Stories about Weblog from March, 2016
Between Hashtags and Memes, Bolivian Leaders Push for Social Media Regulation
A draft law that would regulate social media -- with criminal consequences for its violators -- has sparked intense debates among Bolivian citizens.
Polarization and Dehumanization: Two Keys to Understanding the Assassination of Honduran Activist Berta Cáceres
Hedme Sierra Castro, a Honduran human rights advocate, shares context on Honduras, a land vulnerable to impunity and abuse of native communities.
Citizens Overwhelm Macedonia's Election Commission With Reports of Suspicious Voters’ Registry Data
The SEC published a new web app allowing Macedonians to report irregularities in the Voters' Registry online. Ten days later, they shut it down down because of too many reports.
Bahrain Arrests Activist Zainab Al Khawaja Along With Her One-Year-Old Baby
"#Bahrain seems to be tightening noose on dissidents, just don’t understand why one-year-old child is arrested."
How Cambodian Politics Became a Battle for Facebook ‘Likes’
"These instructions clearly show that the ruling party pushing to create fake Facebook accounts in order to provide artificial 'likes' to the [Prime Minister's] Facebook page."
A Belgian University Puts Out a Welcome Mat for Refugees
Mohammed Salman, who is from Syria, is helping start up a program for refugees at the Free University of Brussels.
Social Media's impact on the 2016 general election in Niger
Le premier tour des élections générales nigériennes de 2016 s'est déroulé le dimanche 21 février 2016. Le second tour aura lieu le 20 mars, afin d'élire le président et les membres de l'Assemblée Nationale.
Why China's Clampdown on Ren Zhiqiang Matters
The case has become a political thermometer on Xi's attitudes towards internal ideological differences inside the party.
Lebanese ‘You Stink’ Protesters Are Back on the Streets
Eight months after taking to the streets to protest against Lebanon's mounting rubbish problem, the issue is not solved. Protesters are back on the streets today.
Tumeremo Cries Out for Its 28 Missing Miners on the Only Road That Connects It to the Rest of Venezuela
People do not expect justice or compensation. They just plead for the return of their loved ones' remains: "Even if it's just a pile of sand to embrace".
Chinese Journalists Need a Press Law for Protection
"If there is no law, we take the initiative and can control [media] as we want."
Are There Happy Places in Ukraine? Use This Map to Find Out
An international group of volunteers is creating an online map of all the places in Ukraine where people say they feel happy.
A Nigerian Start-Up Is Creating a New World of African Superheroes
Unlike Marvel's Storm character from its X-Men series and Black Panther, who both hail from the fictional country of Wakanda in Africa, Jide Martin’s characters are truly African-born.
Ex-South African President Mbeki Still Has His ‘Bizarre’ Beliefs on HIV and AIDS
Mbeki received criticism for a letter he wrote denying that he had ever said 'HIV does not cause AIDS'. "What I said is that 'a virus cannot cause a syndrome'."
#OccupyTheSquare Protest Wins a Victory Against Moral Policing in Sri Lanka
"It is crazy on how the power of social media, can influence a dozen people to silently protest for human rights."
A Syrian Asks Herself: Am I Capable of Killing?
"With every story I remembered," writes Syrian activist Marcell Shehwaro, "the certainty that I was a person who neither kills nor wants to kill was gradually shrinking."
Citizen Sleuths Can Now Officially Report Irregularities They Find in Macedonia’s Voters’ Registry
The State Election Commission in Macedonia is now crowdsourcing all suspicious Voters' Registry irregularities by adding a user-friendly feature on their Web app with which citizen can report irregularities.
Civic Law Initiative Propels Fight Against Political Corruption in Mexico
"Asking politicians to solve the problem is like asking a footballer to be the referee at his own match." The 3of3 initiative is the voice of many Mexicans asking for a stronger fight against political corruption.
Women Fight Skin Color Prejudice With #UnfairAndLovely Campaign
"I was always told it was better to be lighter, but no this is my skin and I love it #unfairandlovely"
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Scored a Trending Hashtag, But Not For the Reasons He Hoped
Prime Minister Najib Razak is battling corruption charges at home, but online he's basking in a new hashtag campaign. Except the #RespectMyPM movement didn't trend for the reasons Najib hoped.
Anonymous Artists Place ‘Monument’ to Antidepressants in Macedonia’s Capital
A unique sculpture appeared in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, on March 9: a monument to the antidepressant Diazepam (also known as Valium).