http://www.movements.org/ en Copyright 2012 2012-02-02T21:18:13+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/indonesian-atheist-posts-god-doesnt-exist-on-facebook-faces-potential-jailt/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/indonesian-atheist-posts-god-doesnt-exist-on-facebook-faces-potential-jailt/ An Indonesian atheist is facing jail time for posting the phrase “God doesn’t exist” on his Facebook page. The man, who is only being identified as Alexander, arrived for work at a government office on Wednesday, and was attacked by a group of people upset by his beliefs. 2012-02-02T20:18:13+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/twitters-new-persian-service-excites-iranians1/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/twitters-new-persian-service-excites-iranians1/ Twitter had a major role during Iran’s uprising after the disputed election on June 2009. Twitter announced its plan to expand their right-to-left language translation service to include more languages: Arabic, Farsi/Persian, Hebrew and Urdu. Persian is Iran’s official language and is also spoken in Afghanistan. On their blog, Twitter announced this news on January 25: “Beginning today, right-to-left languages are now available for volunteers to translate in the Twitter Translation Center, starting with Arabic, Farsi, Hebrew and Urdu.  2012-01-30T16:13:43+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/syrian-activists-circumvent-regime-censorship/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/syrian-activists-circumvent-regime-censorship/ Despite the Syrian regime’s relentless crusade to ban activists from sending and receiving information in their country, dissidents have found a number of ways to stay connected. Here is a brief overview of three methods they use. 1) Proxy servers: Dima, a young Syrian activist from Damascus, told Movements.org,“most of the websites that are important to us are banned. All of the local media outlets that oppose the regime cannot be accessed from Syria." For example, local websites, like SHRIL (Syrian Human Rights Information Link) that is run by famed Syrian activist Razan Zaitouneh, are blocked in Syria. SHRIL contains links to hundreds of websites that are currently banned, some of which were blocked years before the beginning of the revolution in Syria.  All4Syria is a website run by Syrian intellectual Ayman Abdel Nour. The regime banned his website in 2004 because it discusses issues considered taboo. To read more, click here. 2012-01-24T18:00:40+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/iranian-officials-phobia-of-grouponing/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/iranian-officials-phobia-of-grouponing/ The Internet has become the Iranian government’s worst nightmare, whether it used to organize a gathering (click here to read more about the Iranian teenagers who were arrested for participating in a water gun fight), post one’s thoughts on a blog or another form of social media, or simply to try to save some money. 2012-01-23T20:45:14+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/title-online-activists-chide-saudi-grand-mufti/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/title-online-activists-chide-saudi-grand-mufti/ Saudi Grand Mufti Abdul-Aziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheik criticized women vendors for selling goods in public places when he gave his sermon during the Jumma prayer earlier this month, stating that this behavior would result in “a tremendous moral crisis”.  This statement follows July’s  mandate from Saudi Arabia’s Labor Ministry directing stores that sell lingerie and cosmetics to replace salesmen with women. To view the rest of this artice, click here. 2012-01-23T16:30:51+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/how-to-get-past-internet-filtering-if-you-arent-concerned-about-being-detec/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/how-to-get-past-internet-filtering-if-you-arent-concerned-about-being-detec/ There are a number of techniques to get past Internet filtering. If your aim is simply to reach pages or services on the Internet that are blocked from your location, and you are not concerned whether other people can detect and monitor your circumvention, these techniques may be all you need: HTTPS using alternative domain names or URLs to reach blocked content using third-party Web sites to reach blocked content using e-mail gateways to retrieve blocked Web pages over e-mail. Censorship 2012-01-20T15:01:33+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/from-the-archives-how-to-add-context-to-your-youtube-videos-for-maximum-imp/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/from-the-archives-how-to-add-context-to-your-youtube-videos-for-maximum-imp/ Many people argue that for activists YouTube is actually the most powerful social network. YouTube allows activists and citizen journalists in countries without free media to capture events happening on the ground and share them with the rest of the world. By recording (or streaming) human rights abuses, violence against peacful protestors, or even non violent demonstrations activists can harness the power of video to gain support for their causes and movements.     Video 2012-01-19T21:00:33+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/case-study-the-pink-chaddi-campaign/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/case-study-the-pink-chaddi-campaign/ In late January 2009, a group of 40 activists from right-wing Hindu group Sri Ram Sena attacked women and men hanging out in a pub in the Indian city of Mangalore. They were upset with the women for engaging in behavior they found immoral, claiming that the girls were disrepecting traditional Indian values. Video of the event went viral across India, sparking outrage among many at the attack on innocent women. Pramod Muthalik, the group’s founder, praised the attack, stating, “Whoever has done this has done a good job. Girls going to pubs is not acceptable. So, whatever the Sena members did was right. You are highlighting this small incident to malign the BJP government in the state.” Following the attack, the Sri Ram Sena announced plans to target couples out celebrating Valentines Day, threatening to forcibly marry off unmarried couples seen in public places. How could women and men react to this right-wing group attempts at “moral policing” and take a stand before future attacks? 2012-01-18T21:41:16+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/egyptian-blogger-on-egypts-future/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/egyptian-blogger-on-egypts-future/ Amidst Egyptian elections, CyberDissidents.org caught up with Dalia Ziada, a young Egyptian blogger, activist and parliamentary candidate in the El-Adl (Justice) Party. Ranked third in a recent survey, the Justice Party is mostly comprised of young activists who participated in the revolution, Dalia among them, and places women in advanced positions on their party lists. Dalia says her party is trying to find the balance between the extremists, Islamists, and the former members of Mubarak’s National Democratic Party. As a young woman activist, Dalia promotes liberal rights and women’s rights in Egypt, believing that an Egyptian can be both liberal-minded and a pious Muslim. CD: During the Egyptian revolution, you were saying that everyone likes the military. Do you think that has changed?DZ: No, the majority of people still like the military, but people in Tahrir Square are different. On TV recently, I watched a crowd of people saying, “We still want to have the military in power, even if we have a civilian leader. We still want the military.”CD: Why?DZ: They like the military. They feel safer with the military. Also, don’t forget the Israel issue. People feel like there is some kind of foreign enemy, and the only way to protect themselves from this enemy....to read the rest, click here. 2012-01-16T18:03:42+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/how-to-get-an-sms-short-code/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/how-to-get-an-sms-short-code/ Short codes are shorter versions of telephone numbers that provide increased functionality with SMS. They typically provide automated services to people who text them. One advantage of short codes is that organizations can charge special rates for texting to a short code. For example, the American Red Cross charges users five dollars to text “GIVE” to 24357, which is an extremely convenient donation method for supporters. Short codes can also be free to text to, which is used to encourage interaction between and organization and the community. For example, an organization can mass message members and ask for a vote on a decision. Community members can text their votes for free, allowing an organization to easily get feedback from supporters. Fundraising, Mobile 2012-01-12T14:21:43+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/facebook-profiles-reveal-young-womens-obsession-to-post-pictures-of-body-pa/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/facebook-profiles-reveal-young-womens-obsession-to-post-pictures-of-body-pa/ The following article was posted on arabnews.com on January 9, 2012.  To view the original, click here. Journalist Mariyam Jaber said she found several social websites where just the body parts of what appears to be Saudi women are displayed, such as feet, just the body or even fingernails, but without betraying her identity. “This reveals a woman’s desire to liberate herself from social restrictions and express herself, and Facebook or other networking sites are the easiest platforms to achieve this,” she said. The number of Saudis on Facebook is estimated at 2.3 million out of the 5 million in the Gulf. According to figures, 29 percent of Saudi Internet users visit Facebook and women under 25 account for 48 percent of all Internet users in the Kingdom. “Most women on social networking sites use fake names. By displaying parts of their body and sometimes in glittering colors, young women must be achieving some sort of gratification or release of their emotions while anonymity guarantees them immunity from social censure or parental displeasure,” said Amal Al-Saleh, a university graduate.  She added that many women prefer to present images resembling singers. They display a passion for posting photos accompanied by minute details of their personal life on Facebook. Social Media, Facebook Activism 2012-01-09T16:36:22+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/from-the-archives-how-to-organize-and-communicate-a-non-violent-protest-usi/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/from-the-archives-how-to-organize-and-communicate-a-non-violent-protest-usi/ Protest4 is an application that helps you connect with other protesters around the world and in the next street. It empowers anyone to create a protest and then invite others to join using social media. After joining you can communicate exclusively with other people who are following that protest, sharing text and publishing images on the same protest wall in real time. How To, Anti-Violence, Technology and Social Movements, Protest 2012-01-05T16:55:00+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/from-the-archives-using-language-to-evade-online-censorship-in-china/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/from-the-archives-using-language-to-evade-online-censorship-in-china/ Officially, Chinese law prohibits media content that could “endanger the country by sharing state secrets. In practice, this includes everything from dissident sites and news servers such as CNN and the BBC, to sexually explicit content and even health sites. As a result, netizens and the Chinese government engage in a game of cat and mouse, where each constantly maneuvers to outsmart the other. Controversial websites are routinely blocked, search results are filtered, and online forums are peppered with posts from the government employed propagandists. But infamous government censors notwithstanding, China maintains a robust online culture - bloggers, activists, and ordinary internet users find unexpected and inventive ways to get their voices heard. That doesn't mean they are talking politics - most aren't - but those that do have, thus far at least, continued to identify new and innovative ways to keep the conversation going despite censorship. 2012-01-02T13:12:11+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/2011-was-a-big-year/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/2011-was-a-big-year/ 2011 was a BIG year for human rights and democracy activists using online and mobile technology for their movements and campaigns. Across Africa, MENA, Asia, and all over the world passionate non-violent activists have been able use Facebook, Twitter, Bambuser, Protest4, YouTube, SoundCloud, and more as a 'megaphone' to the rest of the world as they advocated for their rights.  We are crowdsourcing the most inspiring articles, videos, and images from 2011 according to YOU! Using the hashtag #INSPIRATION share the memes that mean the most to you and we'll include them in our end of the year post.  Social Media, Facebook Activism, Twitter Activism 2011-12-19T14:15:33+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/new-youtube-how-to-playlists-circumvention-and-staying-safe-online/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/new-youtube-how-to-playlists-circumvention-and-staying-safe-online/ From Syrian Sit-Ins on YouTube, to the worldwide Occupy movement, and the continued events following the transformative Arab Spring, web censorship rises as a prominent issue and concern for current social movements around the world. To share information between organizers and supporters through communication technologies has become, in some countries, risky and intensely challenging. A notable option to accessing blocked information and communicating securely is circumvention technology. Through the plethora of technologies available, digital activists of various movements and issues can both share their information with the world and mobilize within their country for change. Access to Information, How To, Censorship, Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, Internet Freedom, Video 2011-12-16T14:52:25+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/new-case-studies/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/new-case-studies/ Movements.org contributor Matt Mulberry has authored three new case studies: "Oleg Koslovski and pro-Democracy Activism in Russia", "Herman Wainggai and activism in West Papua", and "Ahmed Salah and the Egyptian Revolution". All three case studies are based on interviews done by Matt and his colleagues at the International Center on Non-Violent Conflict. 2011-12-13T17:30:05+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/how-to-celebrate-human-rights-day/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/how-to-celebrate-human-rights-day/ 2011 was the year that human rights went 'viral'. Leveraging tools and platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Bambuser, and Flickr people all over the world have been able to share and organize with unprecedented ease. However, with these 21st century tools has also come new dangers: people are being arrested for their blog posts and videos in countries that suffer from a lack of human rights. Today, on the 63rd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we encourage you to celebrate in the true spirit of 2011- by supporting online campaigns that are advocating for human rights. 2011-12-09T16:58:15+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/free-razan/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/free-razan/ Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi was arrested yesterday while trying to leave Syria via the Jordanian border. Razan was on her way to a conference in Amman about defending the freedom of the media in the Arab World when she was detained. Razan has a master’s degree in comparative literature from the University of Balamand in Lebanon, and she is the author of razanghazzawi.com where she defends freedom of expression. Additionally, she has been one of the few Arabic activists who advocates for the rights of homosexuals in the Arab World. Advocacy, Alert, Social Media, Facebook Activism, Twitter Activism 2011-12-06T19:10:48+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/ethiopia-where-he-faces-imprisonment-and-mistreatment-for-the-crime-of-usin/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/ethiopia-where-he-faces-imprisonment-and-mistreatment-for-the-crime-of-usin/ Ethiopia where he faces imprisonment and "mistreatment" for the crime of using Skype (he has been in prison there before and says he fears for his life). Advocacy, Alert 2011-12-22T13:26:32+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/one-million-voices-documentary/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/one-million-voices-documentary/ One Million Voices is a feature-length documentary about Colombian engineer turned social media activist, Oscar Morales. In 2008, Oscar created a Facebook group called "One Million Voices Against FARC" that organized the largest protest in global history. Since this life-changing event, Oscar has engaged in a perilous, highly debated “life’s mission” to continue to collaborate with other online organizers around the world.   2011-12-19T14:38:39+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/nepalese-facebook-campaign-to-improve-the-bir-hospital/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/nepalese-facebook-campaign-to-improve-the-bir-hospital/ Facebook activists in Nepal are trading in politics for public improvements.  civil society, Social Media, Facebook Activism 2011-12-14T17:00:55+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/free-throws-for-full-court-peace/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/free-throws-for-full-court-peace/ Movements.org Delegate Mike Evans is shooting 100 LEFT HANDED free throws to raise money for his organization Full Court Peace. Check out the video, share, and support! 2011-12-05T20:48:32+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/help-movements.org-delegate-janessa-goldbeck-to-cycle-for-security/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/help-movements.org-delegate-janessa-goldbeck-to-cycle-for-security/ Movements.org delegate Janessa Goldbeck is up for a 5k grant to help the 13.3 million people in crisis in the eastern Horn of Africa. Here's how you can support Janessa's project to Cycle4Security.   2011-12-04T17:18:29+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/colombia-soy-yo-plans-national-protest-rejecting-violence/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/colombia-soy-yo-plans-national-protest-rejecting-violence/ The "Global Mobilization for the Liberty of all Hostages," taking place December 6, is being organized by the civil society groups Colombia Soy Yo, Indígnate Colombia, Manos Limpias, Titanes por la Libertad, and Adopta un Secuestrado to demand for the release of all kidnapped people, in response to the recent killing of FARC hostages.  2011-12-02T15:42:25+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/new-green-movement-protest/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/new-green-movement-protest/ A former Iranian dissident and member of the CyberDissidents.org board writes about a new form of Green Movement protest on his Facebook page.  2011-12-01T18:30:14+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/how-to-maximize-your-causes-facebook-page/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/how-to-maximize-your-causes-facebook-page/ Yesterday Mashable published an article displaying a heat map of a Facebook page. What got the most eyeballs? The Facebook page image! Here are some tips and trick's for maximazing that space, and other highly viewed parts of the Facebook page, to get the most attention for your cause or campaign.  2011-12-01T14:34:44+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/youre-invited-conference-call-with-iranian-activist-and-cyberdissidents.org/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/youre-invited-conference-call-with-iranian-activist-and-cyberdissidents.org/ CyberDissidents invites you to participate in a conference call with a leading Iranian online activist who escaped Iran in 2008.  2011-11-30T22:11:06+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/chile-police-students-clash-in-education-protest-4deagosto-laalamedaesnuest/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/chile-police-students-clash-in-education-protest-4deagosto-laalamedaesnuest/ In August we reported that hundreds of Chilean students, fighting to overhaul their education system, clashed with an intensified police force as they protested without permission on through the center of capital Santiago. The protest sky-rocketed to the top of the city's trending topics on Twitter as students vented their growing frustrations using hashtags like #4deagosto, #laalamedaesnuestra and #camilasomostodos. Today the Internet is a buzz with praise for the students new 'creative' protest tactic.  2011-11-29T12:58:28+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/foreign-policy-top-100-global-thinkers/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/foreign-policy-top-100-global-thinkers/ Foreign Policy recently released their list of 'Top 100 Global Thinkers'. We are happy to see that many people we've featured on Movements.org for their work promoting non violent social change using 21st century tools, have been included in the list. Check out some past Movements.org blog posts and case studies featuring members of FP's Top 100 Global Thinkers (including our cofounder Jared Cohen!) 2011-11-28T20:26:05+00:00 http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/diy-flying-drones-coming-to-a-riot-near-you/ http://www.movements.org/blog/entry/diy-flying-drones-coming-to-a-riot-near-you/ Breaking news story? Why not put a call in for a robotic helicopter to be the public’s eye in the sky? For that reason there’s a lot to love about these images filmed by an amateur aerial drone hovering over a riot in the Polish capital Warsaw. Citizen Media, civil society, Video 2011-11-28T16:20:56+00:00