2 May 2010

Stories from 2 May 2010

Russia: The Little Blue Buckets Pedestrian Protest

The Little Blue Buckets pedestrian mock protest against the often illegal use of blue flashing lights (migalki) and the resulting reckless driving by state officials took place in Moscow on May 2; about half a dozen participants ended up getting detained by the police. Photos, video and comments (RUS) –...

The State of Citizen Media in Madagascar

  2 May 2010

It has been an eventful for the citizen media scene in Madagascar. The blogosphere in Madagascar has been growing slowly but steadily the past decade, slightly struggling  to find its voice until the 2009 political crisis. The sudden precipitation of events that provoked  high demand for frequent updates provided a...

Tech for Transparency in Sub-Saharan Africa

  2 May 2010

Transparency and accountability efforts are supported by a growing tech community in sub-Saharan Africa, though a widespread lack of access to information and communications technology (ICT) and a consequent lack of understanding and interest in these tools constitute a significant challenge to their success.

Lebanon: Bloggers covering elections

“Now here we are, not quite a year later [after the parliamentary elections], and bloggers are getting ministerial permission to cover the vote and dispatching roving teams with Flip cams and mobile phones,” writes Jessica about how citizen media coverage of the elections has changed over a year between the parliamentary...

Lebanon: Lebloggers Organization

“The Lebloggers Organization (Lebanese Bloggers) is the first organized body of bloggers and e-activists in Lebanon. Lebloggers brings together e-activists from diverse backgrounds all around Lebanon within an organized channel/coalition that will be active both online/offline.” The Lebloggers are now covering the Lebanese Municipal Elections.

Mexico: Attack of Caravan en Route to San Juan Copala

  2 May 2010

The Mex Files blog writes about the attack of a caravan carrying supplies to the community of San Juan Copala in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, in which at least one Mexican and one foreign observer were killed. YouTube user Guerreradelavida also has a audio/photo essay in memory of those...

Honduras: 7 Journalists Killed and Others Threatened

  2 May 2010

7 Honduran journalists have been murdered in the past 40 days, which continues the concerns about the state of freedom of expression in the country. Many of the journalists have been outspoken critics of the 2009 coup that removed former President Mel Zelaya from office.