demonstrations
11/08/2011 / UK
“The vigilante groups patrolling London’s streets aren’t all right-wing racists”
With a growing number of British cities having been affected by violent riots, several groups of citizens have mobilised to protect their neighbourhoods. These vigilante groups are often depicted as right-wing racists, but after following one of their patrols, our Observer in London says this is a generalisation that doesn’t always hold true. Read more...
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05/08/2011 / SYRIA
Syria’s media war: are the protesters peaceful or violent?
Over the past few days, Syria’s state television, as well as YouTube channels linked to the government, have been showing videos of people they say are protesters taking up arms. This, if true, would be at odds with the opposition’s proclaimed efforts to keep protests peaceful. Two Syrian anti-government activists tell us what they think of these videos. Watch videos and read more…
04/08/2011 / ISRAEL
Middle class Israelis take to the streets declaring, ‘we can’t make ends meet’
On Thursday morning hundreds of taxis blocked one of Tel Aviv’s main roads, in the afternoon parents in cities across the country took to the streets in a 'stroller march'. They are all angry about the high cost of living in Israel and unite around one rallying cry: “The People Want Social Justice.” Protesters are now gearing up for what they hope will be the biggest march yet on Saturday evening. Our Observers tell us why they're protesting...
22/07/2011 / MALAWI
Malawi citizens revolt against their ‘plundering’ president
The small southern African state of Malawi has been in the grips of an unprecedented wave of unrest since Wednesday, July 20, as security forces clashed with protesters demonstrating against president Bingu Mutharika’s regime. According to our Observer, the citizens of Malawi are ready for an ‘Arab Spring’ of their own. Read more…
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20/07/2011 / SYRIA
Homs residents wonder: why aren’t soldiers shooting at us?
Images of Syrian armed forces opening fire at a protesting crowd have become so frequent that they’re almost routine. It’s when they don’t shoot that it comes as a surprise. That’s what makes this footage of soldiers peacefully chatting with residents of the city of Homs on July 17 so unusual. Read more…
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19/07/2011 / SYRIA
Syrian police thwart protests with mosque lockdown
How far are Syrian authorities prepared to go to prevent citizens from joining nationwide anti-government protests? In the north-eastern city of Aleppo, police opted for an unusual “pre-emptive strike”. Read more…
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15/07/2011 / SPAIN
Home is where the protest is: Spain’s eviction-busting 'flashmobs'
Members of Spain's 'indignant' movement, who famously camped in Madrid's Puerta del Sol to protest against the country’s high unemployment rate and deep economic crisis, have now brought their cause closer to home, or rather the homes of their neighbours. With the help of social networks, 'flashmobs' are blocking the evictions of people who fail to meet their mortgage repayments. Read more...
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13/07/2011 / MALAYSIA
‘We will protest every Saturday until we obtain free and fair elections’
Malaysian opposition protests are gaining momentum both on the streets and on the Web after a banned demonstration in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday ended with a wave of mass arrests. A Facebook petition has seen more than 170,000 people call for Prime Minister Najib Razak to quit, while protest organisers say they will take to the streets every Saturday until their demands for electoral reform are met. Read more...
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11/07/2011 / EGYPT
Egyptian protesters worried the revolution is slipping through their fingers
Cairo’s Tahrir Square filled up with protesters again on Friday, in a scene reminiscent of the mass protests that prompted the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak earlier this year. The participants in the most massive sit-in since the beginning of the Egyptian Revolution nearly five months ago claimed they felt the revolution’s goals were being abandoned. Read more...
07/07/2011 / SYRIA
Syrian youth ‘shot down’ while filming neighbourhood violence
As Syrian security forces reportedly raided a neighbourhood in the western city of Homs on July 1, a young man stepped out onto a balcony to film the violence. Moments later, it seems a uniformed officer spots the young man, points his gun and shoots. Read more...
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