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| Constraints of Freedom of the Press | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 10 2012, 02:37 PM (410 Views) | |
| Pasta | Sep 10 2012, 02:37 PM Post #1 |
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Chief Engineer
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Around the globe there seems to be an increasing intolerance of criticism. Any group in power, and not just restricted to Islamists but they are perhaps top of the heap, feels they have a right to use or abuse their power to put down criticism. Some criticism I admit is over the top and not based on fact whatsoever. But there is why we have libel laws. Perhaps such laws could be strengthened. Dear National Enquirer - please provide evidence of every factual statement or innuendo you make. Problem solved. Unfortunately groups in power are less patient and less likely to want to follow rule of law. They prefer to use their muscle which is, after all, much cheaper and faster to silence critics. When it becomes a crime to write satire or cartoons to make a point - to the extent you incarcerate a journalist for expressing a point of view - then that jurisdiction has a problem. Below is the full text of the BBC article but first a selected quote:
Insulting national symbols? Drawing a frigging cartoon? If we (and who the hell is WE?) don't like your cartoon then you go to jail. On what basis - they insulted a national symbol. I come from Canada where both the national symbol and the goal of every normal healthy male is a beaver. We Canadians are used to it and our government doesn't arrest people for lampooning politicians for cartoons of beavers with extreme sexual appetittes. Shame on India. This is the text of the BBC article:
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| Rob | Sep 10 2012, 06:08 PM Post #2 |
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This should pique your interest, in more ways than one... http://articles.cnn.com/2012-08-17/world/w...a-russian-court Russian court imprisons Pussy Riot band members on hooliganism charges Three members of Russian female punk rock band Pussy Riot were sentenced to two years in prison Friday after they were found guilty of hooliganism for performing a song critical of President Vladimir Putin in a church. The five months they have spent in detention since their arrests in March count toward the sentence, Judge Marina Sirovaya said. The judge said the charges against the three young women -- Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich -- had been proved by witnesses and the facts. The Pussy Riot members were charged after screaming, "Mother Mary, please drive Putin away," in a protest act in February inside Christ Savior Cathedral, one of Moscow's grandest houses of worship. Punk bands perform in support of jailed rockers Sirovaya rejected the women's defense that they were acting from political motives, ruling that they had intended to insult the Russian Orthodox Church and undermine public order. 2 years for one statement?
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| Pasta | Sep 10 2012, 06:38 PM Post #3 |
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Chief Engineer
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Yes I followed that case as well. Absolutely bizarre. Putin's Russia is slipping into the dark ages. In fact I would go so far as to say that Putin is more repressive than the old Soviet regime. A horribly evil man. This is just one example of his repression and control of - well everything. Even wealthy are not immune as he just arranges for whatever they have to be taken and given to someone else of his choosing. Russia's stances in the UN show further how soul less Russia is under Putin. Unfortunately the world is going down this road. Notice in Hong Kong how they had to protest against this China Nationalism Pride crap? Hong Kong people are actually THE beacon of light in all of Asia when it comes to individual rights and protection of same. |
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| Pasta | Sep 10 2012, 07:26 PM Post #4 |
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Chief Engineer
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I just sent the following to "Letters to the Editor" of the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. It will probably get published. I have been published a few times before. And I should say one of the best columnists at the SCMP is Jake Vander Kamp - a fellow Vancouverite. He is top notch, as is the SCMP.
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| Rob | Sep 11 2012, 03:22 AM Post #5 |
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While I have always respected you insights, and usually respected your opinions, or at lest the fact that you put though and experiences behind them, I have to ask, How in the ever loving hell did you get this stat?
Just wondering. |
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| Pasta | Sep 11 2012, 04:39 AM Post #6 |
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Chief Engineer
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Google published it. |
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| Pasta | Sep 11 2012, 04:42 AM Post #7 |
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Chief Engineer
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Actually I think it was a senior Google exec that put out that statistic perhaps in anger or retaliation at Pakistan's actions of blocking Google for carrying criticisms of Islam. I am confident that while the SCMP will publish the bulk of my letter, they will edit that bit out. The two items that Pakistan apparently leads the world in is child and animal porn site visits. |
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| Pasta | Sep 11 2012, 04:47 AM Post #8 |
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Chief Engineer
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Now to be fair.... Given the rural and agricultural nature of much of Pakistan, perhaps they thought they were looking for livestock and animal husbandry sites. Husband - Husbandry pretty close and an understandable common mistake. |
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| Lex | Sep 11 2012, 09:53 AM Post #9 |
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Driver
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Sorry, couldn't resist....
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| Pasta | Sep 11 2012, 01:21 PM Post #10 |
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Chief Engineer
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Rob - I was thinking about this today. In fact I never say things without having good reason to believe what I say, and if I learn I am in error I am quick to correct myself. The truth is that at the time the source of the statistics was credible and from Google. I read it in a legitimate news media which is why I relied on those statistics (not statistics per se but rather a statement about the highest per capita site visitations). My normal sources of news are BBC and CNN. As such I believe that there was merit. In my mind I recall being somewhat incredulous at that statistic but was also impressed by the quality of the source and media. However I didn't write down the name of the source or the name of the media and, as such, cannot prove. I will therefore not refer to this "statistic" anymore. I will not, however, retract. Cheers mate and thanks for the catch. |
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| Rob | Sep 11 2012, 01:27 PM Post #11 |
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| Rob | Sep 11 2012, 01:28 PM Post #12 |
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My sister in law works for Google, so I might be able to get the stat confirmed. I make no promises. |
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| Pasta | Sep 11 2012, 02:16 PM Post #13 |
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Chief Engineer
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Just chuckling to myself. It is such a bizarre item of knowledge. I look forward to whatever your sister in law can find. |
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8:57 AM Jul 11