· May, 2011

Stories about Protest from May, 2011

CEE Bankwatch Network campaign against EBRD practices

The CEE Bankwatch Network, an NGO monitoring activities of international financial institutions, has just released a video sharply criticizing the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's 20th anniversary of activities in former Soviet Bloc countries, and its intentions to extend to north Africa. “The EBRD has in fact a poor...

Vietnam: Ben Tre activists convicted

  30 May 2011

Seven land rights and non-violent democracy activists were found guilty of attempting to overthrow the government of Vietnam. The closed-door trial was held in Ben Tre, Vietnam. Supporters of the activists held a vigil in Saigon before the trial.

Australia: SlutWalks Spread the Word

  30 May 2011

Following Toronto’s lead, Australians have started a series of SlutWalks with Melbourne’s first march on 28 May. The catchphrase: Make it known that those who experience sexual assault are never the ones at fault.

Mexico: Blood Fountains

  30 May 2011

During the last weekend of May 2011, activists from the movement "Let's stop the bullets, let's paint the fountains" stained the water of a famous statue in Mexico City blood red. Participants walked around the monument shouting slogans like "Not one more dead!" and "Out Calderón!"

Egypt: Letter from Military Prison Cell No. 10

During their arrest period in a military prison activist Mosa'ab Elshamy and his cell mates wrote notes and messages, which he later on (after his release) published on tumblr [en and ar]. Ahmad el Azhary says in one of them: “Cell no 10. Guys 10/10. Companionship for a Cause rather...

Syria: Light a Candle for Syria

Musician Devin Rhode shared a video entitled Light a Candle for Syria, where we can see touching footage of some major events of the uprising continuing in the country for more than two months. Writing about the objective behind the clip, Rhode says: “I hope this becomes a good tool...

South Korea: Students Protest Over High University Tuition

  30 May 2011

Thousands of students took to streets in protest last weekend, demanding the lawmakers and universities to lower high tuition. South Korea's one of the most influential citizen journalists, Media Mongu posted photos. University fees in South Korea have more than doubled over the past ten years, prompting more students to...

Azerbaijan: Twitter as a tool for activism

Global Voices co-founder Ethan Zuckerman comments on the use of Twitter in last week's campaign by Amnesty International to call for the release of prisoner of conscience Eynulla Fatullayev. Although the imprisoned journalist was released, argues Zuckerman, several questions have been raised by the online action and not least in...

Russia: Moscow Pride 2011

This year's Moscow Gay Pride event ended in clashes almost as soon as it began, at least 18 gay rights activists and 14 of their opponents are reported to have been arrested, and a journalist who had blogged about her reasons for attending the rally ended hospitalized with a concussion.

Syria: Personal Letter to President Assad

In a letter addressed on May 8th, 2011, to Syrian president Bashar Al Assad, blogger, Syria to Freedom, expresses his disappointment with the president's behavior in the current crisis and implores him in the end to:“Do fulfill your people's demands of freedom and dignity and you will see those people...

Egypt: Mubarak Fined for Internet Blackout during Revolution

An Egyptian court has fined ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and other officials 540 million Egyptian pounds ($90m) for disconnecting the Internet and mobile phone services during the revolution. Mubarak's regime first shut down access to Twitter when protests started, then Facebook, before turning off the Internet on January 28.

Egypt: Tahrir Speaks

Egyptians flooded the streets around the country on Friday (May 27) to affirm their unwavering commitment to the vision and spirit of the revolution they ignited on January 25, 2011. Here is a round up of Tahrir events on Jadaliyya by Bassam Haddad and Ziad Abu-Rish: Tahrir Speaks, which features...

Spain: From Spanish Revolution to World Revolution

  27 May 2011

Mobilizations in Spain have ignited what has been called a “World Revolution”, with more than 600 demonstrations and camp outs taking place in solidarity with Spanish protesters. Websites, Twitter hashtags, and Facebook accounts are being used to spread and share information, thoughts, and opinions.

Cuba: Repressive Action

  27 May 2011

Cuban bloggers cite numerous cases of the authorities cracking down on dissidents, calling the arrests “part of a vicious series of repressive moves by the dictatorship to target the opposition.”