I am a Danish-Puerto Rican journalist and activist, living in Berlin. I am the former Managing Editor of Global Voices (this website). Previously I worked with openDemocracy.net. On Twitter, I am @solanasaurus, and once upon a time I blogged at Solanasaurus.com.
Latest posts by Solana Larsen
Global Voices Wins Honorary Mention in Prix Ars Electronica
Prix Ars Electronica, the leading award honoring creativity and innovation in digital media, has chosen Global Voices for Honorary Mention in their Digital Communities category this year. This is the second time Global Voices earns a special mention, after winning a Distinction in the same category in 2008. The winner...
GV Face: People Powered Flood Relief in Serbia
This week we talk to friends in Serbia involved in relief efforts. What are next steps for citizens and government? And why is social media under threat?
A 5-Minute Video Could Be Your Ticket to New York
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) invites young people under the age of 25 to submit original 5-minute videos on migration, diversity and social inclusion to the Plural+2014 film festival. Three winning videos will receive $1000 and the makers will be invited to New York City to attend an...
Does This Sexist, Violent Video Make You Want to Vote?
Denmark's government has officially retracted a violent and pornographic animated video [warning: graphic] that was created to encourage young people to vote in the European Parliament elections this month. The viral video featuring the fictional character “Voteman” was defended by the Speaker of the Danish Parliament, Mogens Lykketoft, this week...
GV Face: Taiwan's Sunflower Protests
Is the movement to defend democracy in Taiwan itself democratic? We talk to Global Voices contributors in Taiwan about the protests and the prospects for continued autonomy from China.
GV Face: Too “Asian” to Evacuate? South Korea's Ferry Tragedy and Culture Blaming
Stubborn stereotypes about South Koreans prevail in much of the reporting on a capsized ferry that led to the deaths of more than 200 young people. Were they too "obedient"?
GV Face: Live from the Internet World Cup
Do we have a new roadmap for global internet governance? This week's hangout is from the Net Mundial conference in São Paulo, Brazil.
GV Face: The USA's Secret “Cuban Twitter”
A secret US plan to support regime change in Cuba with a Twitter-like messaging service called ZunZuneo has now come under the spotlight with news reports that thousands of Cubans were duped into signing up for the service under false pretenses. Will there be consequences for digital activists worldwide? Some...
Coming Soon! Rising Voices Microgrants for Amazon Communities
Rising Voices will be launching a microgrant competition next month for digital citizen media projects in the Amazon region which is home to many indigenous communities. Thanks to Avina Americas, Fundación Avina, and the Skoll Foundation, we'll be offering this support with ongoing mentorship from the Global Voices community. Read...
UNESCO Mapping World Press Freedom Day Events
May 3 is World Press Freedom Day and UNESCO is marking the occasion with an event in Paris, France that is free and open to the public. There are lots of resources on their site for anyone who wishes to learn more about press freedom or host an event. Using...
The Joke is on the Media: April Fool's in Ethiopia
Ethiopians on Twitter are celebrating April Fool's day with fake news headlines that imitate the lies of state owned media. Says one Ethiopian tweep: “They broadcast black deceptions 365 days a year, and we are giving back to them dozens of false headlines as much as we can”. Follow and...
Documentaries from 29 Countries Are SIMA 2014 Finalists
These are films we want to watch! 37 powerful documentary films from 29 countries have been selected as finalists for the 2014 Social Impact Media Award (SIMA). The stories are from: South Africa, Switzerland, Zambia, the UK, Russia, India, Israel, Chile, Western Sahara, the US, Lebanon, Cambodia, Syria, Burkina Faso,...
Thrive Show: On Living Well With Chronic Illness
Bedridden with a chronic illness called myalgic encephalomyelitis, online media virtuoso Jen Brea is launching a new interactive video series using Google Hangout called Thrive Show on how to live well with invisible and chronic illnesses. The first episode is today, March 27, and features a conversation with Eva Hagberg,...
Flipboard Adds Global Voices to Local Content Guides
Starting this month, Global Voices (in different languages) will be recommended to the millions of people who use an app called Flipboard on their tablets and smartphones.
Captive Saudi Princesses Speak Out on Twitter
It's the stuff of fairytales for princesses to be locked in towers, but in today's Saudi Arabia, four princesses say they have been held against their will for 13 years.
GV Face: What's Next for Ukraine?
What's next for the #Euromaidan movement? Protests and bloodshed led to the fall of a corrupt president. But now, as Russia looms with military might and Crimea considers succession, there are endless unanswered questions about Ukraine's future political moves and relationship to the European Union.
Global Voices Partners With Refugees United
We're proud to assist Refugees United with translation and local advice as they help families who have lost each other reconnect online.
GV Face: Beyond Gangnam Style – Censorship and Korean Pop Music
It has been called South Korea's “greatest export.” PSY's K-pop song Gangnam style is the most watched video on YouTube. But behind the glamorous facades and big paychecks, it's not all fun and romance until South Korea's censors have done their work. Our managing editor Solana Larsen talks to our...
It's Music Freedom Day on March 3!
19 musicians killed, and 7 abducted. 18 music creators imprisoned. These are just some of the reported cases of injustice against musicians recorded by the human rights organization Freemuse in 2013. On March 3, the annual Music Freedom Day will draw attention to the rights to free expression of musicians...
Help Us Test Our Website: Win a T-Shirt
Students from the University of Washington are helping us with usability testing of our new and old websites. Help us by completing a short survey -- and win!
GV Face: Venezuela Protests
What are the protests in Venezuela about? What role is citizen media playing? We talk to Global Voices author Marianne Díaz about the tumultuous situation in the country right now.
