Stories: Social Media
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Who Is Michael Martelly and Why Is the Haitian Grassroots Movement Protesting Against Him?
Today [the anniversary of the Battle of Vertieres (1803) in the war for independence] marks the second of a series of planned street protests against the government of Michel Martelly. The protest are organized by Fòs Patriotik ou Respè Konstitsyon [FOPARK] a coalition of pro Lavalas supporters, students, lawyers and human rights activists. ...
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How Technology Is Fostering Good Governance In Nigeria
As Nigeria marks its 53rd year since independence from the British on October 1st 1960, techies in the oil-rich West African country have come a long way from queueing at public cafes, to creating a multitude of web and mobile platforms to track activities of the government, and hold leaders accountable. With increased access to mobile phones, Nigeria is witnessing increased...
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Journalism in Zambia: Self-Censorship, Blocked Websites, and Social Media Monitoring
Brandishing placards asking passing traffic to honk in the name of free press, Zambian bloggers will today take to the streets of Lusaka for the second time in a fortnight to protest against the government’s stifling of freedom of expression on the Internet. Zambia’s reputation as one of the more liberal and democratic countries in Southern...
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In Saudi Arabia, Dissent Is Alive and Well, but Only Online or in Private
Every Tuesday night, a few dozen people squeeze into Waleed Abu Alkhair’s living room in the port city of Jidda, Saudi Arabia. Over tea and dates, they share opinions that could get them arrested if uttered in public. “If you ask people, they are afraid because they know the costs are very high,” says Abu Alkhair,...