Tunisia: Launch a Blog Campaign Kicks Off

The Tunisian blogosphere has witnessed a period of stagnation since April. Indeed, the month was a black one for Tunisian bloggers as more than 100 blogs have been censored by the authorities, discouraging the rest of the bloggers, who have become reluctant to write on their blogs. Since then, blogger Arabasta, proposed to launch an online campaign to urge Tunisian internet users to create blogs. Some bloggers supported the initiative, which other bloggers have rejected it.

Seven months later, the campaign is now being launched under the name ‘7el Blog’ (Tunisian dialect) translated in English as ‘Launch a Blog’. A blog was created under the same name.

In her first post, Arabasta explains the goal behind the campaign and encourages people to launch their own blogs:

اليوم باش تبدى حملة حل بلوغ
شنوة الهدف؟ ساهل برشة، أنك إنت من إنسان يقرى في البلوغات تولي إنسان يكتب في بلوغ
علاش نشارك؟ خاطرني نحب نعبر، نتكلم، نحكي، نخرف، نفرغ قلبي
على شنوة لازم نحكي؟ أي حاجة، البلوغ ما يلزمش يكون برشة جدي و عندو قواعد، الطقس موش عاجبك، الثنية عوجة، أمك تمرج فيك على العرس، الخدمة تفدد
شكون ينجم يشارك؟ أي واحد، البلوغ “حكاية فارغة”، ما يلزموش معرفة كبيرة للأنفورماتيك، كيما المايل بالظبط، و أي واحد ينجم يعمل بلوغ، الطبيب و المعلم و المهندس و البطال و المعرس و الصغير و الكبير و المتقاعد و الفادد و الغني و الفقير
مازلت متردد؟ مجموعة من المدونين القدم باش تكتب أرتيكلوات و تعاونك باش تبدى، مبعد كل شي يولي ساهل
Today the campaign ‘Launch a Blog’ will start.
What is the goal? It is so easy to explain: You as a blog reader you will become the author of a blog.
Why should you take part? Because I want to express my self, to talk, to express my concerns.
You don’t like the weather; the pavement is bad. What do I have to write? Anything. The blog is not necessarily so serious and following strict rules. You can talk about your mother pushing you to get married, or your job that you don’t like.
Concerning the technical part of things: it is like creating an e-mail account. Anyone can do it. You don’t need great knowledge in IT. The rich , the poor, teachers, physicians, engineers, the unemployed, the married, the single, the young, the old, the retired, and the bored, every one of us can launch a blog.
If you are still hesitating, a group of old bloggers will write posts and will help you to write. After that, things will be easier.

Moreover, a Facebook group has been created. More than 500 people joined it in less than 24 hours.

Also, a Twitter account has been created and a hashtag #7ellblog is used :

Oh my God, 11 blogs were created in one day. I love you Tunisian citizens.

Arabsta adds in this post:

Ce qui fait, pour les doués de calcul, 13 blogs en une journée: oui, la jeunesse tunisienne a des trucs à dire, elle veut parler et s'exprimer! Nos encouragements à ces pionniers et en attendant de voir ce nombre se multiplier encore et encore

This makes, for those who love statistics, 13 blogs in one day: Yes the Tunisian youth have things to say. They want to speak and to express themselves! We encourage this group of pioneers and we are longing to see this number becoming bigger and bigger.

This initiative was welcomed by many people and hopefully the Tunisian blogosphere will become vital and active again soon.

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