Social Media Out in Front After Paris Attacks

When the deadly attacks unfolded across Paris last Friday, social media played a crucial role as a tool to help people in the crisis zone, as well as across the world, communicate, help and show their support for France.

Millions took to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to post messages of support and solidarity.

Facebook activated its Safety Check tool, which allows users to mark themselves or others as safe. The tool, created to help people in times of crisis, has been previously used in times of natural disasters, like after the devastating earthquake in Nepal.

This was the first time it was used for a human caused calamity.

Safety Check determines the location of Facebook users by the city listed on their profile, the last location used in the Nearby Friends product, or where the person last used the Internet. The feature also provides a hub page for users to visit and check which of their friends have checked in as safe, or are in the area.

"In the last 24 hours, since we activated Safety Check: 4.1 million people marked themselves safe using the tool [and] 360 million people were notified that their friends were safe," a Facebook spokeswoman told CNNMoney Saturday.

Since the attacks, Facebook has faced growing criticism that the Safety Check feature was made available to the victims in Paris, while it remains unavailable to people under similar attacks elsewhere in the world, including the twin bombings that claimed more than 40 lives in Beirut a day earlier.

"Many people have rightfully asked why we turned on Safety Check for Paris but not for bombings in Beirut and other places," said Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg on his official account Monday.

"Until yesterday, our policy was only to activate Safety Check for natural disasters. We just changed this and now plan to activate Safety Check for more human disasters going forward as well."

Also Saturday, Facebook launched an app that allowed the site’s users to overlay the blue, white and rouge French flag on top of their profile picture to show their support. Zuckerberg  used the app to changed his profile picture, and hundreds of thousands of Facebook users followed suit.

Social media platforms also took center stage in co-coordinating help and spreading information.

The Twitter hashtag #PorteOuverte, which means “Open Door” in French, was used in the immediate aftermath of the attacks as a way for Parisians to offer shelter to others who may need a place to stay.

Across the ocean, #StrandedinUS and #StrandedinCanada were developed to offer assistance to those whose travel plans had been disrupted by flight cancellations after the attacks.

Descriptions of loved ones and requests for information accompanied the hashtag #RechercheParis.  A Twitter spokesman said it was used more than a million times within 24 hours.

#PrayForParis also became a worldwide trending topic. As of Saturday, it had been used more than 5 million times on Twitter, and 4 million times on Instagram. The hashtag was attached to images of the Eiffel Tower and the French flag, as well as scenes from around Paris.

A simple but powerful image by London-based French artist Jean Julien emerged as a symbol of support for the people of France. The drawing that overlays the Eiffel Tower with a peace symbol with the message of "Peace for Paris" went viral on the Internet.

http://www.voanews.com/content/social-media-out-in-front-after-paris-attacks/3061236.html

Nordwall, Smita. "Social Media Out in Front After Paris Attacks." VOA. Voice of America, 17 Nov. 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.

Response

Nowadays, social media affects the world greatly. When awful tragedy happened on last Friday, millions of people supported France through social media. Facebook has activated its Safety Check tool, allowing people to find out whether their friends and family are safe. Social media also played big role in co-coordinating help and spreading information. Twitter was used to a way for Parisians to offer shelters to the people who may need a place to stay. Although social media had caused lots of problems, author of this article seems to support the social media's effectiveness in these situations. I agree with the author that social media can be helpful.

Egypt police kill leading ISIS militant in Cairo

Egyptian police said on Monday they killed a top Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group operative in the capital implicated in a string of attacks including the murders of a Croat and an American.

An interior ministry statement said Ashraf Ali Ali Hassanein al-Gharabli was shot dead in an exchange of fire after police tried to arrest him.

Hassanein was one of the most sought after militants in the country, and had featured in a wanted notice by police as early as January 2014, months into a militant insurgency centred in the Sinai Peninsula.

He was also implicated in the bombing of the Italian consulate in Cairo last July.

A police official told AFP he had been the right-hand man of Hisham al-Eshmawi, a feared former commando who is believed to have spearheaded a string of bombings and assassinations in the capital for the militant Ansar Beit al-Maqdis group.

In November 2014, the group pledged allegiance to ISIS, prompting Eshmawi to abandon it, and leaving Hassanein as one the group’s top operatives west of Sinai.

The interior ministry statement said police had managed to track down Hassanein in the capital, but when they tried to arrest him as he drove a car in a north Cairo suburb he opened fire.

“He sensed them and shot at them, in an attempt to flee, requiring the police forces to exchange fire with him leading to his death,” the ministry statement said.

"Egypt Police Kill Leading ISIS Militant in Cairo." Al Arabiya News. AFP, 10 Nov. 2015. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.

Response

One of the most concerning issues these days is terrorism especially by religious group. Current 'leading' group of terrorists is ISIS. The death of Ashraf Ali Ali Hassanein al-Gharabli is somewhat a relief for many countries. He was also convicted of bombing of the Italian consulate in Cairo last July. However, this won't necessarily give a solution to this issue. The author of this article knows this and implying it when he mentions Hisham al Eshmawi. He seems to protect the police who shot Hassanein to death. He's definitely against ISIS. I'm also against most if not all of the terrorist groups. I think this issue won't be solved until whole religious extremist groups dissolve not with individual deaths. 

Zanzibar opposition urges calm amid political crisis

Zanzibar opposition urges calm amid political crisis

- Tuesday, November 03, 2015 - From Print Edition

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania: Zanzibar’s opposition chief called for calm on Monday, having previously threatened to lead protests if results of annulled elections were not released on the semi-autonomous Tanzanian islands.

Troops patrolled the streets of the capital of the Indian Ocean archipelago, after homemade bombs exploded in Zanzibar town over the weekend, an AFP reporter said.

Zanzibar’s electoral commission ruled last week that the October 25 vote on the islands -- where the 500,000 registered voters also cast ballots for Tanzania’s national president -- must be carried out again, citing "violations of electoral law".

The annulment came after a key candidate, Seif Sharif Hamad of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF), declared himself the winner before the results were officially announced.

Hamad threatened to call for protests if the situation was not resolved by Monday, saying he would not concede victory to his main rival, incumbent president Ali Mohamed Shien of the long-running Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

But on Monday Hamad urged supporters to allow a political deal to be struck.

"I ask CUF fans and Zanzibaris to remain calm and observe peace -- diplomatic efforts have been going on well," Hamad said. "Let us be patient, as the international community is also helping to have Zanzibar’s political crisis resolved."

Outgoing Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said in a statement on Sunday he had been "working tirelessly and consulting widely over the last few days to find an amicable and peaceful resolution to the situation in Zanzibar."

African and other international observers in Tanzania have said they are deeply concerned at Zanzibar’s annulment, urging leaders to "cast aside their differences" to ensure peace.

Zanzibar has experienced sectarian and political tensions in recent years, including several grenade explosions.

A government statement said that Shein would remain in charge until fresh elections.

"Some people including politicians are misleading Zanzibaris by saying the islands would have no legitimate president after November 2, 2015," the statement read.

"The president is here to stay until next elections."

The twin blasts on Saturday caused no casualties but the explosions sparked concern on the islands, whose economy is dependent on foreign tourists.

Late Friday, explosives experts also detonated a homemade device in the heart of the historic Stone Town district, a Unesco-listed area.

Haram, Muharram Ul. "Zanzibar Opposition Urges Calm amid Political Crisis." The News International, Pakistan. The News International, 03 Nov. 2015. Web. 03 Nov. 2015.

Response

This article is about election crisis in Zanzibar. Last week, Ali Mohamed Shien of the long-running Chama Cha Mapinduzi(CCM) won the election. People group against CCM protested with violence and Tanzanian troops had to intervene to stop the violence. The violence eased after awhile and the political party who lost accepted the loss. The author of this article wants peace in Tanzania. He seems to be relieved to have peace in the country. I believe that the acceptance of the loss and bringing peace was a great decision since my parents live in Tanzania.