Global Voices · Citizen media stories from June 2011

June, 2011

Monthly archive · 186 posts

Stories from June, 2011

19 June 2011

Zambia: Netizens Shocked by Death of Former President

Written by Gershom Ndhlovu · Sub-Saharan Africa

Zambian netizens were shocked to wake up on the morning of Saturday June 18, to the news that Zambia’s second president Frederick Chiluba had passed away. Whatever the views on the death of Chiluba, it closes a political chapter in which the country's citizens regained their social, political and economic freedoms.

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Nigeria: On an Explosive Projectile?

Written by Nwachukwu Egbunike · Sub-Saharan Africa

It was like a Nollywood premier, but this time there were neither props nor digital effects. Nigeria has joined nations under terrorist threats following the bomb explosion that pierced the Nigerian Police HQ in Abuja on June 16.

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18 June 2011

Syria: Al Assad's Cousin Quits Business for Charity Work

Written by Lulu Ahmed · Middle East & North Africa

On 16th June, at the eve of another Friday of protests in Syria, Syrian State Television announced that 41-year-old businessman Rami Makhlouf will quit his businesses to take up charity work. Netizens react to the announcement.

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Saudi Arabia: Women Behind the Wheel

Written by Amira Al Hussaini · Middle East & North Africa

Several Saudi women took the wheel yesterday to break the siege on driving in Saudi Arabia, where women are banned from driving cars. The campaign to drive was announced on Facebook, and fueled by conversations on other social media platforms, such as micro-blogging site Twitter. Laila Sindi, from Jeddah, shares her experience in a series of tweets.

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Malaysia: Hacktivist Group Attacks Government Websites

Written by Jerrenn Lam · East Asia

At least 50 other government websites in Malaysia were attacked by international ‘hacktivist’ group Anonymous last Thursday over the government’s proposed censoring of several file sharing websites. Online reactions were mixed.

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E Day: Discovering Celebrities' Favorite Words

Written by Juliana Rincón Parra · Western Europe, Latin America

What do singer Shakira, actor Gael Garcia Bernal, chef Ferran Adria and writer Mario Vargas Llosa have in common? They are all part of the group of 30 celebrities who have shared through video their favorite word in Spanish as part of the celebrations for E Day by the Cervantes Institute.

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Updates from June, 2011

27 June 2011

Spain

Ivan Chaar-López posts the videos of sociologist and communications scholar Manuel Castells [es] speech on “Communications, Power and Democracy” which he offered during his visit to activists in Barcelona, Spain.

• Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Russia

LJ-user re3 writes [ru] about covert drug graffiti (e.g. “Aromatic salt - call center 24 hours”). Graffiti look like regular guerrilla ads air sprayed on the building walls. They, however, advertise fast delivery of the so called “Bath Salt” drug. The blogger claims whole Urals region is filled with such ads, some of which, might be seen even in centers of the major cities.

• Alexey Sidorenko

Puerto Rico (U.S.)

Blogger Maite Ramos has been posting a picture a day on her blog Elucubraciones de Amaranta [es] as part her participation in two different photo contests.

• Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

South Africa

On being white and feeling ashamed in South Africa: “Should white people in South Africa feel ashamed about being white and about the fact that we benefited in the past because of our white skins and continue to benefit from our whiteness – even if we were born after the end of apartheid?”

• Ndesanjo Macha

Czech Republic

LJ-user tanjakaverzina brings up [ru] the dialogue of Yuri Lyubimov, Russian theater director who had recently declared he quits Taganka theater, with the actors. The actors claim [ru] the reason of the conflict is Lyubimov's greed and authoritarianism. Stas Sadalskiy, famous blogger and actor, comments [ru]: “the actors took this step after a dozen of peaceful attempts to solve the issue.”

• Alexey Sidorenko

Tanzania

Activists in Canada remember North Mara mine victims: “Approximately 70 people gathered today [June 4, 2011] at a commemoration held for the seven individuals killed in Tanzania at African Barrick Gold’s North Mara Mine.”

• Ndesanjo Macha

Nigeria

Christoper Akor asks MTN Nigeria to stop extortion: “For some time now, I have been receiving various unsolicited text messages (SMS) from MTN Nigeria urging me to play some games in which I may win fantastic prizes or subscribe to some products or services it or its clients offer.”

• Ndesanjo Macha

Brazil: Communities in Rio Blame Olympics for Evictions

Hi Christa, Thank you for sharing the good news. I am glad that at least one battle has been won by...
Help us bring international visibility to this issue. Please read and share the following link regarding Vila Autódromo's recent win...

Interesting indeed. I don't hear much news from Peru so this information was indeed news and something the world community...
Interesting read. Thanks for sharing!
Great article that addressed the matter concisely and with appropriate supplemental material.