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Green reflects solidarity with Iran protesters on TwitterJun 18, 2009 (Houston Chronicle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- As the people of Iran take to the streets, a related revolution is erupting on the Web. All week, Twitter avatars, Facebook mugshots, Web sites and blogs have been going green in solidarity with Iranians protesting the results of last week's election, in which incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has claimed victory. Not eco-conscious green, but literally, the color green -- as in that funky iridescent hue seen through night vision goggles. They popped up in all shapes, sizes and forms. Former Wonkette blogger turned White House correspondent Ana Marie Cox dyed green her famed Twitter avatar, a sweet faced puppy. All over Facebook and the Twittersphere users changed their avatars to green signs that read "Can't Stop The Signal," or "Free Iran Now." Others kept it simple, with a solid block of green in place of their photo. Among those who tinted their usual mugshot in sickly green was Andrew @ranggrol Pridgen. He altered his Twitter avatar and "retweeted" news from some of the Iranian activists. "I'd be open to doing more, though I don't speak Farsi," he said. Another Twitter user, @annalisa2, didn't alter her face, just her eyes: "My eyes are really green, but not THAT green. I tinted them greener for the whole #green4iran deal," she posted. Maria-Mercedes @maria_mercedes Lara said she green-ified her Twitter avatar of a princess doll riding a unicorn because, "It's important that Iranians know that Westerners are concerned and support their struggle." The solidarity didn't end there. Tweets from Iran and retweets from here and elsewhere came fast and furiously. The State Department even asked Twitter to delay a planned maintenance so as not to interrupt the flow of information. For the safety of those using social networks to send news, videos and photos of the turmoil on ground in Iran, Twitter users altered their contact information to "Tehran" to confuse the Iranian police trolling the site. Twitterers were urged to retweet news with caution, set up proxy IP addresses for Iranians to use and never reveal sources' names. Web denizens began going green to demonstrate their support as words and images of the post-election turmoil flowed out of Iran. The cyber-solidarity movement got a huge boost on Monday when writer/blogger Andrew Sullivan changed the background of his blog, The Daily Dish, to green and encouraged everyone to "green" their blogs and switch their Facebook avatars to the "Where Is Their Vote?" icon, he told the Chronicle via e-mail. Today, Web reports speculate that millions have followed suit. Movements, and trends such as the green avatars or Twitter hash tags, "start up, ebb and flow, without any specific author or inventor," said avid tweeter Samantha @futuredirected Thomas, who said she helped about a dozen fellow tweeters "green" their avatars. "This is a quintessentially postmodern experience." Want to join the cyber-movement to show solidarity with the Iranian protesters? Here's how to do it -- even while you're stuck in front of your computer. * Check Andrew Sullivan's The Daily Dish blog regularly. Sullivan has been out front and center on the election and its aftermath, funneling news from Iranians on the ground: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/ * Check-out the latest tips on helping out the cause on Boing Boing's "Cyberwar Guide for Iran Elections" http://www.boingboing.net/2009/06/16/cyberwar-guide-for-i.html * Follow the latest on Twitter with the hashtags #iranelection and #gr88. * Check http://search.twitter.com frequently to make sure these have not changed. Security is always an issue. * "Green" your Twitter or Facebook avatar. Here's how to do it: Go to http://www.picnik.com Upload your photo. Click "create" Click "effects" Click "night vision" Save and add to Twitter or Facebook. ------ [email protected] To see more of the Houston Chronicle, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.HoustonChronicle.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Houston Chronicle Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |