Stories about Digital Activism from July, 2012
Sudan: Blogger Recounts Three Days of Interrogation
“Take a good look at the window, this will be the last time you ever see the sun.” Sudanese blogger and Global Voices author Maha Elsanosi vividly describes her three days of interrogation at the National Intelligence and Security Services, after being arrested in Sudan.
Chile: Citizen Campaign Seeks to Eliminate Tax on Books
A citizen campaign to remove the value added tax ("IVA" for its initials in Spanish) on books in Chile has sparked an online debate. Netizens are sharing their views in favor and against the campaign through blogs, and on Twitter they are discussing the issue with the hashtag #LibrosSinIVA.
Brazil: Activists Support Civic Framework for Internet
Internet activists are discussing the civic framework (“marco civil”) for internet in Brazil, to be voted on National Congress today. Mega Yes Movement [pt] says the framework will establish fundamental rights online, and urges netizens to read [pt], tweet (#MarcoCivil), and petition about it. Mega Yes activists previously engaged on...
Tunisia: Online Platform to Monitor Police Abuse
Yezzi is an online Tunisian collaborative platform, which documents and reports police abuse and wrongdoings. For years, police corruption and abuse went unnoticed and unpunished in Tunisia. People would talk about it among themselves, but only few would dare speak up in public or resort to justice. Yezzi aims to change that.
Global Voices Podcast: Jambo from Kenya! The Global Voices Summit
What is the future of online citizen media? In this edition (and the next) you will hear from editors, authors, co-founders and other participants at the 2012 Global Voices Citizen Media Summit in Nairobi to discuss the future of how we all work together online.
Guyana: Being Black
Imran Khan addresses the issue of racism in Guyana, saying: “[It] has become a country in which one is privileged to be Indo-Guyanese and cursed to Afro-Guyanese. It is not just not ok to be black in Guyana, it is a condemnation to a life of less.”
Egypt: Mapping Military Staff in Civilian Administrations
Egyptian independent activists started the mapping initiative el3askarmap [ar] aimed at following what happens to military personnel after their retirement from the army. Very often those senior officers land at influential positions within various civilian administrations. The map is actually a database: zooming in provides details on every person and...
Cyprus: Official Opening Ceremony of EU Presidency
On July 1, 2012, Twitter users commented on the official opening ceremony of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council under the hashtag #cy2012eu. Meanwhile, Peter Spiegel tweeted a photo of a Turkish Cypriot protest poster reading “EU what are you doing ab[ou]t Turkish Cypriots?”. @EUCouncilPress offers a link to...
Jamaica: Pardon Garvey
Geoffrey Philp is a member of the diaspora agitating for the exoneration of Jamaican national hero, Marcus Garvey.
Cuba: Kiss-in for Diversity and Equality
The "Kiss-in for Diversity and Equality" held in Havana commemorated the anniversary of the Stonewall Inn Riots in New York in 1969, which sparked the civil rights movement in the LGBT community.
Philippines: ‘Save Bondoc Peninsula’ Campaign
Human rights advocates and various people’s organizations are using the internet to expose massive rights violation in Bondoc Peninsula, Quezon in northern Philippines. The social media campaign aims to pressure the military to pull out its troops in the province.
China: NIMBY Protest Escalated to Bloody in Western China
Protesters gathered in the small city of Shifang in Sichuan Province on Monday to voice opposition to a planned molybdenum copper plant. The protest finally evolved into a bloody clash between local residents and police force. Beijing Cream and Tea Leaf Nation have posted photos showing tearful and bloodied civilians...
China: Sparking the ‘Exile is Not Freedom’ Debate
Chen Guangcheng’s case has reopened a discussion about the pros and cons of exile. Will Chen lose support and influence if he leaves China? And will the Chinese government let him come back after flirting with the US?
Mexico: Student Movement #YoSoy132 Protests Election Results
Days after the presidential elections, supporters and members of the student movement #YoSoy132 continue using social networks to voice their concerns over the preliminary results. They have also taken to the streets to protest electoral fraud.
Syria: Defection of General Manaf Tlas A Blow to Assad
The news of Brigadier General Manaf Mustapha Tlas' defection causes a vocal reaction from supporters and the opposition in Syria's streets and on Facebook. Rami al-Hamis summarises the response for us
Mexicans Elect Their Next President
On July 1, Mexicans went to the polls to elect their next President. As soon as the polls opened, netizens began to share their thoughts and experiences. They also organized websites and hashtags to gather reports on fraud and other illegalities.
Watch the Global Voices Summit Live (Now!)
The 2012 Global Voices Summit has just opened in Nairobi, Kenya (July 2-3). We wish you could be with us there in person, but if you can't you can still watch the livestream and chat with the us.
Armenia: Military Doctor Dies after Oligarch MP Guard Beating
Unzipped updates its readers on the recent beating of three military doctors at a restaurant owned by one of Armenia's most infamous and controversial oligarch MPs. Following the death of one of the victims from his injuries, the blog posts a subtitled video detailing the attitude of Ruben Hayrapetyan, also...
