I read a recent post from my friend, Suzanne Calton, who moved from Castle Rock to China a couple of years ago, and it amazed me that a country could have such control over the personal lives of its people.Something so trivial and fun as a "blog" can be censored and blocked in China. That is so crazy to me. We take so much for granted here in the United States -- such as the freedom to say and write whatever we want. (By the way, don't know what this Chinese banner says on the left -- just thought it looked cool -- hope it's nothing inappropriate!)
Below is a post from Suzanne's blog and then one from another friend of hers who lives in China, as well.
I'm grateful to live in a country where I am so blessed with the freedoms we take for granted!
(Excerpt from Suzanne's Blog)
I'VE HAD IT!!!
Argh!! China has had blogger blocked for about a month now. After weeks of waiting (y'all know this happened around the time of the Olympics too), Tim finally got a VPN to let us get around it. The day he got it, I feverishly posted 4 of my ... hmmm, let's say 45 posts in the "waiting" phase. Delighted, everything uploaded just fine. Then, on Sunday, Monday, and today, I try to upload pictures --- and I CAN'T UPLOAD!!! Sooo stinkin' frustrated right now. I can write, but no pictures!!
What do I do? .......
(And from her friend's blog)
CHINA'S CRACKDOWN ON THE INTERNET
As we have reported, China has blocked and continues to block websites that are objectionable or inflammatory in a political nature. They have also recently blocked and continue to block websites with a large amount of user-generated content such as blogs, youtube, twitter, and even hotmail and MSN messenger.
The Wall Stree Journal has now just reported that China wants to take its stranglehold of the internet to the next level, by requiring PC manufacturers to preload web-filtering software on their PCs effective July 1st ... this new policy was only announced May 19th.
Looks like the kinder, gentler China from the Olympics is unfortunately becoming a distant memory. Here's a quote from the Wall Street Journal, dated June 8th, 2009:
"China plans to require that all personal computers sold in the country as of July 1 be shipped with software that blocks access to certain web sites, a move that could give government censors unprecedented control over how Chinese uses access the internet."
Looks like the Chinese will just have to come up with new ways around the government's information controls ... and they will.
Pretty incredible stuff, huh? I know there is a lot of stuff that I would like NOT to see on the Internet ... but I want the choice to decide what that is. Good luck to you, Suzanne and friends!
1 comment:
That is just such a strange concept to me - I would go crazy! Like she said, it must be so frustrating - especially because their blog seems so not threatening. Man, it's a whole different world over there! China is one of those places I have always been afraid to visit.
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