Stories about Protest from February, 2009
Japan: Municipal opposition to Street View
Demands by municipal assemblies and bar associations across Japan that Google revise [ja] or even halt altogether its new Street View service, rolled out in 12 Japanese cities late last summer to mixed reactions, have triggered renewed debate on issues of privacy and the limits of public space. The latest moves by municipal governments come on the heels of demands by a group of Japanese lawyers and professors, who petitioned Google in mid-December to retract its service.
Madagascar: Rumors terrorize Antananarivo
Truth and freedom of speech and opinion seem to be victims of the political crisis that is now crippling Madagascar. Threats are being made and rumors being spread, all contributing...
India: The Pink Underwear Resistance
In some parts of India, celebrating Valentine's Day could be considered harmful to women's and couple's health, as Morality Police decide to hunt down couples and women that may be holding hands or in pubs. The Pink Chaddi campaign is a step towards demonstrating that women can and will take matters into their own hands to make sure the situation changes.
Egypt: Bloggers Rally Against Sexual Predators
Sexual harassment makes the headlines of Egyptian blogs once again after a blogger was harassed on the street by a group of young men, high on hash. Marwa Rakha reviews reactions from the blogs, who are urging the blogger not to drop charges and fight for the rights of women and children attacked by sexual predators.
Iran: A letter to the Baha’i community
ZaneIrani writes that a group of academics, writers, artists, journalists and Iranian activists throughout the world wrote a letter to the Baha’i community to say that they are ashamed of...
Martinique: Bitterness after “The Last Masters”
Ever since the February 5th broadcast of The Last Masters of Martinique, a documentary about the Békés, the French West Indies have experienced the equivalent of a sociological tsunami. Bloggers and regular citizens alike are writing to express the shock, sadness and humiliation felt by many non-Béké Martinicans after watching the documentary.
Hungary: The Roma and the Killing of Marian Cozma
Marian Cozma, a Romanian handball player, was killed in a nightclub fight in Veszprém, Hungary, on Feb. 8. Here's some of what's been written by bloggers about the circumstances of Cozma's death.
Belarus: The Army
Belarusan American Blog writes about the problems of Belarusian army.
Egypt: Posts on Feb 6 Pro Gaza March Police Crackdown
From Egypt, 3arabawy links to blogs posts and articles covering his country's crackdown on a pro-Gaza march.
Japan: Threats to freedom of speech and freedom to protest
On the 16th of January a group of protesters gathered outside Shinjuku station (one of the most crowded stations in Tokyo) to denounce Prime Minister Aso and his cabinet. The protesters were questioned by police and the protest eventually stopped, with all events caught on camera. Bloggers discuss implications for freedom of speech.
Egypt: More activists and bloggers arrested
Two more Egyptian bloggers and activists have been detained by authorities, sparking calls and campaigns by bloggers and human rights activists for their release, in the latest series of arrests targeting online activists. Lasto Adri reports from Cairo.
Italy: In Defense of the “Right to die”
A legal battle over a young woman's 'right to die' after 17 years in a coma has spurred both vast online commentary and activism in Italy. Mostly in defense of "Eluana Englaro's choice", Italian netizens have signed petitions, organized protests, and made YouTube videos of their own 'living will' testimonies, in defiance of both prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and the Vatican.
Egypt: Philip Rizk ‘Kidnapped
From Egypt, blogger Sarah Carr narrates the events of the To Gaza campaign march and the events leading to the disappearance of journalist/masters student/filmmaker/blogger Philip Rizk, who was grabbed by...
Madagascar : Bloggers react to Red Saturday's bloodshed
Since riots and lootings claimed fifty dead in Madagascar on January 26, the situation has become bleaker. Saturday, February 07 was an even bloodier day. Dubbed “Red Saturday” by some, it...
Madagascar: More than 25 killed in march to presidential palace
At least 25 people were shot dead today in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo during a march to the presidential palace called by the city's mayor Andry Rajoelina after he declared himself the leader of a new transitional government at a political rally. In the past weeks, a power struggle between the mayor and the president Marc Ravalomanana has led to both violence and looting.
Palestine: Shoe thrown at Israel's ambassador to Sweden
Palestinian Laila El Haddad links to a video and story showing protesters throwing a shoe at Israel's Ambassador to Sweden Benny Dagan, during a talk at Stockholm University.
Russia: Notes on the Protests
Sean's Russia Blog compares the protests in Russia to those taking place elsewhere.
Russia: EU and Human Rights
Following “a notable exchange between PM Vladimir Putin and EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso,” Robert Amsterdam writes: “In my opinion, it was about time that Europe woke up to...
Global: On Erdogan's Walkout
Earlier this week, Global Voices Turkey author Deborah Ann Dilley detailed the events of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, during which Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan stormed off the stage following an argument with Israeli President Shimon Peres. Turkish bloggers weren't the only ones to react to the kerfuffle; A number of bloggers from around the world had something to say about the incident as well.
Egypt: Bloggers for Terrorism
Egyptian bloggers are posting their own photographs, posing with fake guns and pistols, on their blogs and Facebook groups as part of a new gimmick to draw attention to the plight of detained blogger Mohamed Adel. Find out more about Operation General Mait in this article by Lasto Adri.
China: update on Xintai mental asylum abuses
Prof. Yu Jianrong（于建嵘）exposed [zh] that the governmental probe into the Xintai mental asylum abuses of the 18 protesters who were reportedly locked in a mental hospital in Xintai City, Shandong...
