July 2003 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

China & the Internet: A Chronicle of Repression
by George Lessard 19 Jul '03

19 Jul '03

China & the Internet: A Chronicle of Repression http://www.rsf.fr/chronicle.php3 Chronology Excerpts "... The adoption in 2000 of three drastic laws limiting the circulation of the information on the Web has allowed Beijing authorities to launch a wave of unprecedented repression against cyberdissidents and Internet sites considered "subversive" or "critical". Arrests, banned sites, threats against operators, censorship of newsgroups and the shutting-down of cybercafés are many techniques used in this daily repression. To accomplish this goal, about twenty provinces now have special police brigades trained in pursuing "subversive" Internet users. Just as the print media and electronic media, the Web has become a major issue for the Chinese regime who wishes to have full control of information. There are currently thirty cyberdissidents imprisoned in the country, for trying to break through this Internet repression and censorship. .... ...28 February 2001 : the Ministry of Law and Order launched a new software program known as "Internet police 110", created to block access to web sites dealing with religion, sex or violence. ... ...18 June 2001 : the online magazine "Hot Topic" is banned after four years of activity. This magazine notably published articles criticising the government. It has 235,000 subscribers.... ...2 July 2001 : RSF learned that Li Hongmin was arrested in the middle of June in Guangzhou (South of China) for having distributed, by e-mail, the 2001 Chinese version of "The Tiananmen Papers". The text reveals the responsibilities of certain high Chinese officials in the Tiananmen Square massacre of June 1989. ... ...4 July 2001 : The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs website (www.dfat.gov.au) is once again accessible in China after being blocked for eighteen months. The unblocking of the web site follows an appeal from the Australian Foreign Minister to China's chargé d'affaires in Canberra, Xie Xiaoyan. Inaccessible to Chinese Internet users for more than one year, the web site reappeared briefly during a visit of the Australian Communication Minister, Richard Alston, last June. The Chinese government spokeswoman denies any censorship and claims that technical problems caused the site to be blocked. In addition, she said "the government never got in the way of solving the problem and even offered its assistance". But, according to several observers, the real reason the site was blocked is the presence of information on the web site, notably about human rights and the risks of conflict in parts of China. ... ...1st August 2001 : Since the beginning of July, the pages in Mandarin Chinese on the Radio France Internationale (RFI) web site have been blocked for Chinese Internet users. These people can no longer listen to the programs of the Chinese service available on the site. RFI's executive direction plans to ask the Chinese government for some explanations. ... ...4 September 2001 : Chinese authorities have blocked the web sites of the American TV channel CNN, the newspaper International Herald Tribune, the French radio station RFI, the English radio station BBC and the American chapter of Amnesty International as well as some links to humanitarian organisations (such as Médecins sans frontières), as President Jiang Zemin is due to travel to North Korea. These media contain information about famine and repression in this country, which is an ally of Beijing. ... ...24 September 2001 : the following web sites are currently inaccessible from China : hrichina.org (Human Rights Watch in China web site), hrw.org (Human Right Watch web site), amnesty.org, amnesty.org.uk, amnestyusa.org (Amnesty International web sites), freetibet.org (freetibet organisation web site), tibet.com (Tibetan government in exile web site), cnn.com (CNN web site), bbc.co.uk (BBC web site), washingtonpost.com (Washington Post web site), 6-4tianwang.com (cyberdissident Huang Qi's web site) and bignews.com (Online dissident newsletter VIP Reference's web site). ... ...On 16 October, China unblocked access to several American media websites, among them those the New York Times and The Washington Post, during the Forum of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, which is being held in Shanghai. Access to other websites considered dangerous by the Chinese government, such as the BBC or the spiritual movement Falungong's websites, remain banned to Chinese web users as to Foreign journalists who cover the summit ... ...On 29th October, as soon as Georges W. Bush jetted out of Shangai, Chinese authorities again blocked access to several US media's websites, among them those of CNN and the Washington Post. ... ...04.25.2002 - The Australian television channel ABC announced on 23 April that the Chinese authorities had closed access to its web site. The management of the national television company have complained to Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Public Security Bureau. An Australian embassy official stated that the restrictions had been put in place following discussions at the highest level. This was immediately denied by a government spokesman. The Dalai Lama's visit to Australia in May this year could be the reason for these restrictive measures.... ...05.17.2002 - On 16 May, journalists based in Beijing and Shanghai noticed that web sites of international media, especially Reuters, CNN and the Washington Post, were again accessible to Chinese internet users. The authorities did not confirm this easing of censorship. However, sites for the BBC, Time Magazine and the Voice of America are still blocked to the Chinese. According to a western diplomat based in Beijing, quoted by the Reuters press agency, "The Chinese authorities may have realized that it was very easy to get around their barriers. It is certainly easier to let users access these sites then control the users."... ...01.16.2003 - For the past week, the authorities have blocked access to the US-based website blogspot.com, which puts personal diaries online and is used by more than a million people worldwide. Jason Shellen, who runs the site from California's Silicon Valley, confirmed that there were no technical problems and that it was censorship. But a Chinese Internet user told Reuters news agency that the ban would not succeed because people would find ways round it. The website managers say they will seek talks with the Chinese authorities.... ... A list of Chinese Internet users detained for having circulated information considered "subversive" by the authorities : 04.2002. Li Dawei 13.12.2001. Dong Yanhong 13.12.2001. Liu Wenyu 13.12.2001. Yao Yue 13.12.2001. Meng Jun 13.12.2001. Wang Xin 13.12.2001. Wang Xuefei 13.08.2001. Mu Chuanheng 11.07.2001. Yan Pen 2.06.2001. Wang Zhenyong 10.06.2001. Li Hongmin 14.05.2001. Wang Jinbo 18.05.2001. Hu Dalin 8.05.2001. Zhu Ruixiang 1.05.2001. Liu Haofeng 30.04.2001. Wang Sen 20.04.2001. Lu Xinhua 21.03.2001. Liu Weifang 13.03.2001. Jin Haike 13.03.2001. Zhang Honghai 13.03.2001. Xu Wei 13.03.2001. Yang Zili 11.10.2000. Zhang Haitao 8.10.2000. Zhang Ji 1.09.2000. Guo Quinghai 18.08.2000. Jiang Shihua 3.06.2000. Huang Qi 2.09.1999. Qi Yanchen 19.06.1999. Wu Yilong 19.06.1999. Zhu Yufu ..."

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asking for advice
by João Martins 19 Jul '03

19 Jul '03

Hi My name is João Martins and I am a post graduated student in Communication at Universidade Federal Fluminense, (or Fluminense Federal University, if you like), seated in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, researching for my thesis about social dynamics of cooperation in the development of the Gnutella Protocol. Besides the work in my project I am working also, as a volunteer, in the documentation of http://rfc- gnutella.sourceforge.net/, a project that assembles the various documents that make up the Gnutella RFC. My responsibilities are associated with the research directory, with intent to gather together the academic interest in that protocol. So, I want to ask your advice regarding the existent bibliography upon the protocol. The main perspective of rfc-gnutella relates to the technology, but my interest is to implement a sociological view. So, I am asking your advice. Any interesting papers or thesis are welcome. Thanks João Martins Further identification Post graduated program in Communication at Universidade Federal Fluminense seated in Rua Tiradentes, 148, Ingá, Niterói, 24510- 590 Tel 55-21-2618-3409 João Martins. 55-21-2508-8408, joaomartinsladeira(a)bol.com.br This work is supported by Faperj, foment institution of the Rio de Janeiro state government. The number of the project is E- 26/150.421/2003. My Curriculum Vitae is available at our National Research Council (CNPq, Conselho Nacional de Pesqusa) website: http://genos.cnpq.br:12010/dwlattes/owa/prc_imp_cv_int? f_cod=K4765634E2

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TalkBacks
by Jacob Hecht 18 Jul '03

18 Jul '03

Dear Friends, In Israel "talk-backing" is quite common over the net. That is public responses to news items, which are published in a newsgroup's "string" style. I haven't seen this phenomena on news websites (e.g CNN.com ; nytimes.com) and was wondering: a) Are "talk backs" practiced in other countries? b) What is the origin of this activity? c) Are there references which discuss this form of communication? Hoping to hear from you… Jacob Hecht, Ph.D

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Re-TalkBacks
by Philipp Budka 18 Jul '03

18 Jul '03

TalkBacks - Also very common in Austria. See for News-Websites http://derstandard.at and http://orf.at cheers, Philipp -- Philipp Budka email: philbu(a)gmx.net tel.: +43 (0)1 95 28 244 tel. mobil.: +43 (0)6991 95 28 244 Rustengasse 5/10 1150 Wien, Austria http://www.philbu.net +++ GMX - Mail, Messaging & more http://www.gmx.net +++ Jetzt ein- oder umsteigen und USB-Speicheruhr als Prämie sichern!

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U.K.: New online job directory for refugee journalists
by George Lessard 18 Jul '03

18 Jul '03

U.K.: New online job directory for refugee journalists http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story686.html 2003-07-17 20:56 PDT | 2003-07-18 03:56 GMT - Margaret Ha A new online directory will be launched by the end of July to assist refugee journalists in the U.K looking for a job, reports dotJournalism. The RAM (Refugees, Asylum-seekers and the Media) project's online directory of professional journalists will display a picture, skills, experience and a short bio-data for each listed journalist. Nick Medic, communications officer of the RAM Project, claims the network currently has at least 40 journalists in the directory as well as another 80 affiliated with the project. The broader aim of the organization is to increase representation of refugees in the media and ensure a more balanced reporting on asylum issues. Journalism for journalists: http://www.journalism.co.uk/ The RAM Project: http://www.ramproject.org.uk/directory/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Via / From / Thanks to: http://media002.tripod.com/ http://tinyurl.com/h4m7 (c)info http://members.tripod.com/~media002/disclaimer.htm Due to the nature of email & the WWW, check ALL sources. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." (Gandhi) OnlineJournalism.com Newsletter for July 17, 2003. OnlineJournalism.com is the daily news Weblog of the USC Annenberg Online Journalism Review. You can find us on the Web at http://www.onlinejournalism.com. ------------------------------------------

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WebJunction
by George Lessard 18 Jul '03

18 Jul '03

WebJunction WebJunction is an "online community of libraries and other agencies sharing knowledge and experience to provide the broadest public access to information technology." WebJunction fosters communication and problem solving for issues specific to libraries and librarianship in the United States and Canada. The site includes sample policies and practices, technology and buying information, access to online courses and lessons, a newsletter, and related discussion forums. http://webjunction.org/ Subjects: Public access computers in libraries... Created by jwa Via / From / Thanks to: http://media002.tripod.com/ http://tinyurl.com/h4m7 (c)info http://members.tripod.com/~media002/disclaimer.htm Due to the nature of email & the WWW, check ALL sources. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." (Gandhi) ********************************************************************** Suggest a site: suggestions(a)lii.org Questions/Feedback: feedback(a)lii.org ********************************************************************** NOTE: Use of the annotations from this list must be accompanied by: Copyright 2003 by Librarians' Index to the Internet, lii.org. ********************************************************************** Thank you for using Librarians' Index to the Internet! Karen G. Schneider, kgs(a)lii.org lii.org Week Listowner and Director, Librarians' Index to the Internet Information You Can Trust! http://lii.org/

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Software Camp for NGOs - Croatia (Technology and Social Change)
by RG Lentz 17 Jul '03

17 Jul '03

Dear Colleagues, For those studying technology and social change, this might be of interest. RG Lentz (UT Austin) -------------------------------------- Summer Source Software Camp for NGOs Call for Participants 29th of August to 6th of September (travel days included), Island of Vis, Croatia See www.tacticaltech.org <http://www.tacticaltech.org/> for complete information. Deadline for applications: 25th July, 2003. Calling all eRiders - Tech Activists - Free and OpenSource software Developers - NGO Geeks! If you are Working with technology and non-profits in Southeast, Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucases or Central Asia Interested in the use of free and open source software for civil society Ready to spend an intensive week of hands-on training with people from the region who share your interests then we want you at the first Summer Source camp. Tactical Technology Collective Amsterdam and Multimedia Institute Croatia, in partnership with the Open Society Institute, invite you to Summer Source camp, a seven-day gathering of individuals and organizations working to implement free and open source software solutions for civil-society organizations (NGO's, activists, educators and independent media), from a practical, application-based perspective; you will do, not just debate. The camp will offer parallel tracks for implementers and developers with numerous shared sessions, from open talk to open practice, as well as a project flea market (an exhibition of free and open source software, tools and projects for NGOs). For both developers and implementers, the camp will offer a chance to meet and work on practical issues with potential project partners. In concert with a rich program, we will set aside time on the beautiful island of Vis, Croatia for relaxation and recreation. The gathering will serve as an oasis of sorts, providing pause and perspective in tandem with inspiration and informal interaction. You will stay in barracks at a camp site on the island, and excursions beyond the camp grounds will offer fresh vistas and opportunities to meet new friends. We hope to see you there! Participants The camp will host a total of sixty participants doing work in central and eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Caucuses, and Central Asia. We will also have a few select participants from Asia and Africa. We will work in a multi-cultural environment, with participants ranging, so far, from India, Indonesia, Singapore, Southern Africa, Poland, Bulgaria, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Mongolia. The group will be composed of two distinct sets of participants: those implementers (non-profit ICT consultants, NGO technology service providers, NGO-friendly ISP staff, in-house IT staff) tasked with specifying and deploying technology solutions in NGO's, which would benefit from F/OSS training, and developers working to create new and better free and open source software platforms, applications, and infrastructure for NGO's. Ideally participants will already be familiar with Internet, free and open software (F/OSS) and NGOs, but we are also looking to grow the community working on these issues, recruiting those with knowledge and passion to bolster the success of the event. Agenda The aim of the program for implementers is to set up a NGOs free and open source software environment, and to be able to demonstrate the advantages of the use of free and open source software for civil-society organisations. Topics offered for this group will include process models for analysis and implementation, selecting and recommending toolsets, network options and backend solutions; hands-on implementation and use of different GNU/Linux distributions, internet and desktop tools; finding developers and resources; support and training for non-profits; case studies and success stories. Topics offered for developers will include technical skillshares; building developer communities around projects; collaborating with dispersed teams; funding and revenue generation; working with a non-profit user community; designing with users in mind; promoting projects to a user base; planning and managing a free and open source software project for non-profits; development cycle and business models; case studies and success stories. A substantial portion of the gathering will be devoted to shared sessions bringing implementers and developers together for discussion, brainstorming, practice, alliance building and visioning for the future. In addition, there will be free-form skillshares and a showcase in open access, content, services and tools. Evening programs will include music, lectures, discussions, screenings, and open content. Event Details and Application The Summer Source Camp will take place on the island of Vis in Croatia, from the 29th of August to the 6th of September (travel days included). Applications may be submitted via email. The application form can be downloaded at: http://www.tacticaltech.org>, or requested by e-mail at sumersource_participants(a)tacticaltech.org mailto:sumersource_participants@tacticaltech.org>. Deadline for applications: 25th July, 2003. IF YOU NEED A VISA FOR CROATIA PLEASE APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SINCE THE PROCESS MAY TAKE LONG. Later applications may still be considered depending on space availability. However, we strongly encourage you to apply as early as you can to make sure your application is considered. The fee for each participant is EUR 150. Participants may apply to a subsidy fund to cover participation fee and travel costs. We can> '> t cover all travel fees, but we do have a travel fund that can be used to help those who really need it to get there. If you need a subsidy to attend, please fill in the funding questions in the application form and it will be considered. All such requests will be evaluated on a needs and availability basis, therefore, the earlier you apply, the greater the chance of receiving a subsidy. Once participation has been confirmed, we will encourage participants to make flight reservations as soon as possible, as this is the end of summer season and flight availability may still be substantially limited. Flights should be booked to Split or Zagreb, Croatia. Participants will need to inquire about obtaining a Croatian visa from a Croatian consulate before confirming participation. Accommodations will be in barracks at the camp, with sheets and bedding provided. Breakfast and dinner (included in the participation fee) will be served daily. There will be additional food and shopping facilities within a 10-minute walk of the camp site. We are still open for proposals for the project flea market (exhibition of free and open source software software, tools and projects for NGOs) and a few applications for facilitators. If you are interested, contact us at sumersource_info(a)tacticaltech.org <mailto:sumersource_info@tacticaltech.org>. See www.tacticaltech.org <http://www.tacticaltech.org> for complete information. Organizers Summer Source Camp is being organized by Tactical Tech Collective (www.tacticaltech.org <http://www.tacticaltech.org>> ) and Multimedia Institute (www.mi2.hr <http://www.mi2.hr>), in partnership with the Open Society Institute (www.soros.org <htt://www.soros.org>).

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Newspaper talk-backing in Spain
by Adolfo Estalella 17 Jul '03

17 Jul '03

Hi, about the questions send by Jacob Hecht on the talk-backing, I can tell that in spainish newspapers it is not very usual. > From: Jacob Hecht <hecht_j(a)netvision.net.il> > Subject: [Air-l] TalkBacks > In Israel "talk-backing" is quite common over the net. That is public > responses to news items, which are published in a newsgroup's "string" > style. I haven't seen this phenomena on news websites (e.g CNN.com ; > nytimes.com) and was wondering: > > > > a) Are "talk backs" practiced in other countries? The main five newspapers don't offer the chance to add a comment to the news. There is one expception, http://www.20minutos.es, a free newspaper distributed in the tube, that is the second most read newspaper in Spain, if you visit its website yo can see that the news are really short but there are docens of comment from readers (an example: http://www.20minutos.es/madrid/?noti=62427 ) > b) What is the origin of this activity? Is the origin related to blogs?, perhaps it is a posibility, but I really don't know. __________________________________ "If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange our apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas." George Bernard Shaw _______Visit Me AT: http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/adolfoestalella/adolfoindex.html___… ___________________________________________________ Yahoo! Messenger - Nueva versión GRATIS Super Webcam, voz, caritas animadas, y más... http://messenger.yahoo.es

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Netstudy.ca
by Peter West 16 Jul '03

16 Jul '03

Hello all! I am a master's student at the University of Western Ontario. (Faculty of Information & Media Studies - MA in Media Studies) I have recently constructed a website in order to compile and share information about doing research with\on the internet. http://netstudy.ca I don't have very much content just yet, but I hope to have a fair sized collection compiled by the end of August. My reasons for writing today are twofold: 1. Online Database for Annotated References I would like to have a database of annotated references (books, journal articles, AV, websites, organizations etc...) that can be searched and easily added to by visitors to the site. Anybody who has experience with database design etc or who knows of an open-source software package that would serve my needs is urged to get in touch with me! 2. Special Interest Groups & Volunteers It occurred to me that people may be interested in hosting special interest groups (SIGs) related to their area of interest or expertise. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept, it would basically be a corner of the website dedicated to a particular topic.(Fitting broadly under the scope of researching the net, or conducting research online.) Volunteers would be free to compile information and facilitate forum discussions relating to their own areas of specialization\interest.. SIGS could be organized around disciplines \ research techniques \ or any other special interest. If you or anyone you know might be interested in volunteering to maintain a special interest group on Netstudy.ca, please send me an email with some background information and a little bit about the vision you have for your special interest group. Professors and administrators are also encouraged to forward this message to students. Peter West http://netstudy.ca peterwest(a)netstudy.ca peterwest(a)rogers.com Many thanks!

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Re: [[Air-l] TalkBacks]
by Joanie McCollom 16 Jul '03

16 Jul '03

Hi, This definitely happens in Malaysia, where the press is very controlled. This activity is part of my PhD dissertation, which I am currently writing. (We can talk more offline about overlaps in our work, if you're interested.) I don't think we see it as much on CNN because by and large American audiences believe their media to be free and thus are less critical of what they read. -joanie Jacob Hecht <hecht_j(a)netvision.net.il> wrote: > Dear Friends, > > > > In Israel "talk-backing" is quite common over the net. That is public > responses to news items, which are published in a newsgroup's "string" > style. I haven't seen this phenomena on news websites (e.g CNN.com ; > nytimes.com) and was wondering: > > > > a) Are "talk backs" practiced in other countries? > > b) What is the origin of this activity? > > c) Are there references which discuss this form of communication? > > > > > > Hoping to hear from you… > > > > > > Jacob Hecht, Ph.D > > > _______________________________________________ > Air-l mailing list > Air-l(a)aoir.org > http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l > ____________________________________________________________________

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