Blogging can sometimes have unforeseen consequences in politically sensitive areas. Blogs are much harder to control than broadcast or even print media. As a result, totalitarianauthoritarian regimes often seek to suppress blogs and/or to punish those who maintain them
In Singapore, two ethnic Chinese were imprisoned under the country’s anti-sedition law for posting anti-Muslim remarks in their blogs.
Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer was charged with insulting the Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and an Islamic institution through his blog. It is the first time in the history of Egypt that a blogger was prosecuted. After a brief trial session that took place in Alexandria, the blogger was found guilty and sentenced to prison terms of three years for insulting Islam and inciting sedition, and one year for insulting Mubarak.
Egyptian blogger Abdel Monem Mahmoud was arrested in April 2007 for anti-government writings in his blog. Monem is a member of the banned Muslim Brotherhood.
After expressing opinions in his personal blog about the state of the Sudanese armed forces, Jan Pronk, United Nations Special Representative for the Sudan, was given three days notice to leave Sudan. The Sudanese army had demanded his deportation.
In Myanmar, Nay Phone Latt, a blogger, was sentenced to 20 years in jail for posting a cartoon critical of head of state Than Shwe.
It might be relevant to point out that Blogger.com is #8 of all the Internet traffic in the US. This shows that the impact of blogging is significant if it has such a high rank of website traffic.
Not only do we have an opportunity to speak out about political issues, blogs are a platform used by polititians and political parties. Organizing for America
In contrast to the dangers of blogging in countries like China, Egypt and many others, we in the West enjoy the freedom to express our political opinion. The blog has made it even easier to share our own point of view, comment on those of others, and correct or add information on an topic.
Rick Mercer's blog is an entertaining example of information, politics, news, and point of view Rick Mercer Blog
"I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country" -John Diefenbaker, Prime Minister of Canada (1957-1963) INFORMEDVOTE.CA "Keeping Canadian Voters Informed"
5 comments:
Political dangers
Blogging can sometimes have unforeseen consequences in politically sensitive areas. Blogs are much harder to control than broadcast or even print media. As a result, totalitarianauthoritarian regimes often seek to suppress blogs and/or to punish those who maintain them
In Singapore, two ethnic Chinese were imprisoned under the country’s anti-sedition law for posting anti-Muslim remarks in their blogs.
Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer was charged with insulting the Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and an Islamic institution through his blog. It is the first time in the history of Egypt that a blogger was prosecuted. After a brief trial session that took place in Alexandria, the blogger was found guilty and sentenced to prison terms of three years for insulting Islam and inciting sedition, and one year for insulting Mubarak.
Egyptian blogger Abdel Monem Mahmoud was arrested in April 2007 for anti-government writings in his blog. Monem is a member of the banned Muslim Brotherhood.
After expressing opinions in his personal blog about the state of the Sudanese armed forces, Jan Pronk, United Nations Special Representative for the Sudan, was given three days notice to leave Sudan. The Sudanese army had demanded his deportation.
In Myanmar, Nay Phone Latt, a blogger, was sentenced to 20 years in jail for posting a cartoon critical of head of state Than Shwe.
It might be relevant to point out that Blogger.com is #8 of all the Internet traffic in the US. This shows that the impact of blogging is significant if it has such a high rank of website traffic.
Not only do we have an opportunity to speak out about political issues, blogs are a platform used by polititians and political parties.
Organizing for America
In contrast to the dangers of blogging in countries like China, Egypt and many others, we in the West enjoy the freedom to express our political opinion. The blog has made it even easier to share our own point of view, comment on those of others, and correct or add information on an topic.
Rick Mercer's blog is an entertaining example of information, politics, news, and point of view
Rick Mercer Blog
"I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country" -John Diefenbaker, Prime Minister of Canada (1957-1963)
INFORMEDVOTE.CA
"Keeping Canadian Voters Informed"
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.