest in Seoul and protest photos of Korean community in the United States have been shared online.
Roberto Beličanec, Macedonian Media Expert and Vocal Activist, Dies
Macedonian media expert, activist and blogger Roberto Beličanec died of heart attack on June 29 at the age of 41. Beličanec was one of the few remaining publicly vocal proponents of liberty and human rights in Macedonia, with a large social media following as a result of his courage to openly speak against the misuse of power, against corruption, censorship, and hate speech.
