New developments in the attack on Russian journalist Oleg Kashin

RUSSIA: THE ATTACK ON OLEG KASHIN

Oleg Kashin is writing again. After being savagely attacked on the 6th of November and spending close to one week in an induced coma, this Russian journalist and blogger has just published his first article since the attack. In his column he says he will not be silenced.

This affair has been met with much emotion on the blogosphere and there have recently been new developments. One of the suspected attackers has posted a video on the Internet. The man, whose voice has been changed, says he was paid to intimidate an influential person, but did not know it was Oleg Kashin. His employers now want him dead and he says another video revealing their identity will be posted online should anything happen to him. He says he is willing to cooperate with police who are currently investigating this video in order to authenticate it.

So who is behind the attack on the journalist? This is the question on the lips of numerous web users. This anonymous blogger thinks the attack could be linked to an interview between Kashin and defenders of the Khimki forest, on the outskirts of Moscow. These activists had already been the target of similar intimidation.

Others like journalist Pavel Sheremet are accusing a pro-kremlin youth organization. Oleg Kashin was indeed on their blacklist of journalists deemed as traitors to be punished.

And the attack on the journalist has sparked mass mobilisation on the blogosphere. This online petition calling for the government to provide protection for journalists has been signed by over 2 700 people.

2010 WORLD AIDS DAY

The global blogosphere has joined forces for the 23rd World Aids Day, this year’s slogan is “Stop Aids : keep the promise”. Different projects are multiplying online to raise awareness on the virus and encourage citizens the world over to take action to stop it spreading.

Many American stars are taking part in the campaign “Digital Life Sacrifice” organized by the charity set up by singer Alicia Keys. Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake and also Usher have announced they will be signing off from social networks until the charity “Keep a Child Alive” has raised 1 million dollars to fight AIDS in Africa and India.

Politicians in Great Britain are also getting involved. In these videos we see David Cameron and Nick Clegg highlighting the progress that has been made in treatment and prevention over recent years and reminding people of the importance of continuing the fight to wipe out the virus worldwide.

And numerous initiatives have been set up to encourage citizens to take action. On this site, they are asked to challenge the myths that continue to surround Aids and to organize events in their community to talk about this problem. This video is informing web users that many people in the world do not have access to treatment.

Finally some people have been expressing their support by sending in photos or videos to this web site that has been especially created for the occasion. Over 13 000 shots have already been uploaded.

QWIKI

Combine the contents of Wikipedia, Google Maps and YouTube to respond to web users’ questions. This is the concept of Qwiki, a new type of search engine that places multimedia in the spotlight. So a search on the Eiffel Tower will be presented as an interactive video. Once the monument has been localized on a map, a synthetic voice will talk about its history whilst pictures found on the web appear on screen, giving us a glimpse of what the encyclopedia of tomorrow might look like.

FRENCH VIDEO ARCHIVES

Near to 300 hours of amateur films telling the story of a region in France and promoting its identity. The ‘Centre’ region has recently uploaded over 3000 videos, dating from the 1920s to present day. A day at the beach in 1929, the liberation of the Malsherbes commune at the end of the Second World War as well as a traditional wedding in Châteauroux … these films belonging to members of the public are part of unique archives that will allow residents to discover or rediscover their past.

VIDEO OF THE DAY

This video was filmed in the French subway, and shows the exploits of Team Puma. These urban acrobats use anything they can get their hands on to carry out the most impressive moves and dazzle passersby.