Tool: GTalk

Written by Mary on January 23, 2008 – 4:23 am -

Tool Description: GTalk is Googles version of Internet telephony. I allows you to talk online for free with other people that use GTalk.
Activist Application: Burmese democracy activists used GTalk to tell people around the world what was happening in their country. According to Maung Maung, a Burmese activist and trade unionist, “There are about 50 Internet cafes all over Burma, and young people were able to log into GTalk and say to the rest of the world, ‘Here’s what is happening on this corner; here’s what is happening on that corner.’ Quite a lot of young activists have been trained in how to use Gmail. It is extremely helpful to the movement.” GTalk is available in Burmese (see below) and many other world languages.
Ease of Use: Easy. You can download it here or use it without downloading it by clicking here. You do need a Gmail account and a microphone to use GTalk.


Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Asia, Internet Telephony, Tools | 2 Comments »

Tactic: Pakistanis Use SMS and E-mail to Mobilize

Written by Mary on December 21, 2007 – 6:27 pm -

Although President Musharraf ended the state of emergency on December 15, this video is still worth a look. It recounts how Pakistani’s used SMS and e-mail to organize protests against the state of emergency, which was declared November 3rd.

Here’s a key quote from Semar Benala, a protester: “Actually, we do this through e-mail, through SMS’s, because even all the television channels have been shut down, but because we want to bring about change we are, like, trying out other mediums of communication.”

click the image to be taken to the Daily Motion site.

pakistani_protesters.jpg


Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Asia, Mobile Phones, Tactics | No Comments »