On 6 October the Human RightS Initiative (HRSI) and the Center for Media and Communication Studies (CMCS) co-organized a country presentation. The focus of the event, held in the auditorium of the university, was to investigate what citizen journalism, the color green and an internet revolution all have in common. The speaker, Ali Abdi (GEN MA), a human rights activist from Iran presented on the “Iranian Green Movement and Citizen Journalism: A Revolution on the Internet”
Ali Abdi gave a personal account of the human rights situation in Iran, and the green movement that has emerged following the presidential elections in June 2009. The presentation included video clips and photographs, captured by everyday citizens on the streets of Iran, interspersed with Ali Abdi’s personal narrative. Drawing on Iranian citizen journalists' footage, he approached this social movement from multiple perspectives, giving insights about diverse kinds of peaceful activism advocated by Iranian dissidents, effective Internet campaigns launched all throughout last year, and today's shape and efficacy of the Green Movement. Members of the audience had the opportunity to informally interact with the speaker. The event, which drew over 40 participants from both the CEU Community and English-speaking activists in Budapest, also marked the inaugural Student Country Presentation for the 2010-2011 Academic Year.
The Student Country Presentations are a component of HRSI’s regular programming, and aim to provide students with a platform to share their first-hand human rights experiences. Intending to draw upon the immense diversity of the CEU student body, Student Country Presentations allow for unhindered exchange and discussion between students and the greater CEU Community.
For more information about the event or the Human RightS Initiative, please visit http://hrsi.ceu.hu
