· January, 2012

Stories about Photos from January, 2012

Spanish-Speaking Twittersphere Fumes Over Announcement

  31 January 2012

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.

Pakistan: Moral Policing of Dating Couples Gets TV Show Axed

  30 January 2012

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.

South Africa: Student Anti-Racism Poster Causes a Stir

  30 January 2012

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.

Myanmar (Burma): Betwixt and Between

  27 January 2012

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.

Jordan: Let it Snow

  26 January 2012

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.

Brazil: “Massacre of Pinheirinho” Causes an Uproar

  25 January 2012

The violent eviction of the community of Pinheirinho, in the city of São José dos Campos, in the state of São Paulo, became known as "Massacre of Pinheirinho" after a demonstration of violence and brutality by the police in the expulsion and intimidation of residents dumped in the midst of a huge legal mess.

Guatemalans Climb to Raise Awareness About Domestic Violence

  23 January 2012

“On January 21, Under the name of Subida por la vida [“Climb for life”], there were over 8,000 people climbing Volcán de Agua (Water Volcano) to form the largest heart in the world at 12,335 feet as part of campaign to bring awareness and to reduce domestic violence,” Antigua Daily...

Madagascar: Exiled Former President Ravalomanana Refused Return

  23 January 2012

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.

Venezuela: Childhood, Dance, Folklore… and Propaganda

  19 January 2012

Carmen Helena González shared pictures of a dance rehearsal through a public photo album on Facebook titled "Venezuela dances to the tune of..." The pictures are accompanied by reflections questioning the presence of political propaganda in an educational setting.

Brazil: Movement Claims Right for Public Space During Carnival

  19 January 2012

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.

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

  18 January 2012

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.

Colombia: Protesters Say ‘No More’ to Bullfighting

  16 January 2012

Mike's Bogota Blog shares pictures of a protest against bullfighting which took place in Colombia's capital. He explains: “The animal rights protesters, who call themselves anti-taurinos, were bolstered by new Mayor Gustavo Petro's comments that Bogotá should consider banning bullfighting, and that the city would no longer provide financial support...

Morocco: Activist Rapper Freed

  15 January 2012

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.

Russia: Social Networks Mobilise Society

RuNet Echo  13 January 2012

Facebook, the possibility to calculate numbers of protest participants, slogans from the Internet, a wide variety of gadgets - these are four new important factors in the analysis of demonstrations in Russia. Marina Litvinovich reports.

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