Stories about Freedom of Speech from October, 2009
U.S.: Photos From Gay Rights March in D.C.
LJ user mozgovaya posts photos (RUS) from the gay right march that took place in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 11. LJ user bagira commented (RUS): “These guys do have a sense of humor – lots of very funny slogans. But Obama will disappoint them, I'm afraid.”
Ukraine: Art Website Shut Down; Gallery Set on Fire
IZO reports that “Anatoli Ulyanov's Ukrainian art website Proza (http://proza.com.ua) has been shut down by its US host for displaying ‘child pornography'” – and that “Pavel Gudimov's Ya Gallery in Kiev has been set fire to after the presentation and discussion there of a gay literary anthology.”
China: Your ethnic group can’t use the internet
“Your ethnic group can't use the internet” has become a popular phrase in the Internet in China. It comes from a 27-year-old Uighur photographer's real life experience in a hotel in Shenyang. Rob from Black and White Cat translated the two related blog posts.
Russia: “White Russian”
Scraps of Moscow translates Zhenya Kuida's piece (RUS) on “a racist restauranteur” in Moscow.
Ukraine: Yushchenko's Alleged Poisoning Case
Foreign Notes writes about the new developments in president Victor Yushchenko's alleged 2004 poisoning case.
Russia: Aleksandr Podrabinek's Case
Reports and updates on Aleksandr Podrabinek's case: Window on Eurasia; A Step At A Time – here and here; Sean's Russia Blog – here and here.
Abkhazia, Kosovo: Not an Option on Facebook, Dopplr, LibraryThing
Eternal Remont writes about the launch of two “pro-independence Abkhaz” groups on Facebook – where “Abkhazia is not a country option.” Wu Wei reports on similar problems with Pristina, Kosovo, on LibraryThing and Dopplr.
Russia: A New IT Security Draft Law
Profy writes about a new draft law, which, if approved, would require local Russian ISPs “to provide law enforcement agencies with the information on their subscribers when requested. But the most interesting thing is that in some situations they will even have to deny their subscribers internet access when deemed...
Ukraine: “Dictatress”
Ukrainiana writes about PM Yulia Tymoshenko's evolution “from Gas Princess to Queen of Populism to Dictatress.”
Russia: Sergey Mironov on RuNet
Evgeny Morozov comments on “one of the most cogent and frank interpretations of how the Kremlin views the Internet,” delivered by Sergey Mironov, “who heads ‘A Just Russia’ – one of those Kremlin-affiliated parties – and presides over the Russian Federation Council – the upper chamber of the Russian parliament.”
Egypt: No Accolades for Obama's Nobel Peace Prize
Egyptian bloggers and Twitter users welcomed US President Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize with shock and surprise: How can the president of a country waging wars against far away countries win a peace prize? Tarek Amr has more in this round up of reactions from Egypt.
China: Internet Human Rights Declaration
C.A. Yeung from Under the Jacaranda Tree has translated the Internet Human Rights Declaration issued by 15 public intellectuals in China.
United Kingdom: Tracking government information on transparency websites
Holding government accountable in the UK is becoming easier thanks to the gradual opening of public data and several new fantastic online resources by citizens.
Haiti: Smoke & Mirrors?
Of the recent conference aimed at attracting investors to the island, Hervé Jean Michel, blogging at HaitiAnalysis.com, says: “Despite the fanfare surrounding the meeting, Haiti's masses remained completely indifferent to the gathering.”
Russia: Photos From Politkovskaya Rally
In the live_report LJ community (RUS), photo reports from the memorial rally that took place in Moscow on Oct. 7, the third anniversary of Anna Politkovskaya's murder: LJ user zyalt, LJ user pafnootty, and LJ user antonb_ru.
Israel: Conscietious Objectors on World Tour
Israeli youth who conscientiously object to army service are on an international tour to raise awareness. Ibn Ezra reports: “They did not dwell on their personal stories. They are using their visit to educate people about the conflict, and the dispossession of the Palestinians. On this score they were eloquent...
Iran: Interview with Khyaboon, an underground Internet journal
Khyaboon, (meaning 'street') is one of underground internet journals that emerged in Iran after the June presidential election and subsequent systematic repression of protesters.
Cambodia: BarCamp Phnom Penh 2009
More than 800 tech-inclined Cambodians gathered at the second annual BarCamp Phnom Penh on October 3-4, 2009 at Paññasastra University of Cambodia.
Russia: Anna Politkovskaya's Memorial Rally Announced
Journalist Anna Politkovskaya was assassinated on Oct. 7, 2006. On Wednesday, people will gather in Moscow to pay tribute to her and other slain journalists and activists. Some bloggers, however, aren't too sensitive when discussing the upcoming event.
Pakistan: Just For Pakistan Blog Blocked?
Just for Pakistan blog is apparently being blocked in Pakistan and can be accessed through proxies, as per a statement published in the blog.
Mozambique: Presidential campaign online
Mozambique will elect a President on October 28 and candidates have adopted the "Obama" model of online mobilization. Can it impact the results of the election in a country where only 9-10 out of 1000 people have internet access?
