Global Voices · Citizen media stories from July 2011

July, 2011

Monthly archive · 142 posts

Stories from July, 2011

24 July 2011

Saudi Arabia: The Marriage of #Tabukgirl

Written by Mona Kareem · Middle East & North Africa

Mona Kareem brings us the tale of #Tabukgirl and how this controversial story about a young girl being forcibly wed to a 60-year old man has sparked a strong response on Saudi Arabian social networks.

· 1

· read »

23 July 2011

Serbia: Government Officials and Social Networks (Interview)

Written by Danica Radisic · Eastern & Central Europe

Some Serbian government officials are eagerly embracing Twitter as a way to engage with their audiences, while others have found the challenge of fake satirical accounts difficult to accept. Find out more in this interview with former Minister, Jasna Matic.

· 2

· read »

Zambia: Facebook Group Leads 2011 Poll Debate

Written by Gershom Ndhlovu · Sub-Saharan Africa

Can a Facebook group, 'Zambian People’s Pact', tip the Zambian elections due in the next few months against the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), which has been in power for 20 years now? Gershom Ndhlovu investigates.

· 4

· read »

Argentina: 17 Years After AMIA Attack, Case Remains Unsolved

Written by Laura Schneider · Translated by Negarra Akili Kudumu · Latin America

July 18, 2011, commemorates one more year of the attack against the Israelite Argentinean Mutual Aid Association (AMIA) in 1994. Currently the case is open without resolution, yet the families of the victims and the Argentine community are still calling for justice for the 85 people killed.

· read »

22 July 2011

South Korea: Women-Only Subway Car Meets Strong Opposition

Written by Lee Yoo Eun · East Asia

As the subway sexual harassment is on the rise, especially during rush hours and late nights, Seoul city government has decided to launch women-only subway compartment to cut down the crime rate. However, the move has prompted fierce debate amongst South Korean netizens.

· 2

· read »

Zambia: Football Icon's Facebook Account Faked

Written by Gershom Ndhlovu · Sub-Saharan Africa

Kalusha Bwalya is probably one of the most recognised Zambian faces because of his outstanding achievements in football. However, when it comes to Facebook, it is difficult to tell whether an account in his name is genuine or not.

· read »

Updates from July, 2011

29 July 2011

Freedom of Speech

At Open Society Foundations' Blog, an interview with Danica Radovanovic of Digital Serendipities, covering “various topics related to digital use, online social interactions, digital divide, social networks and young adults in Southeastern Europe” and the Balkans.

• Veronica Khokhlova

Denmark

The severe drought in Africa's Horn is echoing in many online corners of the world. But not only established organizations are raising funds for food. Here's a Danish Facebooker introducing an alternative event - Starvation Monday [en]: “Starve yourself on August 1 and donate the money you would have spent on food to the starving people in Horn of Africa.”

• Maria Grabowski

Senegal

Macoumba Beye covers [fr] on afriscoop.net the demonstration organized in Dakar on July 23 against the candidature of President Abdoulaye Wade for a third term as President: “The Movement of June 23 - or M23 - brings together political parties, civil society movements, unions, imams and the movement “Y en a marre” (Fed up). It was born on June 23, on the day of the withdrawal of a bill establishing a vice-presidency, following strong public opposition.”

• Abdoulaye Bah

Freedom of Speech

Wang Lihong, one of many lesser known activists jailed in China, is facing imminent trial. The blog Free Wang Lihong has published a detailed English biography of her. Amnesty International has also issued an appeal to take action for her release.

• Andy Yee

El Salvador

Decree 743 “the controversial law which attempted to impose a requirement of unanimity on the Constitutional Court” was repealed this week by El Salvador's National Assembly, as Tim reports in his blog. The blog Voices from El Salvador describes the repeal as an “important indication that civil society and public participation are strengthening in El Salvador.”

• Silvia Viñas

Mexico

The second post on a series about immigration throughout the Americas on the Council on Hemispheric Affairs Blog focuses on “Mexico's Improving Education and Declining Emigration”.

• Silvia Viñas

Colombia

In the wake of the death of singer Joe Arroyo, Colombian news channel NTN24 featured reactions with actresses, models, and former beauty queens in English on its website. The video featuring model and presenter Carolina Cruz was heavily mocked on blogs and social media. Journalist Carolina Ruiz questions [es] the value of these interviews and the trivialization of Mr Arroyo's death, while Simón Posada “defends” [es] Ms Cruz blaming the media and the “ugly habit” Colombians have of “mocking everyone's way of speaking.”