Stories about Video from April, 2010
USA: Rallying Cries for Immigration Reform
In the United States, immigration reform activists have taken to the streets - and the internet - in order to create momentum for comprehensive changes in immigration law.
Iran: Opposition leader issues message for workers
Mir-Hussein Mousavi, an opposition leader, issued a message via You Tube for Iranian workers on occaison of International Worker's Day. He said Iran is suffering from a widespread political, economic and social crisis.
Puerto Rico: Amidst protests, students speak up for themselves online
Amidst protests over budget cuts students of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) have a found an additional space to express themselves: the Internet.
Iran: A ‘Green’ Labor Day (At Least Online)
The Iranian Green Movement is planning to make International Workers Day on May 1 a “green” day. The post-election opposition movement has not held any important demonstration since their last attempts were thwarted in February.
China: The un-natural death in the Chinese detention center
Damon from interlocals published a video on the issue of un-natural death in the Chinese detention center.
China: The 42th anniversary of Lin Zhao's death
Lin Zhao (林昭）, a Peking University student, was arrested in 1960 during the Anti-Rightist Campaign launched by Mao Zedong in 1957 and sentenced to death on 29 of April (today) in 1968, 42 years ago at the age of 35. She could have exchanged for her freedom and life by...
Ukraine: Chaotic Ratification of the Gas-for-Fleet Deal
Below is some of the Anglophone blog commentary on the ratification of the Ukrainian-Russian gas-for-fleet deal, which took place in a chaotic environment on April 27 in Kyiv. Among other things, security guards were forced to employ two umbrellas to shelter the parliament speaker from the eggs hurled at him by opposition members.
China: New Avatar theme song inspired by forced evictions
Avatar director James Cameron admits he found inspiration for the film in China, and Chinese viewers saw a common story from today's China being told in the film. Somewhere in between, mashup artists have now imagined a theme song for Avatar as one might have been sung in Chinese.
Video: Three Latin American Viral Sensations Unite for Israel
Through the Latin American social networks there is a new video spreading like wildfire: it unites three of the most recent viral video sensations in one. Peruvian La Tigresa del Oriente, Wendy Sulca and Ecuadorian Delfin Quishpe virtually united to sing "I'll dance in your lands", a song about Israel. None of them have visited Israel, but that didn't stop them from singing about the beauty of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
ICT for Development in Francophone Africa
Although there is undoubtedly a strong push to grow information and communication technology (ICT) initiatives for development in francophone Africa, the region is still somewhat lagging behind their English-speaking neighbors.
“Boobquake” to challenge claims of Iranian cleric
A Purdue University student in the United States is asking women around the world to show a little cleavage or a little leg on Monday as a humorous test to disprove an Iranian cleric’s theory that immodest dress has the power to make the earth shake.
Video: Discovering the Origins of a World Cup Song
You've probably heard the song, and Chief Boima of WFMU's Beware of the Blog in New Jersey decided to track down the origins of the “Waka Waka” song, which is the 2010 FIFA World Cup Anthem to be sung by Shakira in South Africa. Check out his post to see...
Colombia: Video remixing and Presidential Elections
Remixes: From Hitler, to Chris Crocker and Pinky and the Brain, Colombian fans show their Presidential candidates support by remixing videos to help their campaigns and mock the oposition's candidates.
Caucasus: Social Innovation Camp
Although Internet penetration remains low in the South Caucasus, all indications are that new and social media has an increasingly important role to play in the area of democratization and activism. With that in mind, the first Social Innovation Camp in the region took place in Tbilisi, Georgia on 8-10 April.
Chile: Controversial Use of Popular Song in TV Commercial
In Chile, a television advertisement for Almacenes Paris, a large department store chain, that uses a song by the popular folk-rock band Los Jaivas without their authorization, is stirring up controversy about intellectual property rights and the extent to which cultural forms of expression are compatible with consumerism.
Colombia: Recovering traditions and culture of the Senu people
Through short videos, the indigenous people of the Senu tribes in Colombia have been interviewing members of their community and capturing stories on food: the traditions, the recipes and the meaning behind what and how they eat.
Thailand: Citizen videos of violent clash
Citizen videos are now online which allow us to view the violent scenes during the Saturday crackdown on the Red Shirt protesters in Thailand by the military. The clash between soldiers and protesters killed 21 people and injured more than 800.
Macedonia: Ridiculous Advertising Songs
Filip Stojanovski writes about an amusing overlap between Macedonian pop music, advertising and education, and reviews Macedonian bloggers' reactions to some of the "ridiculous advertising songs."
Poland: Video Reactions to the Deadly Plane Crash
Following the shocking news of the death of President Lech Kaczyński and 95 other officials, Poland starts the official week of mourning. Next to an enormous amount of reactions in various online venues, video messages present themselves as a very powerful tool to express the feelings of the nation.
16 Years Later, the Rwandan Genocide Remembered
On April 7th, Rwanda commemorated the 16th anniversary of the genocide that took the lives of as many as 800,000 people and traumatized a whole region to this day. The genocide is commemorated to keep the memory of the victims alive and honor them but also to help the country move forward in the spirit of unity and reconciliation.
Jamaica: Water Crisis
Labrish links to a YouTube video of Jamaica's Hermitage Dam, calling it “an impassioned plea for action from Jamaica's citizens to stand up and take this [water] crisis seriously, and for the government and opposition to act responsibly.”
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