· September, 2011

Stories about Technology from September, 2011

Cameroon: How Candidates Are Navigating the Social Media Landscape

  30 September 2011

Dibussi looks at how candidates in Presidential Election 2011 in Cameroon are navigating the social media landscape: “President Paul: The president’s relatively recent social media presence is part of a much broader (and reportedly very expensive) PR campaign crafted by Patricia Balme, the most recent in a series of French...

Global: Key Quotes and Tweets from the Internet Governance Forum

  29 September 2011

As the Internet Governance Forum is a truly epic event both online and offline, it's hard to do justice to the complexity of the discussions and debates that are currently taking place in Nairobi, Kenya. Discover with Global Voices some key tweets and quotes from participants, accompanied by short commentaries.

Puerto Rico: Online Forum for Good Dads

  28 September 2011

“Over the years, I've worried about how I'm doing as a father”, says Gil the Jenius – which is why he has nothing but praise for a new website that “bring[s] good Dads together and let[s] them…share what it is to be a father.”

Barbados: Fire Service Hot on Social Media

  28 September 2011

“I am surprised and impressed by their use of social media”, says gallimaufry.ws of the Barbados Fire Service, adding: “Other government departments in Barbados could learn from their example.”

Chile: Twitter Trending Topics and #yomarchoel22

  26 September 2011

Students marched in favor of education reform on Thursday, September 22, but surprisingly, the hashtag netizens used on Twitter –#yomarchoel22– did not become a local Trending Topic. Enzo Abbagliati in his blog Cadaunadas [es] reminds his readers that Trending Topics are a legitimate but limited representation of reality.

Ecuador: Digital Illiteracy Rate in Loja

  26 September 2011

Voces Lojanas [es] shares important data about Loja from the VII Population Census and the VI Housing Census. The census reveals that in Loja digital illiteracy is at 29%, but cell phone use is at 73%.

Kenya: Kenya Hosts Sixth Internet Governance Forum

  26 September 2011

Gamelmag blogs about the sixth Internet Governance Forum, which will take place in Nairobi, Kenya from 27th September to 1st October: “If you want to take part in the IGF but you can't make it to Nairobi, don't worry. You can make your voice heard by participating remotely. You can...

India: The Dark Side Of Social Media

  26 September 2011

Lazy Optimist informs that Malini Murmu, a student of the Indian Institute Of Management (IIM) Bangalore, committed suicide because her boyfriend “dumped her via a status update on Facebook”.

Colombia: Outrage at President of Congress Over Oil Subsidy

  25 September 2011

Last week, Juan Manuel Corzo, Senator and president of Colombia's Congress, caused outrage on social networks when he tried to justify a fuel subsidy for congresspeople. The issue became "personal" when Senator Corzo declared that Twitter users criticizing him were being "rude," adding: "I'd rather not steal from the State and that [others] pay for my gasoline."

Update on Global Voices Mentorship: Meet the Activists

  24 September 2011

For over a month, ten Global Voices bloggers have been working with activists from ten different countries as mentors of members of the new Blogger Swarm initiative of Activista, the youth network of international development organization ActionAid.

Video: Water Bottle Lights and Other Eco-Friendly Inventions

  24 September 2011

Solar lights and hot water heaters from plastic water bottles, houses made from trash and a way to do without plastic bags are some of the projects making reducing, reusing and recycling not only fun and affordable but also vital in improving the quality of life of people all around the world.

Timor-Leste eProcurement Portal

  23 September 2011

The East Timor government says it established the Timor-Leste eProcurement Portal to enhance transparency and accountability. The website “allows citizens, donors, NGOs and the press to analyze and search information related with the goods, services or works that (the government) is procuring.”

Russia: Controlled Media Support Party Hijacking

RuNet Echo  23 September 2011

With Russia’s parliamentary and presidential elections quickly approaching, political battles are becoming an almost daily occurrence. The latest scandal has reminded many bloggers that political celebrities can be discredited as fast as they're pushed into the spotlight.

North Korea: Google Earth Reveals Death Camps in Detail

  23 September 2011

Kyle Wagner from Gizmodo site wrote a post on one of the most detailed images of the North Korean concentration camps taken by Google Earth. It is estimated that over 200,000 North Korean citizens are imprisoned in the camps under unimaginably harsh conditions.

Russia: Cyber Security Code of Conduct?

RuNet Echo  23 September 2011

The Russian government is attempting to spread the system of Internet controls abroad. Russian bloggers are interpreting these attempts as either the current regime's basic self-preservation instinct, or, even more troublesome, as inadequate thinking about the Internet.