March 12 : Online Free Expression Day

[Mid]

Wednesday 12 March : launch of Online Free Expression Day plus repeat of last year’s "24-hour online demo"

A total of 63 cyber-dissidents are currently in jail worldwide for using their right to free expression on the Internet. To denounce government censorship of the Internet and to demand more online freedom, Reporters Without Borders is calling on Internet users to come and protest in online versions of the nine countries that are “Internet enemies”.


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The plight of journalists in 98 countries reviewed

Reporters Without Borders criticises lack of public commitment to press freedom and expresses fears of anti-media violence in coming months, as it releases its annual report today.

2008 Annual Report PDF, 3.3 Mo



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[Butterfly]

great, I will post pics of cocks on TD to celebrate the day, hopefully no censure this time by the narrow minded mods

[Mid]

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Reporters Without Borders learned last night that UNESCO has withdrawn its patronage for today's Online Free Expression Day

MONTREAL, March 12 /CNW Telbec/ - We were notified of the decision by the director of its Freedom of Expression, Democracy and Peace Division.

Defendingthe move, UNESCO said it gave its patronage for the "principle of this day"but could not support the various demonstrations organised to mark it.

"We are not fooled," Reporters Without Borders said. "Several governmentson today's updated list of 15 'Internet Enemies' put direct pressure on theoffice of the UNESCO director general, and deputy director general MarcioBarbosa caved in.

UNESCO's reputation has not been enhanced by this episode.It has behaved with great cowardice at a time when the governments that got itto stage a U-turn continue to imprison dozens of Internet users."

The press freedom organisation added: "Unfortunately, it seems we have gone back 20 years, to the time when authoritarian regimes called the shots at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. UNESCO's grovelling shows the importance of Online Free Expression Day and the need to protest against governments that censor."

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newswire.ca

Demo Here : ACT NOW !

[Cujo]

Not everyone has been granted the 'right' to free expression. (unfortunate, but true).
I got into a discussion with a guy here in China (turned out to be a proper nutter.
I asked him about how he got away with riding his motorbike without plates. He went on a tirade insisting it was his guaranteed right under the 'constitution' to travel the highways unhindered, I just "aha'd". Couldn't be bothered to point out the obvious fact that the rights he enjoys in America aren't necessarily afforded him here.
Same goes for this presumed 'right' to free expression.

[Norton]

All countries have some level of censorship on the internet. IMO, weather I agree or disagree with what is censored or forbidden in a particular country, each country has the right to define what they consider inappropriate internet content.

[fielder]

^ Spot on Norton.

[Mid]

not really , especially when that country is ruled by the minority by force .

[Norton]

not really , especially when that country is ruled by the minority by force

Don't confuse my comment with support of the censorship in China, or the right of people to protest. There exist no "universally" accepted international "law" regarding the internet or it's content. Until international consensus can be reached along the lines of other subjects such as "war crimes", each country has the right to set it's own and police accordingly. There are many other subjects aside from political dissent needing to be addressed. Some countries allow the free exchange of pornography on line others don't. Some allow criticism of the monarchy, some don't. Those countries that allow something another does not as yet have no "legal" right to compel another country to comply.

[Mid]

Those countries that allow something another does not as yet have no "legal" right to compel another country to comply.

thanxs , clarification accepted

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Cyber-demonstration : more than 21,000 join in protest on Reporters Without Borders website against online censorship
14.03.2008



Reporters Without Borders thanks the 21,843 Internet users who took part in a 24-hour online protest against cyber-censorship that it organised on its website on 12 and 13 March.

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