<![CDATA[Kelly Meeker · Storify]]>http://storify.com/porterparkerNodeJS RSS ModuleSun, 26 May 2013 04:50:07 GMT<![CDATA[Building Human Rights into Social Networks #SXsafesocial]]>

Today at SXSW, journalists, advocates for freedom of expression and technology analysts discussed social networks' role in protecting human rights, particularly in the context of government crackdowns on expression

Storified by Kelly Meeker · Sun, Mar 11 2012 15:48:17

The panel "How to Build a Social Network without Getting Users Killed" had a sensationalist-sounding title, but one founded in real concerns. Citizens are becoming citizen journalists, using social and online tools to share real-time information from breaking events. The Arab Spring revolutions became known as Twitter and Facebook revolutions because of the visible role those tools played as accelerators of existing sentiment and action. With this great scale and usage, social network platforms play a key role as a broker of access to information and access to ways to share information.

But that power is tempered by networks that weren't necessarily built to play a role in advocacy, and can easily be  manipulated by actors motivated to repress information, expression and ideas. Panelists Jillian York (Electronic Frontier Foundation, Ahmed Shibab-Eldin (Huffington Post), Danny O'Brien (Committee to Protect Journalists) and Sam Gregory (WITNESS) discussed the ways social networks have been manipulated, and what ways they can change to avoid manipulation in the future.

With a veritable who's who of the Twitter journalist corps in the room, the session was live-tweeted in detail. 
York opened the discussion with a core idea: Companies can be bullied, manipulated and used to repress information, although, in a sense they are becoming communications utilities.
Facebook got a lot of (negative) attention not just because they are one of the most widely used tools but because of concerns about lack of transparency, inadequate response to user concerns and slow adaptation to needs of international users.
Both panelists and listeners defended the social networks in one sense - they weren't built to play pivotal roles in civil discourse. They were built by college students in dorm rooms trying to make it easier to keep up with their friends. They aren't prepared for attacks from state level actors.
A lot of the negative outcomes are the result of mistaken applications or abuse of spam policies.
As journalists adapt to their roles as curators and organizers of shared information, they will be targeted by actors seeking to repress information.
So what change is needed? Software developers need to understand that the decisions they make (perhaps in dorm rooms) may have future implications for human rights. Gregory in particular argued that communication and outreach needs to occur between the developer world and the human rights communities, to make sure human rights are "baked in" on the front end. 
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]]>http://storify.com/porterparker/building-human-rights-into-social-networks-sxsafeshttp://storify.com/porterparker/building-human-rights-into-social-networks-sxsafesSun, 11 Mar 2012 22:48:17 GMT<![CDATA[Update on Unrest in Mali]]>

Since mid-January, clashes in Northern Mali between Touareg groups and government forces have led to massive refugee flows and associated protests and violence in Bamako

Storified by Kelly Meeker · Mon, Feb 20 2012 19:36:23

UNHCR reports that more than 44,000 people have fled fighting into neighboring countries Mauritania, Niger and Burkina Faso.
allAfrica.com: Mali: UNHCR Boosts Aid As Outflow Doubles in SizeallAfrica.com: Mali: UNHCR Boosts Aid As Outflow Doubles in Size
By Hélène Caux, 17 February 2012 Gaoudel, Niger - More than 44,000 people have fled the month-long violence in northern Mali, with arriva...
Like populations in many other Sahel countries, Malians are particularly vulnerable in times of civil unrest because they already live a subsistence lifestyle - without reserves of food or funds. As they enter similar subsistence economies in neighboring Sahel countries, they put additional strains on limited resources.

RT @helenecaux: #Sinegodar refugee site, #Niger, hosts 8,000 + persons who fled fighting in #Mali. UNHCR/H.Caux/Feb 2012 http://twitpic.com/8mjlyl · Mariangela Paone
40-year-old Zoulfa escaped #Mali in Feb with her 4 children & found refuge in #Ayorou, #Niger. UNHCR/H.Caux http://twitpic.com/8mjgcs · helene caux

The violence is also putting strain on democratic institutions in Mali. According to Amnesty International, the Malian government is both arresting suspected Tuareg participants without due process and failing to protect Tuareg people threatened during protests in Bamako, the capital:
"During the demonstrations, the Malian security forces failed to prevent an angry mob from attacking homes and properties owned by Tuaregs and other ethnic groups – including Arabs and Mauritanians – living in the capital."  
Violence in northern Mali causing a human rights crisisViolence in northern Mali causing a human rights crisis
Fighting in northern Mali has left dozens dead and caused thousands of refugees to flee to neighbouring countries.
Violence is spreading out of the Sahara and into the Sahel. Yesterday, armed groups entered Hombori, in Central Mali, and killed the village chief. While some reports attribute the violence to Tuareg rebels, others attribute the murder to Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which is also active in northern Mali. 
Witness: rebels attack S. Mali town; kill 1
A witness in a southern Mali town says rebels attacked the town and killed one person. Maouloud Daou said Sunday rebels entered the villa...
Meanwhile, Malian president Amadou Toumani Toure has announced that the scheduled presidential elections in April will go forward, despite the violence. 
Mali polls to go ahead despite rebellion: president | Top News | ReutersMali polls to go ahead despite rebellion: president | Top News | Reuters
BAMAKO (Reuters) - Mali will hold its presidential election on time in April despite a heavily armed Tuareg rebellion in the north that h...
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]]>http://storify.com/porterparker/update-on-unrest-in-malihttp://storify.com/porterparker/update-on-unrest-in-maliTue, 21 Feb 2012 03:36:23 GMT<![CDATA[Touareg Rebellion & Unrest in Mali ]]>

Collecting news stories and first-hand reports from unrest in Mali, where 30,000 civilians have fled fighting in the North

Storified by Kelly Meeker · Mon, Feb 13 2012 22:13:12

The history of the Touareg people: a trans-border nation, traditionally nomadic, with no country and unrepresented by the governments that govern them. 

In the past few weeks, Touareg groups in Northern Mali - newly invigorated, perhaps, by their participation as paid mercenaries in the Libyan conflict - have engaged in armed conflict with the Malian government. The Touareg seek an autonomous region in their homelands in the Sahara.

As a complicating factor, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM) has a strong presence in Touareg areas of Mali. The seriousness of the relationship between AQIM and the Touareg is not clear, but the Al Qaeda in Northern Mali are a growing problem - with kidnappings of westerners and conflicts with neighboring groups. Rumors are rife, reporting is minimal, but civilians are fleeing to neighboring countries and refugee camps are growing. 

Here's a summary of news and first hand reporting from Mali. 
The New York Times shares reporting and photos on the ground in Northern Mali, where Touareg rebels are attacking army bases and taking control of villages and towns.
With Libyan Arms, Mali Fighting Is Revived - Slide Show - NYTimes.com
After fighting for Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi as he struggled to stay in power, Tuareg rebels helped themselves to sophisticated weaponry be...
After the Touareg rebels participated in the Libyan conflict, they are better-armed and battle-tested: 

"They had the advantage of being more numerous, being better armed and having better logistics, including satellite phones," a Malian government soldier told Reuters on condition of anonymity. "It is the sad truth."

Tens of thousands flee Mali rebellionTens of thousands flee Mali rebellion
Almost a month after Tuareg rebels launched a new assault against the southern government, tens of thousands of people have fled fighting...
As a result of violence, civilians are fleeing the area, moving south within Mali and into neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso. The International Committee of the Red Cross reports: 
""People are fleeing the violence in large numbers, in great haste, and in utter destitution," said Jürg Eglin, the head of the ICRC's regional delegation for Niger and Mali. "We are joining forces with the Mali Red Cross and the Red Cross Society of Niger to provide them with food and shelter, and to improve their access to water. The latest assessments made by our staff in northern Mali are particularly alarming."
Mali: thousands affected by fighting in the northMali: thousands affected by fighting in the north
At least 30,000 people displaced within Mali by fighting in the north since mid-January are living in dire conditions. The ICRC is assist...
In an area plagued by drought and famine, neighboring countries are unprepared to support refugee camps.

Translation of tweet below: "In the camps of Malian refugees in Burkina Faso, one lacks everything."
Reports of war crimes and summary executions follow the violence.
Mali: L'armée confirme des "exécutions sommaires" de soldats et de civils
BAMAKO, 13 février 2012 (AFP) - L'armée malienne a confirmé lundi des "exécutions sommaires" de soldats et de civils commises lors de l'o...
Meanwhile, the Malian president, Amadou Toumani Toure, answers to complaints from military supporters and "searches for a solution" through regional mediation. 
Malian president grilled by angry army wives on TVMalian president grilled by angry army wives on TV
BAMAKO, Mali - As Mali's army confronts attacks from ethnic Tuareg separatists, the country's president is battling some tough critics: t...
In more quotidien concerns, the Malian musical group Tinariwen was unable to accept their Grammy award as a result of the violence.
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]]>http://storify.com/porterparker/touareg-rebellion-and-unrest-in-malihttp://storify.com/porterparker/touareg-rebellion-and-unrest-in-maliTue, 14 Feb 2012 06:13:12 GMT