Stories about Technology from June, 2012
Puerto Rico: Concerns About Wind Energy Proposal
“Don Quijote felt he needed to defend himself from giants. I need to protect my family from these giants that are being installed in a densely populated area. Not only are they feet away from [our] homes but they are in fertile grounds used for agriculture,” wrote Puerto Rican blogger...
Russia: Interview with Jesse Heath of The Russia Monitor
As an American lawyer and Anglophone blogger writing about Russia, Jesse Heath's work is distinct for its detailed focus on technical aspects of Russian law, economics, and politics. Kevin Rothrock recently spoke with Heath by telephone, to learn more about his history as a blogger and his contributions to the RuNet.
SEE: Social Media Use Study
Growth in social media activities has slowed down, indicates the research of Wave6 [sr; en], which surveyed active Internet users in 62 countries: Macedonia and Croatia are more involved in the social media than Serbia, where watching video clips is the most popular activity (91%). For the first time, there...
Serbia: “Internet (R)evolution”
Center for Internet Development in Serbia reports [sr] that Serbs use the Internet mostly for current news (63%) and educational purposes. The research was conducted in April 2012, with a sample of 1,239 respondents: 80% of them considered communication and info-exchange with government institutions via Internet very relevant, while 68%...
Zimbabwe: Security Elites Get Facebook Grilling
Widespread concern about about politicization of the military in Zimbabwe has made Roy Bennett, a senior official of Movement for Democratic Change, turn to Facebook to speak his mind about the military’s brazen partisanship. Other Zimbabweans have joined in the conversation despite the arrest of one Zimbabwean last year for a comment he posted on Facebook.
Cuba: Bloggers say there are more like “Antunez”
Diaspora bloggers still have their attention focused on Cuban dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez (Antunez), who was reportedly beaten and detained following his testimony at a United States Senate sub-committee hearing concerned with infringements on the human rights of Cuban citizens.
Ethiopia: The State of Social Media
Geraldine de Bastion (@geralbine) is an expert on information and communication technology and new media for development. She talks to Global Voices Online about, among other issue, the state of social media in Ethiopia.
Philippines: E-Governance Programs
Clarice Africa discusses several e-governance initiatives of the Philippine government which are planned to promote transparency and more efficient delivery of services.
Bahrain: Plea to Police to Return MacBook Pro
On Twitter, Bahraini Mohammed Al Maskati, complains: “It's been 443 days since masked police confiscated my MacBook Pro, 2 Hardrives, 3 Blackberry phones, camera AND wifey’s Friend's collection.” Al Maskati was arrested last year after he was threatened with arrest on Twitter.
Afghanistan's First Computer-Animated Movie
Leaving the three decades of war and destruction behind, Afghans make use of modern technology and media to rebuild the country and raise new generations with a brighter vision for the future. ‘Buz-e-Chini‘ (Goat) is the country's first ever 3D computer-animated short film.
North Korea Seems to be Testing Digital Radio Broadcasting
North Korea Tech blog wrote about evidence showing that North Korea tested digital radio broadcasting. The blogger also embeded a Youtube video posted by a radio monitor in Japan.
Mozambique: NGO Launches “Corporate Interests” Transparency Platform
Mozambican NGO Centro de Integridade Pública (Public Integrity Center) [pt] released on June 12, 2012, the transparency database Interesses Empresariais (Corporate Interests) [pt]. This participatory platform aims to make the profiles of corporations and public figures more accessible, as well as to show their connections with the so-called Nomenklatura and national...
Indonesia: Sumatra Deforestation Mapping Tool
There is a new mapping tool that documents the disturbing loss of forest cover in Sumatra Island in Indonesia. Sumatra, one of the largest islands in the world, is known to be the only place where elephants, rhinos, tigers and orangutans coexist. The online map also provides valuable information about the island's rich biodiversity
Africa: Improving Governance and Accountability with New Media
L. Abena Annan speaks with Kwami Ahiabenu,II from African Elections Project about the impact of new media technologies in coverage of elections in Africa. African Elections Project enhances the ability of journalists, citizen journalists and the news media to use new media tools to monitor and cover elections.
Turkmenistan: Return of Russian Mobile Operator Ends State Monopoly
After an unexplained closure by the government in 2010, the popular Russian mobile phone operator MTS that had about half of Turkmenistan's population among its customers will soon resume its work in the country. Turkmen netizens are happy about the news, suggesting that the operator will provide quality mobile phone services and uncensored web connection, ending state monopoly in the sector.
Cuba: Bloggers Rally Around Beaten Dissident
Bloggers from the Cuban diaspora are concerned about the reported beating and detainment of dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez, more popularly known as Antunez, after he testified via teleconference at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing about the human rights situation on the island.
Russia: United Russia Deputy Wants to Sue Navalny for 60 Billion Rubles
Latest developments about wider crackdowns on the Russian protest movement and other campaigns specifically targeting the country's number one blogger.
India: Photos Of Indibloggers Meet
Indian Homemaker posts lots of photos of the Dove All Women's IndiBlogger Meet at New Delhi held on 10th of June, 2012.
Germany: Anti-ACTA Rally in Berlin – Signal to Politicians, Reminder to Citizens
"Don’t forget to be against ACTA" – with these half-humorous words organisers of the anti-ACTA protest closed the demonstration that took place on June 9 in Berlin. Kasia Odrozek reports.
Kenya: The State of Social Media
Collins Mbalo speaks with Mark Kaigwa Mark about the state of social media in Kenya. Mark is a Kenyan communications consultant working with brands, businesses and nonprofits across Africa helping them use media across mobile and web technology to impact Africans.
Uzbekistan: Blogger Makes Skype Accessible to Uzbek Speakers
Uzbek blogger Gulasal Kamalova has translated [ru] Skype software application into Uzbek. Kamalova explains [ru] that she did the translation in order to make Skype – a service that connects millions of users around the world via Internet-based telephony and video – accessible to people who speak no other language but Uzbek.
