Although mobile cellular phone technology does not seem to have played a major active role in the disputed election situation in Ukraine, it does appear that the world wide web and internet are playing a direct role in rallying and organizing people. Also, as with many other parts of the world, the websites offer an alternative media and discourse outlet to Ukrainians. One example is “Maidan”:
“Maidan” has live exclusive news feed, a library, the most popular discussion forums in Ukraine devoted to the politics, the legislation and the human rights, religion, culture, Ukrainian language
Internet World Stats lists that Ukraine has only a small amount of internet users (about 900,000) as of 9/04, which is only about 1.9% of the total population of close to 50 Million. (Another report claims that the current number of internet users in Ukraine is closer to 4 million).
Yet, whether the internet user base in Ukraine really is 900,000 or 4,000,000, one thing that is clear is that the internet is being used as a tool for organizing dissent. Student group “Pora” uses this site to organize online.
Some related food for thought, that’s bound to throw some confusion into the mix, is that The Guardian contends the “Pora” movement may be more than just a student grassroots political uprising…
