WPR Blog Archive

The Vatican used the celebrations of Easter week to stage a counteroffensive in the pedophilia scandal that has challenged its very center. Cardinal Angelo Sodano’s public declaration of support for Pope Benedict XVI, which he said was made on behalf of the Catholic clergy worldwide, was an unprecedented departure from the liturgy of the occasion. The fact that Vatican officials were willing to tinker with the rigid lines of church ceremony is a sign of desperation — but also an indication of an emerging, and vigorous, damage-control strategy. The central objective is to defend the integrity and authority of a […]

From post-election protests in Iran to the campaign against trade in conflict minerals, social media is revolutionizing the way human rights advocates broadcast their efforts. Internet-based services like Twitter and YouTube enable campaigners to reach global audiences and put issues in the international spotlight with just a few mouse-clicks. The potential reach of social media gained worldwide attention in the aftermath of Iran’s controversial June 2009 elections. Protesters and their supporters took to the streets, but also to the Internet, posting videos and information on social media sites, with Twitter becoming a main focal point. The Iranian protestors’ use of […]