Google's Beta Human Rights Channel

Google has taken plenty of flak over its self-censorship in totalitarian or repressive countries or those with tight media controls.

The latest Human Rights channel on YouTube is a welcome attempt to balance things.

There is full play list for the month with videos from dozens of countries

Sour Grapes Over Surprise Seat on UN Security Council

From my latest Global Voices post:

There was lots of jubilation when Australia won a two-year non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council on Friday, October 19, 2102. The long UN Security Council and the short #UNSC of it were both trending on Twitter, down under. 

...But it isn’t all self-congratulation. There seem to be some sour grapes as well. 

Australia: Surprise Seat on United Nations Security Council

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Oceans of Toxic Plastic

From the third in my series Poisoning Paradise for ThinkBrigade:

Are we poisoning our oceans and ourselves with plastics? Oceans of Plastic is the third of the “Poisoning Paradise” series.

Plastic Oceans, a recent report on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation TV’s Catalyst programme, explores the latest science and its global implications for wildlife and humans.
Poisoning Paradise: Oceans of Toxic Plastic

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Global Voices - Venezuela: Chávez Gets Six More Years

Global Voices has the reaction on twitter to Hugo Chavez's re-election:

After the most contested and intense elections of the last decade, Venezuela will add six more years to the administration that began in 1999 with Hugo Chávez Frías. The traffic on social networks, particularly on Twitter, was extremely intense, especially moments before the official announcement of the results.

From the side that supports the President, tweets express joy and satisfaction, while those who support Henrique Capriles share mixed feelings of disappointment with deep convictions that changes are possible in the future.

Venezuela: Chávez Era to Extend for Six More Years

Available in English and Spanish, with more languages to come.

Statement on Alan Jones: End the Culture of Hate

For those who missed Nic Lochner and Vinay Orekondy's excellent letter this week about their vision of civil political discourse. Their argument that 'the culture of hate is unsustainable' should be supported by us all:

Is Social Media Leading a Hyper-Revolution?

Open-site.org want feedack about their video about the online activist revolution. It claims:

Today, a handful of users on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube can launch a movement that can topple a regime. Just look at Tunisia. Just look at Egypt. It can organize the frustration of middle class Americans from the impotent complaints of individuals into a spontaneous, passionate and primal force. A wave doesn’t demand concessions, but you have no choice but to acknowledge it when it crashes down on you. We are the 99 percent.

Please leave your comments and I'll pass them on.

Shock Jock Attack on PM Gillard Fires Online Anger

From Global Voices:

Spontaneous anger erupted on Australian social media on Saturday night 29 September 2012. News broke that a Sunday Telegraph journalist had recorded a tasteless reference to Prime Minster Julia Gillard's father by controversial radio shock jock Alan Jones. This anger has been translated into action with Twitter and Facebook used to push for his sacking.
Australia: Shock Jock Attack on PM Gillard Fires Online Anger