· January, 2012

Stories about Photos from January, 2012

Spanish-Speaking Twittersphere Fumes Over Announcement

Twitter's announcement that it will restrict certain user content according to the laws of individual countries immediately caused a negative reaction in the Spanish-speaking Twittersphere. Twitter users widely employed the hashtags #CensuramestaTwitter and #TwitterCensored to display their anger with the social networking site.

31 January 2012

Pakistan: Moral Policing of Dating Couples Gets TV Show Axed

In a recent live Pakistani television show, a group of middle aged women were seen scouring the parks of Karachi to hold accountable the couples dating without their guardians' knowledge. Protests mounted on social media which led to the firing of the anchor and removal of the show from the network.

30 January 2012

South Africa: Student Anti-Racism Poster Causes a Stir

South Africa's Democratic Alliance Students Organisation recently released a controversial poster as part of their anti-racism campaign, which shows a naked mixed-race couple embracing. The poster has caused a huge stir on Facebook, Twitter and blogs and even generated viral spoof posters.

30 January 2012

Myanmar (Burma): Betwixt and Between

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Burmese Opposition Leader Aung San Suu Kyi this week addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, urging further support from the international community in Myanmar. Such engagement will be particularly important for refugees and internally displaced people.

27 January 2012

Jordan: Let it Snow

The long awaited white visitor has arrived to Jordan, after a couple of dry cold fronts it came and quickly melted. It didn't even accumulate but it brought in lots of joy and happiness to people eager for it. Jordanian netizens report on the country's first snowfall this winter.

26 January 2012

Madagascar: Exiled Former President Ravalomanana Refused Return

Since January 18 2012, former president Marc Ravalomanana has announced that he would return to Madagascar soon after being in exile in South Africa for three years. On January 21, the capital city anxiously anticipated his return as thousands gathred on the roads leading to the airport waiting for the plane to land. However, a few minutes after the plane entered the Malagasy airspace, the plane was told to divert from its route and land in a different city. Malagasy citizens reacted in real time to the tumultuous event.

23 January 2012

Brazil: Movement Claims Right for Public Space During Carnival

The Carnival of Salvador, in Brazil, is one of the biggest street parties in the world. People from the city, however, have been fed up by the excess of commercialization and the transformation of public spaces into private provisional balconies. Organizing themselves through Facebook and Twitter protesters took action on January 14 demanding for private companies to withdraw their infra-structures from the streets.

19 January 2012

Global Online Community Protests U.S. Anti-Piracy Bills

Today, January 18, is an important day for the Internet. Corporate websites, from Google to Twitpic, along with civil society groups and individuals, have all joined together in a common cause: to protest two American bills that could have grave effects for global online free expression.

18 January 2012

Russia: Rooftop Krasnoyarsk Pictures

RuNet Echo

Raskalov_vit shares mind-blowing rooftop pictures of snowy Krasnoyarsk, city in Siberia. On the pictures: bridges, snow and heating steam, multi-storey houses mixed with industrial landscapes.

16 January 2012

Russia: Overview of Top RuNet Trends and Events in 2011

RuNet Echo

At the end of this turbulent and inspiring year, Global Voices RuNet Echo editors present you with the list of events that had a profound impact on the Russian Internet and will serve as important steps in the development of the country's online community.

16 January 2012

Morocco: Activist Rapper Freed

Mouad Belghouat "Al Haked" (The Indignant), a 24-year-old Moroccan rap artist and outspoken critic of Morocco's monarchy, was released on Thursday from prison where he had been held since last September. The announcement of Mouad's release spread like fire on Facebook and Twitter as several supporters rushed to the prison to welcome him.

15 January 2012

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