Examples

Oro Sucio follows the topic of mine exploitation and its political and environmental impact in Argentina. The blog publishes documents that are the result of collective fieldwork. They also keep in contact with people and organisations that are involved in environmental activism in Argentina as well as across the world.

Sabbah’s Blog is an informative blog created to highlight human rights violations against the Palestinian people as well as to highlight the reality of Palestinian lives in the Occupied Territories. Its content consists of reports, commentary and video.

Sokwanele is a Zimbabwean based single-issue activist blog that uses commentary, news reports, video and photography to highlight the human rights abuses and repression in Zimbabwe. It provides an example of how blogs can be used anonymously in countries and situations where revealing your identity could be harmful and a risk to your safety. Sokwanele’s success is because it has been consistent and makes regular posts that are informative and campaign-based. They have consciously built a network of supporters — both bloggers and readers.

Abahlali baseMjondolo is a grassroots social movement of shack dwellers in Durban South Africa. Their blog has internationalized the struggle of the shack dwellers against police harassment and municipal evictions through news reports, declarations and opinion / commentary. The Abahlali blog is both a source of information on land rights and informal settlements in South Africa, as well as a means of mobilizing international support and funds for organizing campaigns lobbying for land rights. They have used their blog to highlight the plight of informal settlements in other countries such as Zimbabwe, Haiti and Kenya, and have also built links with social movements in these countries. Abahlali uses a mix of text, photos and video on their blog.

Black Looks is a Pan African multi-issue activist blog that covers a range of issues around human rights and social justice. It is a highly successful, award-winning blog that has been running for three years. The blog’s success is based on regular (almost daily) posts that use a variety of styles (informing, opinion, reporting, action alerts and in-depth analysis) and cover a range of topics. By using a range of social networking tools and maximizing the use of available technologies (see resources), Black Looks facilitates networking with other activist bloggers from across the continent and Diaspora; and builds strong personal and movement relationships across geography and other dividing lines.

Jackie Tumwine is a “dedicated tobacco control advocate” from Uganda. By reporting country by country on anti-smoking legislation, as well as on gender and child rights issues around tobacco, she works to fight tobacco’s toll on people’s lives and to magnify the work they are doing to make a difference. Jackie’s blog is an excellent example of how a one-person blog focused on a single issue can become a continental resource and part of a campaign.

This Is Not My Country. Devious Diva has used her blog to highlight the lives of the Roma communities in Greece: the racism they experience, their marginalization, the poverty of their lives, lack of access to health and education, lack of rights within Greece.