DigiActive.org

Tool: WordPress plug-in for Kareem

Tool Description: A plug-in is a small application that functions as part of a larger host application. They are very common in blogs. For example, Akismet, the spam filter on DigiActive, is a plug-in which works through our blog platform, WordPress. Plug-ins can also be used for activism as a way of disseminating information over a blog network via a widget that a blogger installs and which produces content for the blog’s readers.

Activist Application: In February of 2007, Egyptian blogger Abdelkareem Nabil Soliman was arrested for perceived anti-Muslim postings on his blog and sentenced to three years in prison. Even since that time, a dedicated group of activists has run the Free Kareem campaign (http://www.freekareem.org), which sought first to obtain Kareem’s release and now to support him in solidarity while he is in prison. They have released a WordPress plug-in (download here) in order to maintain awareness of Kareem and to connect people to their different online efforts.

The widget (above) includes text explaining Kareem’s situation, links to the campaign on social network (Facebook, MySpace), video (YouTube) and mobile micro-blogging (Twitter) sites, and a tell-a-friend button so bloggers can ask their friends to insert the plug-in into their blog as well.

Ease of Use: Moderately easy. You need to download the plug-in and then upload it to your WordPress blog. You can also personalize the plug-in according to the features you want to show.  Installation instructions are available here.