Stories about Freedom of Speech from April, 2007
China: IPR is not a Real issue
Andrew has written a good analysis of the Intellectual Property Rights negotiation between U.S and China. The conflict is not so real as IP theft hurts Beijing's state-run media machine and control over internet media: Washington is pushing Beijing into reluctantly doing something it probably wanted to do anyway.
South Korea: U.S-Korea FTA on Copyright
Some details and discussions about the U.S-Korea Free Trade Agreement on Coyright at interlocals.net.
Russia: Media Freedom
Robert Amsterdam writes about (lack of) media freedom in Russia.
Syria: Human Rights Lawyer in Jail
Syria Comment blogger Joshua Landis reports that Anwar al-Bunni, Syria's leading human rights activist and lawyer, was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday – for spreading false information.
Bermuda: The state of the blogosphere
Bermuda's governing Progressive Labour Party has a new blog, prompting BravoZulu.bm to write, “While I applaud the idea of yet another Bermuda blog, suddenly blogging just became less cool. Like when your parents suddenly liked the same music that you did. When the cool suddenly becomes mainstream, it’s awkward. Macarena,...
Iraq: Islammemo is Back
Iraqi blogger Ladybird reports : “If anybody interested Islammemo (Arabic) back to business, it is unknown yet if (Saudi national) Alhajiri released form prison or not but the team managed to comeback. The 65-year-old Alhajiri is well known among among Arab news-addicted seekers. Started Islammemo in 2001 alone with two...
China: Regulate Online Magazine?
Josie from China in Transition highlighted the report from China Business News that China’s administration of press and publication will require online magazines to obtain license from the government before publishing.
Japan: Toyama Kouichi calls for revolution, bloggers reflect on freedom of speech
“Registered voters! I am Toyama Kouichi. My countrymen! This country is an abomination!” So began the five minute political speech of gubernatorial candidate and street musician Toyama Kouichi, aired live on Japan's public broadcaster NHK as part of a series of election broadcasts formally allotted to each contender in the...
Poland: Bigotry, Not Homophobia
The beatroot writes about Krakow's gays and their opponents: “So not Campaign Against Homophobia – it should be Campaign Against Bigots.” (36 comments to this post so far.)
Ukraine: “Maidan 2.2″
Taras of Ukrainiana got soaked in the rain last Friday on his way to “Maidan 2.2″ and didn't really expect many opposition supporters to show up at the rally at Kyiv's European Square. But – “not only did the sun come shining brightly, but so did the Orange crowd. I...
Russia: More Reactions to Yeltsin's Death
What was the effect of Boris Yeltsin's policies on the people of Germany, Poland and the Baltic states, as well as on the "Russian Bride industry"? While yesterday's post reflected some of what Russian bloggers' thought of Boris Yeltsin's life and death, this one deals with the reactions of predominantly non-Russian observers.
Lebanon: Anti-Semitism, Fist-Fights, etc
Check out the following topics freshly picked from the Lebanese blogosphere this week: an intense argument between American University of Beirut professors, sectarian polarisation in Lebanon and the Virginia Tech shooting which claimed the lives of 33 people, including two of Lebanese origin.
Asia: Asian VS. Western Media
Imagethief comments on an article at the Boao Forum for Asia, published in Xinhua. In the article, Liu Jiang, deputy editor-in-chief of Xinhua News Agency, commented that “Developed contrives, which have one seventh of the world population, have dominated two thirds of the total information flow”. Imagethief's insightful response is:...
Russia: Reactions to Boris Yeltsin's Death
Boris Yeltsin, Russia's first president, died today in Moscow. There is an avalanche of responses to his death in the Russian blogosphere, ranging from “rest in peace” to “be damned.” Below is a tiny selection (RUS) from the blog of LJ user dolboeb (Anton Nossik): aristo_big: Ten years ago, this...
Afghanistan: Media Under Pressure
Afghan Lord discusses the live broadcast beating and arrest of three reporters at a television station by police under orders from Afghanistan's Attorney General, saying that such abuses of power by officials is a threat to media freedom in Afghanistan.
Cambodia: Fish Sauce Used to Punish Reporter
Vutha writes about a Cambodian official who splashed fish sauce on a reporter. The official was unhappy with the reporter for publishing a humiliating story about him.
Jordan: Al Jazeera Interview Confiscated
Iraqi blogger Lady Bird claims that Jordanian authorities confiscated a tape containing an interview with Jordan's Prince Hassan from Al Jazeera‘s offices because of worries of the comments he made regarding his country's relations with Jordan. “This is one of the reasons that Al-Jazeera is special, other Arab media shall...
Egypt: Worldwide Free Kareem Rallies
World-wide rallies to pressure the Egyptian government to free jailed Egyptian blogger Kareem Nabeel Sulaiman are being planned on April 27, announces Free Kareem. “While we appreciate the support provided by organizations worldwide, everyone is participating first and foremost as a civilian, not necessarily as a member of a particular...
Bahrain: Bandargate Revisited
Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif breaks a total ban on media outlets to discuss a political scandal better known as Bandargate in Bahrain by publishing a post with a link which sheds new light on Salah Al Bander from a different perspective.
Tunisphere and the French elections:
Tunisia's love-hate relation - more love than hate - comes to life with the extensive coverage Tunisian bloggers provided in the run up to the French elections. France's impact on Tunisia is both historic and present - it has colonised the latter for a good 75 years and is today its foremost economic partner.
Nepal: Bloggers Form Association
Twenty-four bloggers from capital Kathmandu gathered on Saturday April 21 to discuss the formation of Bloggers Association of Nepal (BLOGAN) for the promotion and protection of blogs and blogging in the tiny Himalayan country where blogs are yet to be recognized by the population.