But dissidents and activists are becoming more sophisticated and resourceful in using the internet to promote democracy and human rights, and circumventing censorship and to groups like Movements.Org, as demonstrated by the following sample cases: A Syrian activist and university student seeking asylum in the United States posted an urgent request for help and representation, as his life would be in grave jeopardy should he return to his native country. A professor at The John Marshall Law School, based in Chicago, took on the case, and is helping the activist attain asylum. A famed former Iranian political prisoner who spent tens of years in jail asked for help saving a radio station he runs which broadcasts into Iran. A senior American official saw the post and reached out to the dissident. A North Korean defector asked for helping getting information in and out of their dictatorial regime. Radio, satellite and computer experts connected with the defector to talk about new technologies to help make this possible. A Cuban blogger hoping to circumvent censorship in her home country and Ecuador posted a request for technological help getting around firewalls. She was contacted by several computer programmers and security experts who offered to walk her through the process of protecting her information. Activists requested a song be written to honor the late Russian accountant, Sergei Magnitsky, who was was arrested and tortured after exposing corruption of the Putin regime. Magnitsky died in prison. A songwriter in NYC saw the request on Movements.org, and wrote a catchy song to commemorate his life (see below). The song was featured on Al Jazeera and in The Wall Street Journal.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 16:12:00 +0000
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