Stories about Digital Activism from May, 2015
Odia Wikipedia Set to Celebrate 13 Years of Volunteer Contributions
A project that was virtually unknown a few years back with monthly page views in the low thousands recorded 8,08,834 page views in March 2015 alone.
Israeli Chef Cooks Pizza in a Car to Demonstrate Child Safety
Sixteen children have died in Israel since 2008 as a result of being accidentally left in closed cars. One chef drives the message home by cooking pizza in a car.
Chinese Authorities Leap to Discredit Detained Citizens’ Rights Activist
"Now wicked people have taken control and good people are in jail."
Hungary Lays the Xenophobia on Thick in National Questionnaire About Immigration
The questionnaire seems to be more of a tool to influence public opinion than to weigh it. Civil society organizations are speaking out against the government's rhetoric.
Did Russia Just Effectively Outlaw Internet Anonymizers?
A Russian court has ruled to block a webpage for being "an anonymizer," raising concerns that tools like Tor and other anonymizing proxy services might soon be banned wholesale.
Ukrainian and Russian Users Petition Facebook to ‘Stop Political Blocking’
Ukrainians and Russians are petitioning Facebook on the Change.org website to protest what they insist is an ongoing issue: unwarranted and biased blocking of Ukrainian and Russian Facebook profiles.
Dying in Secret: The Ethics of Investigating Russia's Ukraine Casualties
A new type of investigative journalism by bloggers is blurring the lines between armchair Internet sleuthing and hard-hitting investigative reporting to uncover information about Russia's role in the Ukraine conflict.
In Argentina, a March on the ‘Global Day of Action Against Monsanto’
"In #Argentina 300 million liters of glyphosate are sprayed annually across 28 million hectares of plantation, affecting more than 10 million people."
Dear Ukrainian Officials: Russian Security Services Thank You for Your Cooperation!
A group of journalists pulled a prank on Ukrainian officials who use Russian email services, alerting them to the dangers of careless information security policies.
Message to an Ethiopian Blogger: Mahlet Fantahun, You Are Not Alone
"Writing one single blog post is not going to bring Mahlet... out of Kaliti Prison. This is much rather about keeping the process going. Of not staying silent."
Pakistani Company Accused of Running Fake Degree Scam Has a History of Silencing Critics
Many people tried to expose Axact's degree fraud before, the NYT didn't break this story, but this is the first time everyone is paying attention.
From #GoHomeIndianMedia, Nepal Turns to #ComeBackIndianBarber
Kathmandu's barbers were typically looked down upon. With the human exodus and economic collapse brought about by two earthquakes, however, they've become one of the area's most sought-after professionals.
Russia Launches ‘Predictive System’ for Monitoring Protest Activity Online
The new Russian software will allegedly be able to spot preparations for protests online long before they happen, and could supply that information to law enforcement, academics and state officials.
Join the Gathering to Connect Indigenous Language Digital Activists in Colombia
Together with local partners, Rising Voices is pleased to announce the open call for participation for an Indigenous Language Digital Activism Gathering set for June 18-19 in Bogota, Colombia.
Under a Shaky Ceasefire, Yemenis Struggle to Stay Connected to the World
Frequent electricity cuts, bombings and a dire humanitarian situation could exacerbate and completely isolate Yemen should internet and telecommunications services be cut.
Not Everyone in Nepal Is Happy with the Indian Media
Angered by the irresponsible reports in the Indian media, Nepalis online have started using the hashtag #GoHomeIndianMedia, which trended on Twitter for several days.
PayPal Blocks Donations for Printing Boris Nemtsov’s Ukraine War Report
PayPal has informed the "Putin.War" report team the service cannot be used for "collecting funds to finance the activities of political parties or for political aims in Russia.”
Facebook's Zuckerberg Responds to Ukrainians’ Complaints, But Is His Answer Enough?
Mark Zuckerberg has addressed the appeals of Ukrainian Facebook users for better content moderation and calls to create a dedicated Ukrainian office. His answers seem unlikely to satisfy them.
Bahrain Court Upholds Six Month Sentence Against Rights Defender Nabeel Rajab Over Tweet
A Bahrain court today upheld a six-month sentence for human rights defender Nabeel Rajab over a tweet. Rajab is already in custody under investigation for other tweets.
Suspended Algerian Satirical TV Show Vows to Make a Comeback Online
''Eldjazairia weekend'' an Algerian satirical TV show, co-hosted by GV contributor Abdou Semmar, was suspended from air on April 24, due to political pressure.
Human Rights Abuses in Azerbaijan: We Can’t Stay On The Sidelines Anymore
Arzu Geybullayeva calls on Western leaders to speak out on political prisoners in Azerbaijan as the country prepares to host the European Games.
