Stories about Freedom of Speech from September, 2008
Macedonia: Fighting Corruption with Online Video
Razvigor ;-) links to two bloggers, Komunikacii [MKD] and Panta Rei [MKD], who published several video clips used by citizens to document abuse of power in one of the municipalities of Skopje.
Deaf Awareness Week: A different type of book signing.
Did you know that most deaf people who sign, consider sign language their first language and the written language as their second? I didn't, but thanks to the dozens of videos uploaded by members of the deaf community from all over the world, I've learned about this and many other things. International Deaf Awareness Week takes place during the last week of September, so I'll be showcasing different videos from or about the deaf communities around the world.
Saudi Arabia: Outcry Over Fatwa to Kill Satellite TV Owners
A prominent Saudi scholar issued a religious decree - fatwa - calling for the killing of the owners of satellite television channels which broadcast immoral material. Bloggers from Saudi Arabia react.
Another Malaysian blogger arrested
Malaysian blogger Syed Azidi Syed Aziz, better known as Kickdefella, was arrested by the police because of his online campaign to fly the Malaysian flag upside down. The blogger was released Saturday afternoon.
Saudi Arabia: Why Should Arabs Have Access to the Internet?
For days, cyberactivists have been busy discussing the case of Moroccan blogger Mohammed Erraji, who was arrested, put on trial, sentenced - and then freed, and then put on trial again and finally acquitted. Who is Mohammed Erraji? Why did he cross 'red lines' knowing well that in many countries in the Middle East criticising members of the vast Ruling families is very likely to result in repercussions and punishment? Saudi blogger Fouad Al Farhan, who recently found himself behind bars for his writings in Saudi Arabia, visits Erraji's blog looking for answers.
Macedonia: Computer games have positive effect
Panta Rei writes [MKD] about a survey conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, which shows that the gaming experience can have positive social, political and ethical effect. The post offers a counterargument to those who favor discrimination against gamers in the Macedonian media.
The Blogma's Whims
A Moroccan About the World Around Him presents his take on the power of the Moroccan blogosphere.
Moroccan Blogger Mohammed Erraji Acquitted
The Blogoma, or Moroccan blogosphere, was buzzing today over news of Moroccan blogger Mohammed Erraji's acquittal. Erraji was arrested last week for writing that the king's charity toward his people encourages them to remain helpless rather than work hard.
China: Why Did I Publish The Name Sanlu?
A reporter blogger tells the readers that the poisonous milk powder issue had been reported in some local newspapers for a period of time, and he is the first reporter who decided to publish the brand name “Sanlu”. ESWN translated his post at Tianya, which gives details about local reporters’...
Cuba: Imprisoned Journalist Wins Award
Uncommon Sense reports that “imprisoned Cuban journalist Héctor Maseda Gutiérrez has been named a recipient of a 2008 International Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists.”
Moroccan Blogger acquitted by appeals court
Moroccan Blogger Mohammed Erraji has been acquitted by appeals court and is now free.
Young Egyptian Women Do Not Want to Work!
While some women are still struggling to prove themselves in the workplace, the young generation of Egyptian men and women seems to be taking different route. Marwa Rakha brings us the story of how young Egyptians told a television show that they did not want their wives to work.
Cuba: Economic Reforms?
“The current President did not propose a program, he did not commit himself before his voters, and that means he is not accountable to us. The much needed measures can take one year or five years because he will not lose his post”: As some Cubans anticipate the implementation of...
Moroccan Bloggers Strike for Erraji
When Moroccan blogger Mohammed Erraji was arrested last week, the blogoma's thoughts turned immediately to the case of Fouad Mourtada, the young man arrested earlier this year for impersonating Prince Moulay Rachid on Facebook. And just as they did when Mourtada faced imprisonment, Moroccan bloggers mobilized to support Erraji.
Ukraine: Blogcamp CEE 2008
Oleksandr Demchenko announces registration for Blogcamp Central & Eastern Europe 2008, to be held in Kyiv on Oct. 17-19.
South African Cartoonist Takes on ANC President
ANC President, Jacob Zuma, was recently back in the headlines as his trial on charges for corruption, amongst other things, was thrown out of court to the dismay of many South Africans but also to the cheer of his millions of supporters, particularly from parties allied to the ANC. Parallel to this, Jonathan Shapiro a.k.a. Zapiro, South Africa's foremost political cartoonist had Zuma in his sights as he published a controversial cartoon in the Sunday Times.
Cuba, South Africa: Castro Wins Award
Uncommon Sense cannot believe that, according to a mainstream media report, Fidel Castro has won the South African Ubuntu award for his contributions to “humankind beyond boundaries.”
China: Reporter Fieldnote on The Shanxi Mudslide
ESWN translated Reporter Huang Xiuli's fieldnote on the Shanxi mudslide, which resulted in more than 200 deaths. The fieldnote was first published in her own blog but was deleted and warned.
Russia: “Extreme and Absurd, Violence and Art”
Moscow Through Brown Eyes lists recent “extremist actions” in Russia, writes about one of the possible reasons for the ongoing South Park scandal, and posts a video of a “provocative performance” by art group “Voina”: “As a present to well-known xenophobic and homophobic Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, the artists acted out...
South Ossetia: A Photojournalist's Musings On the War
Firsthand reports from the conflict zone in the Caucasus continue to appear here and there in the Russophone blogosphere. On Sept. 8, one month since the beginning of the war in South Ossetia and Georgia, Russian photojournalist Oleg Klimov posted his musings on what the war looks like and what it smells like, on the media and propaganda, and on what seems like the universal nature of wartime looting.
Iran:The Blogging Revolution
Antony Loewenstein’s The Blogging Revolution will be available on Amazon soon. The Blogging Revolution talks about Iran, Egypt,Syria,Saudi Arabia, China and Cuba. This is how he describes the book.
