Stories from 21 March 2008
China: Press Freedom
Lianyue said that press freedom is a necessary element for dealing with Tibet issue[zh].
Taiwan: Performance Via Video Blog
Ta-sha has a personal channel at I'm Vlog for sharing and performing songs that she likes.
Moroccan Blogosphere on Fouad Mourtada: Finally Free
Young Moroccan engineer Fouad Mourtada was released from prison by presidential pardon days before Eid el Mawlid, the Prophet Muhammad's birthday. Fouad was imprisoned for more than forty days for creating a Facebook profile of the king's brother, Moulay Rachid. Bloggers reflect on the grassroots effort to free Fouad and celebrate his liberation as a step forward for personal freedoms in the Kingdom.
China: Civilians in violence and conflict
Thugs vs. Peacekeepers or Fighters vs. oppressors; Mob vs. Protectors or Martyrs vs. killers? Before I could judge, please allow me to present some recounts of the Tibet unrest from the commons there. (As most western media had sided with Tibetans, I basically pick quotes from common Hans for balance.)
LiveJournal: Bloggers Protest Basic Account Cancellation
Yet again, LJ users are in distress. Unlike the previous times, however, the current situation involves both the Russian-language and the English-language segments of LiveJournal. It all began when LiveJournal's management announced that no account created after March 12, 2008, could be turned into a free-of-charge and ad-free Basic Account. Today, some Anglophone and Russophone LJ users protest against this unpopular measure.
UAE: Labour Riot
The Emirates Economist links to several news sources about a massive labour riot in the United Arab Emirates, over the increasing cost of living.
