Stories about Citizen Media from December, 2009
Japan: Things just got worse
“Japanese OO got worse in 2009″. Umeten gives a list [ja] of all the things that got worse in Japan this year, from economy to music magazines to baseball … A link to other blogs or websites for each item.
Overcoming negative stereotypes in the South Caucasus
An online project using new and social media to overcome negative stereotypes in the South Caucasus entered a second stage last week when two blogging Azerbaijani journalism students and a Georgian blogger joined in the initiative.
Japan: And the kanji of 2009 is …
Blogger fenetre39 comments [ja] on the kanji, or chinese character, chosen by the Kanji Kentei Foundation as representative of 2009. The kanji is 新 (ara or shin), meaning “new”. In the blogger`s opinion, the reason of the choice [ja] is mainly due to the “new” government that took power in August.
Russia: Role of Stalin Debated on RuNet
Heated discussions on RuNet in the wake of the 130th anniversary of Joseph Stalin showed how divided people are regarding his role in Russian history.
Brazil: Bloggers lament urban forest fires
After fires ravaged the world's largest urban forest in Rio de Janeiro this September, bloggers document, reflect and mobilise in equal measure.
Israel: National Policy Needed for Foreign Workers
Amir Mizroch advocates for a national policy to protect foreign workers in Israel. “You could see the migrant worker story as an inevitable cultural and economic phenomenon with huge potential benefits to Israel. Fields get tilled and houses get built. We enjoy their culture and they enjoy ours. Call it...
India: The Sapling Project
Two Mumbai based netizens have started a campaign to distribute plant saplings across Mumbai and other cities of India. The plant owners will use citizen and social media tools to report the updates of the growth of the plants.
After COP15 Copenhagen: Reactions from the African blogosphere
The 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen received broad media coverage. Many analysts have indicated that nations in Africa and the developing world stand to lose most heavily if global warming continues unchecked, yet the African blogosphere has been relatively quiet on the subject.
South Africa: A nation in conversation with itself 140 words at a time
“Was news of Manto’s death the Hudson plane crash of South Africa? Did the passing of the controversial former minister of health mark a coming of age of Twitter in this country?,” asks South African blogger and author Sarah Britten in her post on Thought Leader titled, “How Twitter broke the news about Manto.”
Russia: Livejournal Vs. Tor and New Battle for Anonymity
Livejournal.com preventing users from accessing its site via an anonymizer caused panic and anger among global online community. It also showed the importance of anonymizers and revealed vulnerability of online privacy tools.
Angola: Interview with Feliciano Cangüe from the Hukalilile blog
Professor and engineer Feliciano Cangüe is the author of the blog Hukalilile (Don't cry for me, Angola), and the first of several Angolan bloggers who feature in a series of interviews to be published on Global Voices.
Video: Impressions from the Climate Change Conference
We bring you some video impressions from people at the Climate Change Conference that took place during the first weeks of December in Copenhagen, Denmark. From protests, to dances, arts and presentations, a small sample of COP15.
South Africa: Controversial Health Minister Dies and Twitter Goes Wild
South Africa's former Health Minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang passed away recently. Manto was not a stranger to controversy with dodgy views on managing HIV-AIDS using beetroot, garlic, lemons and African potatoes. She never ceased to be a favourite topic in the mainstream media and indeed the blogosphere and twittersphere.
Russia: Popular Blogger Would Be Glad If Russian Authorities Restrict Internet
Popular Russian blogger and activist Roman Dobrokhotov talks to GVO about the Internet and online activism in the country.
Colombia: Twenty Years After Assassination of Luis Carlos Galán
Twenty years after the assassination of former Colombian presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán, a documentary is filmed where the son of Pablo Escobar meets the children of his victims, which includes Galán.
Podcast: Interview with Sudanese Drima
Sudanese Drima is the pseudonym for Global Voices' Malaysia-based Sudanese author. In this ten-minute interview we discuss how social media is affecting Islam, the Darfur conflict, and issues of Afro-Arab identity in South East Asia.
Uganda: Can the media force a country to mourn?
Can the media force a country to mourn? This it the main question that the Ugandan journalist and blogger, Rosebell Kagumire, raised in a lively conversation that took place on her blog and Facebook page following local media coverage of the death of Uganda's Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya’s son.
Morocco: Another Blogger Imprisoned
On Monday, December 14th, Blogger Bashir Hazzam and Internet cafe owner Abdullah Boukhou were sentenced to four months and one year, respectively plus a fine of MAD 500 (USD 63) each, in a Goulmim court.
Guatemala: The Film ‘Puro Mula’ Awarded at Havana Festival
Filmed in Guatemala, the movie 'Puro Mula' was recently awarded at Havana Film Festival. It is one of the works from the collective Best Picture System, which brings together artists from all across Latin America.
Video: International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers
Videos and activists observed the International Day to End Violence against Sex Workers, and here are some videos related to their efforts in ensuring rights to Sex Workers.
Uganda: Updates on the pending anti-gay bill
The impending anti- gay bill 2009 in Uganda that plans on criminalizing homosexuality and locking gays in prison or killing them has raised concerns all over the world. Chances that the bill will pass are very high.
