You probably know by now (given the header of my blog) that I'm Zimbabwean. We have little-to-no freedom of speech. You have to carefully watch what you say in public, on the phone, via text, and in emails. They're all monitored by an organisation called the CIO (Central Intelligence Organisation), which is known to be behind large amounts of crime (political violence, intimidation, armed robbery, car-jacking, gang rape, etc. The usual for African law-enforcement, I suppose). Thus, you don't want them to know where you are, what you're doing and what you think about the 'president'.
China, however, has taken the restrictions on freedom of expression to entirely new levels. We (should) all know by now that China bans Google search (although, according to Google, this has been lifted. For an up-to-date report, check here). It provides access to 'sensitive' information, and they don't want their population exposed to ideas that will make them question the status quo. Well, they ban twitter too. I'm not sure how a social networking site is damaging to the delicate communist balance...oh wait, they'd come into contact with people who aren't unquestioning communists, and this would be a horrific thing for the nation. [/sarcasm]
Part of me is hoping that, by F1 being in China and telling people about the restrictions (Karun Chandhok tweeted that fans had showed him how to get around the firewall [creepy that they'd go to the airport and hang around waiting to accost an F1 driver; *hi5* to them for spreading the anarchy and making sure that we get normal race coverage], and that people are asking him for tweeting lessons) the world at large will become aware of how restrictive it all is. I suppose the point would be best put across by them being unable to tweet at all, but I can't possibly advocate that (let's face it, we all need our twitfix). F1 has an audience of about 1.5 million viewers. If we all stood up and said something about the situation in China, maybe something would happen? 1.5 million people shouting loud enough might be heard...yes? Perhaps I just live in hope too much...
China, however, has taken the restrictions on freedom of expression to entirely new levels. We (should) all know by now that China bans Google search (although, according to Google, this has been lifted. For an up-to-date report, check here). It provides access to 'sensitive' information, and they don't want their population exposed to ideas that will make them question the status quo. Well, they ban twitter too. I'm not sure how a social networking site is damaging to the delicate communist balance...oh wait, they'd come into contact with people who aren't unquestioning communists, and this would be a horrific thing for the nation. [/sarcasm]
Part of me is hoping that, by F1 being in China and telling people about the restrictions (Karun Chandhok tweeted that fans had showed him how to get around the firewall [creepy that they'd go to the airport and hang around waiting to accost an F1 driver; *hi5* to them for spreading the anarchy and making sure that we get normal race coverage], and that people are asking him for tweeting lessons) the world at large will become aware of how restrictive it all is. I suppose the point would be best put across by them being unable to tweet at all, but I can't possibly advocate that (let's face it, we all need our twitfix). F1 has an audience of about 1.5 million viewers. If we all stood up and said something about the situation in China, maybe something would happen? 1.5 million people shouting loud enough might be heard...yes? Perhaps I just live in hope too much...
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