“YOU CAN CENSOR, YOU CAN HACK BUT YOU CAN’T STOP US FROM WRITING.”
– Lima Ben Mhenni, Tunisian Internet Activist
The Bobs is a website that awards those with the best blogs. These blogs support and inspire the open exchange of ideas and freedom of expression. The Bobs acknowledge the significance and relevance of blogs and encourage this type of online participation through awards. It strives to cultivate dialogue across language barriers, displaying projects and websites in 14 different languages.
There are 20 categories in a total of 14 languages in The Bobs.
Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian,
Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Ukrainian.
There are two awards: Jury Award and People’s Choice Award
A Brief Description of the Categories:
–Best Blog: content and design do an excellent job of encouraging and protecting human rights, as well as stimulating open discussion of topics of social and public significance.
–Best Innovation: Software solutions, applications or Internet platforms that provide the technology that allows people to improve society and social integration.
–Best Social Activism: an exemplary use of social media, networks and other means of digital communication to strengthen democracy, human rights and freedom.
–Reporters without Borders Award: honors blogs that take a strong stance for freedom of information and expression around the globe. Also honors those who dare to spread information in risky situations.
–Global Media Forum Award: sites that examine how interconnectedness and participation influence and incite the democratic process.
–Most Creative and Original: sites that take an entertaining and creative approach to serious topics.
The People’s Choice Award allows people to vote online for their favorite blog. This one will be awarded in a language-specific category.
I chose to vote for a blog under the category of Most Creative and Original. Creativity and originality is vital in grasping the attention of others. All of these blogs have important information and a specific purpose to promote human rights and freedom of expression. They need to be read and understood. In order for this to be widespread, it must engage the targeted audience(s). Being creative and original should do the trick.
With this, I am voting for a Spanish website, “Del dicho al hecho.” As the description states, the website is a “clear and engaging way to monitor whether the words spoken by candidates match their actions when they take office.”
The concept of the website is extremely original, something I have not heard of before. It has a comment area, stirring and encouraging discussion of the topics posted. It calls out leaders for their lies and their truths. It brings awareness for citizens. It reminds us to carefully read between the lines said by political actors. As a Cuban and German, this pulls on my heartstrings.
“This is about people who are making a difference in their countries.
Speaking out and risking their lives.”
– Mark Glaser, longtime freelance journalist.
Who will YOU vote for?
Watch this video to learn more about what The Bobs are all about.
Klumplexities 