Articles: Morocco: War on Press Continues
Region: MoroccoThe Moroccan authorities are ratcheting up their attacks on independent journalists. A week rarely passes without the authorities hitting hard on the press for alleged infractions, cracking down on printed as well as online media. Press freedom watchdogs like Reporters Without Borders judge the situation of Press freedom in the country now as “difficult,” condemning a “judicial system [that] deploys an arsenal of sanctions designed to intimidate and financial... more
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Japan: In a World with Automatic Translation
Region: Japan
In a post titled I especially want to read ‘trivial information' (“くだらない情報”こそ読んでみたい), Japanese blogger Chikirin gives a fresh perspective on what's important or not and why. Note: The post was translated in its entirety with permission from the blogger. All links were added by Tomomi Sasaki for reference. You know how the online community is sometimes wowed with the emergence of services with new technologies and ideas like Google Maps, Googl... more
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Videos attempt to explain Honduras political situation
Region: Honduras
After the recent confusing events in Honduras, where the elected President Zelaya was demoted by the military and shipped off to Costa Rica while in his pajamas and a new President, Micheletti has taken power and declared a curfew among other measures to keep order, while citizens try to make sense of the situation, as shown onthis past post. Some are using videos to express their perspectives, and we bring you a few of them. The following image is part of a set of images of unrest... more
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Egyptian Woman Killed in German Court for Wearing Veil
Region: EgyptIt's been too long since Egyptian bloggers came together under the same opinion. But the new hate crime that took place in Germany against a Muslim Egyptian woman, Marwa El Sherbini, was one good reason for them to unite again, condemning international media for ignoring such incidents against Muslims in the West. The story goes back to August 2008, when Marwa filed a defamation case against her killer, Axel, a 28-year unemployed German, after he called her a “terrori... more
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Turmoil in Iran
Region: IranTurmoil in Iran I was very surprised by the protest to Ahmadinejad in Iran. I was even more surprised when it continued after the supreme leader ordered the protest to stop and Mussavi to accept the results. By defying the supreme leader his position is weakened and so is the regime. What has occurred over the past few days is truly historic and Iran will never be the same. My heart and prayer goes out to those that put their lives on the line in order to have a voice. To be ... more
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Iran: Islamist bloggers react to protest movement
Region: Iran
by Hamid Tehrani As protests grow in Iran against the June 12 presidential election results that declare Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner, some Islamist bloggers explain why they believe Ahmadinejad won, and the opposition leader, Mir Hussein Mousavi lost. While international media is awash with news about how Mousavi supporters are using the internet to make their views known, several bloggers are using the same tools to make a case against the opposition candidate. Before the election... more
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Caste-based communities on Orkut mirror India's splintered society
Region: India
By Gaurav Mishra One of the main themes of my research on digital activism is that social technologies are value-agnostic. At each of the four levels of Content, Collaboration, Community and Collective Intelligence, social technologies can lead to both good and bad outcomes. I have written before about Shiv Sena's militant approach towards Orkut communities critical of the party, its leader Bal Thakeray, or its Hindutva ideology. Caste-based communities on Orkut are another disturbing exam... more
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Iranian election in photos
Region: Iran
By Hamid Tehrani The Iranian presidential election will be held on June 12. Only four men, out of more than 400 self-registered men and women, were given official approval by the Guardian Council for the candidacy. The sharp eyes of blogger-photographers have captured moments and scenes in the streets of Iran where people promote their favorite candidates and political demands. Maryam Majd has published several photos on Feminist School about “women’s independent presence in ... more
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Moroccans' Love/Hate Affair with Obama
Region: Morocco
By Anas Alaoui US President Barack Obama's Cairo address to the Muslim world sparked a blaze of reactions across the region and beyond; not least amongst bloggers from the Maghreb where a fiery of blog posts and instant tweets conveyed a whole spectrum of opinions ranging from outright, full endorsement to deep skepticism and even scorn and mistrust. Even before Obama's inauguration, and well before he decided which Middle Eastern or North African country he would choose to deliver his so c... more
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Libya: Women, Writers and Artists
Region: Libyan Arab JamahiriyaApparently swine flu has not yet hit the Libyan blogosphere but I'm sure talking about the status of women would make a good icebreaker. After exploring several Libyan blogs, Highlander who was posting about Arab/Libyan writers and bloggers thinks that with regards to writing it is preferable to use the blogosphere as a practicing space. There was no need to inform all to avoid trouble with the male half. “I don't think that the Libyan males are against their sisters, mothers, wives... more
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