Activists in Latin America have been galvanized by atrocities like the recent massacre of 72 migrants near the U.S. border to step up their efforts on behalf of migrant rights.

After the Orange Revolution five years ago, Ukraine enjoyed more freedoms than its ex-Soviet neighbors, with the exception of the Baltic states. Just six months into office, the government of President Viktor Yanukovych is restricting free speech, breaking up peaceful protests, and manipulating election laws.

Last Tuesday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung urged the country’s police to continue to crush any fledgling political bodies that might threaten the ruling Communist Party regime. He told the security services to fight the “cunning plots of hostile forces and to prevent political opposition parties setting up to threaten our government.”

Amazon Watch and International Rivers have teamed up to create a state-of-the-art 10-minute Google Earth 3-D tour and video narrated by actress Sigourney Weaver, with technical assistance from Google Earth Outreach, in support of Brazil's Movimento Xingu Vivo Para Sempre (Xingu River Forever Alive Movement).'

To the utter dismay of the Spanish Government eleven Spanish activists were arrested Saturday in El-Aaiún, the capital of Western Sahara, by the Moroccan police during a demonstration for the territory’s independence. Released and deported back to Spain, the eleven activists claim they were tortured by the Moroccan police, who they plan to take to court.

An Israeli military court has found the leader of a West Bank protest movement guilty of incitement and organizing illegal demonstrations.

Some weeks ago Kaliningrad achieved a first in Russia by getting its governor Georgy Boos fired by the Kremlin. On 21 August thousands gathered to protest at the state of Russia and to demand the resignation of Putin and his government.

Jenni Williams, one of the leaders of the pressure group Women Of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), has reported that she is wanted by the police for commissioning a slogan about their parallel constitutional outreach exercise.

Looking at the Iranian press over the past few weeks you would be forgiven for thinking that Iran is in a state of hypertension. The long list of new military hardware ready to fire against the "enemy" is mindboggling.

The three women in head scarves and black abayas surged into the main atrium of the Seef Mall at 11 p.m. the other night, unfurling a banner outside the Next clothing boutique that read, “It is forbidden to arbitrarily arrest and detain people.”