Stories about Citizen Media from February, 2011
Peru: Ex-Minister Asked US Embassy to Help Contain Opponent's Presidential Campaign
On February 19th, Spanish newspaper El Pais released a cable stating that "Fernando Rospigliosi, former Minister of the Interior in the government of Alejandro Toledo, asked the assistance of the United States Embassy to carry a campaign against Ollanta Humala." Peruvian bloggers and Twitter users quickly reacted to the cable that rocked the local political environment during an election year.
Japan: Football player exodus
At World Cup Blog, Aidan reflects on whether the exodus of soccer talents from Japan to European teams is a good thing for Japanese football. Considering the big number of players who left Japan recently, the blogger examines the positive and negative aspects of such trend.
Zambia: Minister Uses Facebook to Announce Government Policies
Zambia’s education minister Dora Siliya who is also ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) spokesperson, has in the last few months used Facebook to make important government policy announcements as well as party matters.
France: Demonstration in Paris Against Gabon Dictatorship
Around 7,000 people gathered in the streets of French capital Paris to demonstrate against African dictators and the French government's alleged collusion with African dictatorial regimes on Saturday 26 February, 2011. Protestors chanted slogans outside Gabon President Ali Bongo's 140 million Euro mansion.
Côte d'Ivoire: Images of Vandalised Mosque in Yopougon
Ibrahim Diarra posted pictures of a mosque in Yopougon, Côte d'Ivoire which he says was vandalised on February 26 by President Laurent Gbagbo's Young Patriots. The photos appeared on the Facebook page, Pour la paix, rien que la paix en Côte d'Ivoire (“For peace, nothing but peace”). Côte d'Ivoire has...
Libya: “The only thing we want is our freedom” (Audio)
Sunday, February 27 brought another day of bloodshed in Libya, as an uprising against Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi's 40-year rule continued into the 11th day. Phone calls with Libyans that have been shared online and translated, show that citizens are still struggling with even basic security.
Mexico: Kidnapping Case Affects Diplomatic Relations with France
Relations between Mexico and France have been strained due to the kidnapping conviction of French national Florence Cassez in Mexico City. Cassez was arrested in 2006, accused of kidnapping charges and sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Libya: Fear and Chaos at Tripoli Airport
Fear, chaos, hysteria and despair - all these words have been used to describe Libyan capital Tripoli's airport over the past few days. Since uprisings began against the country's leader Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi on the night of February 16, 2011 (#Feb17), Libya has been in a state of uncertainty.
Armenia: Social Networks for Social Revolution?
With uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab world, the extra-parliamentary opposition in Armenia is now seeking to replicate events in the former Soviet republic, and not least because 1 March 2011 will mark the 3rd anniversary of post-presidential election clashes which left 10 people dead.
Cameroon: Police Use Brute Force Against Protesters
Opposition groups in Cameroon organized protests on Wednesday Wednesday, February 23, 2011 to call for President Paul Biya to leave office. President Paul Biya, who is running for re-election later this year, has been in power for 28 years. Paul Biya's Special Intervention Brigade crushed the protest with brute force.
Africa: Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou
Boukari Ouédraogo wrote [Fr] on his blog: ” The 22nd edition of the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou will take place in Ouagadougou from February 26th to March 5th. This year's theme is “African Cinema and Markets.”
Libya: “They Were Shooting Us Randomly” (Videos)
As each day passes, it seems demonstrators and rebel military factions are coming closer to ousting the 40-year regime of Colonel Muammer Al Gaddafi. Like other days, however, Friday bore more news of violence against civilians, and worries that Gaddafi will soon do something extreme.
Yemen: “Our blood is not cheap” (Videos)
Tens of thousands of protesters across Yemen rallied for and against President Ali Abdullah Saleh after Friday prayers. Two protesters were shot dead in Yemen's second-largest city Aden on Friday, February 25, in what appears to be confrontations between anti-Saleh groups and police. At least 34 others have been wounded, mostly by live gunfire.
Jordan: Reactions to Amman's Friday Protests (Photos)
After demonstrations in Amman, Jordan on Friday 18 February, 2011, thousands of Jordanians representing diverse groups and voices took to the streets this Friday 25 February, in a more organized and responsible protest.
Côte d'Ivoire: The Difficult Legacy of Houphouët-Boigny
To better understand the origins of the current political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire, it is necessary to place recent events in their post-colonial context. Anna Gueye traces the history of the Ivorian political crisis and the reactions of bloggers in the face of the latest news.
Will Algeria Follow Tunisia and Egypt?
The two attempts by the National Coordination for Change and Democracy to organize a march in Algiers on February 12 and 19, 2011, failed, mostly because of the security measures set up to prevent Algerians from protesting, but also due to the weakness of the organizations calling for the demonstrations. Will Algeria match Egypt and Tunisia's protest successes?
Peru: Controversy Over Removal of Anonymity in Electoral Polls
A new policy preventing opinion polls from being conducted anonymously caused a storm in the press and on social networking sites. Finally, faced with a barrage of questions from the public and the press over its conduct, the National Jury of Elections was forced to retract the regulation.
Libya: “The Point of No Return”
The last gasps of Muammar Al Gaddafi could be counted in hours. But after the Libyan leader recently threatened to kill protesters and members of the military defying his regime, the hours will be spent nervously. In areas of the country no longer under Gaddafi control, people are beginning to document human rights abuses.
Yemen: At the Boiling Point? (Video)
President Saleh of Yemen has begun offering concessions to opposition protesters, ordering security forces to protect demonstrators. But most people don't appear ready to take the ruler at his word. Meanwhile, large anti-government protests continue to take place. The government's goodwill could be tested in a planned pro-government march on the nation's capital on Friday.
“We Are Not Ants”: New Book Promotes Educated Optimism
No Somos Hormigas (We Are Not Ants) is a book and online platform; a Spanish-language project devoted to "educated optimism." Global Voices is mentioned in the book and online as an example of a project of social innovation.
Nepal's stalled revolution
Thom Brooks, Reader in Political and Legal Philosophy at Newcastle University, comments on Nepal's interesting embrace of communism while the rest of the world increasingly views the ideology as failed.
