Dedicated to critical cultural production at the intersection of art and activism.

We cover artists from around the globe whose work explores and realizes social change. Our goal is to provide a narrative about these activist efforts while simultaneously participating in them. Maintained by The Groundswell Collective since 2007.

Virtual Sit-in at Tunisian Presidential Palace

Cyber-censorship is on the rise the world over, and is especially swift and prominent in countries with dictatorial regimes. Tunisia is one such example. A year ago, the Tunisian regime blocked the two most popular video sharing websites: YouTube and DailyMotion – specifically to prevent citizens from watching testimonial videos from former political prisoners, human rights activists, and their families.

In defiance, activists have launched a virtual sit-in at the Tunisian presidential palace via Google Earth. Activists from Nawaat.org have taken advantage of the video embedding capabilities of the software, which permit users to overlay video on satellite-image maps. Google Earth users who visit the Tunisian presidential palace, among other sites, are now confronted with a series of videos profiling victims of repression and torture.

The online campaign not only bypasses and mocks the regime’s ban on video-sharing sites, but also reaches foreigners who may not be aware of abuses inside Tunisia. For the first time, virtual tourists to Tunisia can see a dark side to historic sites and beautiful beaches. To view the videos, follow these directions.

Via HAMSA Web.

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  2. The George W. Bush Presidential Gallery


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