Mobilising Support
MIGRANTE, a migrant rights group in the Philippines, has been using mobile communication in its advocacy campaigns for many years now. The group initiated an “emergency text” programme which allowed Filipino migrant workers to text in their complaints and so far, many cases of physical abuse of domestic workers by their employers were reported to the hotline.
Terrific Turnaround in Tashkent
The Map of Tashkent was part of an advocacy campaign by Human Rights Watch (HRW) around the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) decision to hold its annual meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 2003.
Citizens Push for Change
Who On Earth Cares http://www.whoonearthcares.com/woec/home.action is a novel website where Australian citizens through the use of Google maps, can play an active role in curbing climate change. The interactive website uses an application process which allows citizens to provide information on their personal contributions to limit climate change.
Kenyan Voters Influence MPs
Bunge SMS in Kenya is a mobile phone-based service by Made in Kenya Network that combines the internet and mobile telephony with the aim of empowering every Kenyan to influence local governance in their constituencies. People can report corruption, violence and environmental degradation, influence constituency project choices and monitor development activities.
Powerful Video in Demand of Justice
A video of a 13 year old, Mohamed Mamdouh Abdel Aziz, being tortured by Egyptian police was captured on a mobile phone and is being used by activists to press for reforms within the justice system.
Police Brutality Exposed
For many years, human rights organisations have reported that torture and abuse were rampant in Egypt's police stations. It wasn't until videos emerged showing some of the worst of these violations that the spotlight truly fell on the conduct of Egypt's police. Bloggers such as Wael Abbas brought international attention to police torture by publicising these videos – that show officers committing atrocities on suspects.
Link: http://hub.witness.org/EgyptPolice
Additional videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB2MalxaJDE
A Ray of Light in Zimbabwe
Sokwanele http://www.sokwanele.com/ is a civic action support group driven towards the use of non-violent actions to bring democracy, justice and freedom to Zimbabweans. They challenged and confronted, through non-violent means, the manner in which the ruling party – Zanu-PF ran the African nation. At a time when the government imposed strict restrictions on the media and quelled all anti-government operations, Sokwanele’s website played a key role in posting updates on government activities.
Video Catches Cops in the Act
An anonymous citizen calling himself the Targuist Sniper from Targuist, a small Berber town in the north of Morocco, posted on Youtube (http://uk.youtube.com/user/TarSniper) several videos showing Moroccan police officers accepting cash bribes from truck drivers and potential smugglers.
The videos generated wide debate in the world press and discussions on the internet, but they were never mentioned in the state media. The video represents a new method of cyberactivism which has helped in fighting widespread corruption in government institutions.
Info Design Makes its Mark
The Tobacco Atlas is a publication of the World Health Organisation designed to influence national policy. The map contextualises data to give it more impact.
Ring Tone Startles President
In the Philippines, part of an alleged conversation between the Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has become a hugely popular ring tone on mobile phones - the "Hello Garci" ringtone started circulating online days after tapes of this supposed conversation about vote rigging surfaced in the media. The 17-second greeting is top of the charts on phones, as Mrs Arroyo struggles with record low popularity. The authorities have barred the media from broadcasting any portion of it, saying it is part of a plot against the president.
