Stories about Freedom of Speech from November, 2010
Cuba: Democratic Change?
“I don’t think capitalism is the model of a perfect life. But it is more logical and possible at this stage of human development”: Translating Cuba examines “the hard road to democracy”.
Russia: Mikhail Khodorkovsky's Facebook Account Banned and Un-Banned
On November 20, 2010 Facebook has suspended Mikhail Khodorkovsky‘s private account allegedly due to usage violations. It took four days to convince the social network to un-ban it. Anton Nossik once again noticed [RUS] how anonymous reporting and suspension of the opposition accounts becomes a new censorship technique, even more...
Russia: LiveJournal Suspends Another Independent Blogger
LiveJournal abuse team has suspended account of Stanislav Sadalsky, an actor and a popular independent blogger. Sadalsky claims he can access his account but can't post new posts at stanis-sadal [RUS]. So far the blogger launched a new account at sadalskij.livejournal.com. It is the third LiveJournal suspension of the political blogger...
Ukraine: Social Media Play Crucial Role in Covering Anti-Tax Code Protests
On Nov. 22, several thousand Ukrainian entrepreneurs from different regions gathered in Kyiv to protest against the new tax code approved by the Ukrainian Parliament last Thursday. While the country’s traditional media failed to produce timely and balanced coverage of the events, social network users and bloggers kept Ukrainians well-informed about the latest developments.
Iran: We are all Computer Criminals
Iran's government has a law at its disposal that make it possible to label almost any Internet user a criminal. The “Law of Computer Crimes” was approved by Iran's parliament in January 2009. It has been instrumental in the prosecution and repression of several bloggers, but its articles have never received much public attention or scrutiny.
Cuba: Rafters Hoping for a New Life
Laritza's Laws and Iván's File Cabinet both blog about Cuban rafters who risk it all for a chance at freedom.
Ukraine: “Revolution 2.0″
Andriy Kachor (@Ka4or) reports (UKR; #kat_ua) that Khreshchatyk, Kyiv's central street, has been “blocked” by the protesters and that “the number of cops is growing proportionally to the number of the people.” Dan Matteush (@Matteush) calls it (UKR) “Revolution 2.0″, alluding to the protests known as the Orange Revolution six...
Ukraine: Protests Against New Tax Code in Kyiv
Thousands of representatives of the Ukrainian small and medium business community are protesting against the new tax code in Kyiv. Live Ustream broadcast is here (over 5,000 viewers); Twitter tag is #kat_ua (UKR, RUS).
China: Campaigning for Wang Yi
A Safe World for Women is campaigning for Wang Yi, a Twitterer, who was sentenced to one year labour re-education for retweeting a satirical message. (via WLYeung)
Guinea-Bissau: The Dictatorship of Consensus and Aly's Temptation for Accusations
With the blog Ditadura do Consenso, António Aly Silva became the most visible and active face of Guinea-Bissau's blogosphere. In this interview, Global Voices tries to understand why Aly can't resist the temptation of accusations, and how is it to be a subversive blogger in the country.
Vietnam: “Rule by law”
Viet Tan, an opposition party in Vietnam, discusses how Vietnamese authorities restrict freedom of speech and civic opposition through “rule by law.”
Panama: Retirees Protest With Street Closures
Street closures and peaceful protests have marked the claims of retirees who call for an increase in their pensions. Twitter reactions are almost all against these measures that affect everyone. However, there are those who see the closure of streets as the only viable option.
Iran: World's Youngest Detained Blogger on Trial
The Iranian government is not only world-class when it comes to persecuting bloggers, they have also set numerous records: from the first jailed blogger in history, to the first blogger to die in prison. Unfortunately, a new record can now be added to the list of Iran's repressive achievements: the youngest blogger to be detained and put on trial.
China: First case of Twitter inquisition
A woman in China was sentenced to one year of ‘re-education through labour’ for sending a single tweet, under the charge of 'disrupting social order.'
Trinidad & Tobago: A Different View
Blogger Afra Raymond was “one of the three people ‘let go’” from a state-owned media house; he examines the controversy and asks: “How committed are we to a conversation with people who hold different views?”
Trinidad & Tobago: Comunications Interception
In the context of the wiretapping debacle, KnowTnT.com republishes the Law Association's comments on the Interception of Communications Bill.
Azerbaijan: Emin Milli released, but another activist detained
Following yesterday's news that video blogging youth activist Adnan Hajizade had been conditionally released in Azerbaijan, Facebook was today awash with news that his friend and fellow activist, Emin Milli, had also been freed.
Azerbaijan: Second video blogging youth activist released
Following yesterday's surprise news that video blogging youth activist Adnan Hajizade had been conditionally released from prison in Azerbaijan, Emin Milli, a friend and associate of Hajizada arrested and imprisoned at the same time last year, was also freed today. Threatened Voices has updated its status page accordingly.
Iran:World’s youngest detained blogger on trial
Reporters without Borders (RSF) reports The world’s youngest detained blogger, 18-year-old Navid Mohebbi, is currently being tried behind closed doors before a revolutionary court in the northern city of Amol. His lawyer is not being allowed to attend the trial, which began on 14 November.
Pamela Fever Grips India
Hollywood actress and model Pamela Anderson is creating ripples in India as she arrived in Mumbai a few days ago to take part in a TV reality show. Netizens reflect on what the Indians think of Pamela.
Russia: Oleg Kashin is Back Online
Oleg Kashin, recently recovered from artificially inducted coma, published the first post [RUS] entitled: “I have nothing to say now but I will thank everyone later.” A post with just a YouTube video for the song played by Russian rock-band Aquarium gathered almost 450 wishes of faster recovery.
