#DONTSPYONME Tell Europe’s leaders to stop mass surveillance #dontspyonme
Index on Censorship launches a petition calling on European Union Heads of Government to stop the US, UK and other governments from carrying out mass surveillance. We want to use public pressure to ensure Europe’s leaders put on the record their opposition to mass surveillance. They must place this issue firmly on the agenda for the next European Council Summit in October so action can be taken to stop this attack on the basic human right of free speech and privacy.
(Index on Censorship)
GLOBAL Google revamps search to feature in-depth articles
Want to know more about censorship, love, or legos? The Web giant reworks its search feature to display more comprehensive articles, papers, and blog posts alongside its quick answer listings.
(CNET)
Bitcoin is crucial for the future of free speech, say experts
When US servicemen Bradley Manning was found guilty on 20 counts in connection with leaking classified military information, experts mused that bitcoin was instrumental in the continuing operation of WikiLeaks, the whistleblowing website that he helped.
(Coin Desk)
Russia opens probe into flag desecration by US band
Russia’s interior ministry on Monday launched a criminal probe into flag desecration after a US rock musician stuffed a Russian flag down his trousers at a concert.
(Dawn)
SOUTH AFRICA Free speech for all, save the chief justice?
CHIEF Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng may face an impeachment hearing before the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for comments he made last month at the annual general meeting of Advocates for Transformation.
(Business Day Live)
Dear Mr. Cameron: U.K.’s Love for Porn and Censorship Don’t Mix
There’s an insatiable demand for Internet porn in the U.K. Whether it be straight, gay, tranny or BDSM, modern Brits have put their arms around the idea of devouring sexually explicit material in the privacy of their own homes.
(XBIZ)
The Judd Apatow Test of Free Speech
The issue was whether a school district in Pennsylvania violated the rights of two middle-school girls who were suspended for wearing “I ♥ boobies!” bracelets.
(Wall Street Journal)
‘CENSORSHIP’: ANTI-ABORTION ACTIVISTS PREPARE TO BATTLE THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA
Pro-life groups have had enough of what they call a “media blackout” when it comes to the abortion issue. So, they’re coming together to hold a “March on the Media” this Thursday. The protest rally is being organized by Lila Rose, president of Live Action, an anti-abortion group. The event’s targets are mainstream media outlets that some critics, including Rose, believe have been too silent about issues pertaining to life and the protection of the unborn.
(The Blaze)
Sen. Rockefeller Continues His Quest To Regulate Free Speech With His ‘Violent Content Research Act’
Sen. Jay Rockefeller’s pet project — fighting violent media — just got a shot in the arm from the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (because those three seem like perfect complements…), which “advanced” his legislation directing the National Academy of Sciences to study the effects of violent media on children.
(Tech Dirt)
It’s Dangerous For Free Speech When We Confuse Leakers With Spies
We’ve tried to make similar points a few times in the past about our concern with the Obama administration going after whistleblowers and the journalists who publish their leaks by using the Espionage Act more than all other Presidents in history, combined (more than twice as much, actually).
(Tech Dirt)
We all like to think of ourselves as free – free to think, free to feel, free to speak our mind. But are we? Can we say what we want on social media? Do we have a right to offend each other?
TRIPWIRES brings a thought provoking workshop to Bradford; an opportunity to engage with these incendiary issues in an enjoyable and accessible way.
Practically exploring what free speech means, three young facilitators will open the floor with a workshop before delivering an interactive show developed in collaboration with award-winning, censored Lebanese director Lucien Bourjeily.
Emma is an actress and workshop facilitator, writer and director.
Theatre work includes Clean (The Traverse Theatre), Upper Cut (TARA Theatre) Crash (North Wall Arts Centre/ Arcola Theatre), Talent (Soho Theatre), Millennium (The Vineyard Theatre, New York), A New World Order (Barbican/Hydrocracker Theatre) . Television and Film includes Trap for Cinderella (Forthcoming Productions) BBC Ident Over the Rainbow (Red Bee Media), The Naked Poet (Triple Threat Media).
As a workshop facilitator Emma has worked for The National Youth Theatre, Apples and Snakes and Hoxton Hall.
Emma was selected for the Oval House Theatre and English Pen writers group and her debut plays Spice and Dreams of a Scholar were produced by Oval House Theatre’s 33% Festival earlier this year.
What does freedom of expression mean to you?
Freedom of Expression is a right and not a privilege, however I believe that this right comes with great responsibility and it is important to me that I use my voice to aid the freedom of expression of others and also use my skills as an artist to tell stories of those individuals and communities who do not have the freedom to have their voices head.
Lance Kirby
After completing a Performing Arts: Acting course at Westminster Kingsway College in 2008, Lance has pursued a career as a performer, project coordinator and workshop facilitator in the UK and abroad. In 2010 Lance embarked on a 6 months leadership-training course ‘Tripwires’ combining theatre, acting, writing and movement to create an open space for young people to explore freedom of expression, censorship and offence. Since then Lance has supported and led workshops for arts organisations including: Project Phakama UK, Index on Censorship, English PEN, Apples and Snakes, Urban Development, Immediate Theatre and Al Kasaba, Yes Theatre and Karama Children’s centre (In Palestine).
What does freedom of expression mean to you?
Freedom of expression is to protect the human race from the human race.
Hussina Raja
I studied Criminology and Law while always having a keen interest in Performing Arts. I work as an actress and founded the organisation FREE2B and henceforth, decided to live the life of a struggling creative in hope of gaining invaluable life experience. I came into contact with Index on Censorship via the TRIPWIRES Arts training and leadership programme, a joint collaboration between Index and Project Phakama UK. It is an innovative programme which engaged me into the Social Arts scene through exploration and gave me a sense of direction, a platform for expression and inspiration.
What does freedom of expression mean to you?
Freedom of Expression is a concept I still find very difficult to pin down. I find it vast and inconsistent, varying according to the context. For me it’s an opportunity to freely speak and do as I please, experiment and investigate boundaries without being censored by others. Freedom to express in theory is an individual right for everyone and a responsibility, one that must be reinforced among the human race. However, practically I find it can be exhausting. As a young British woman I still find it hard to express myself without the back lash from communities and conflict with my culture and traditions, leaving me confused and living in a society that promotes Human Rights and protects your Civil Liberties and yet still leaves me struggling to find a voice and stance that won’t cause offence.
Yesterday I learned that you have managed to gain temporary asylum in Russia. Congratulations on behalf of progressive people everywhere. At last, you are safe.
Here in Russia no one would dream of harassing you for exposing the security services when they listen to telephone conversations and read others letters without a warrant. Russia, thank God, is a law-abiding State and ever since 2008 our security services have had a quite legal right to listen to whatever people are talking about on the phone and to read their e-mails.
Everyone is aware of this, and there is nothing here in Russia to expose.
While you are only just beginning to get acquainted, however, with the aspects of liberty in our society, let me give you some modest advice. Russia, It goes without saying, has its own way of doing things and it would be better if you knew about this in advance.
One, feel free to take up whatever activity you like.
This is not the USA, Ed, where exposing the activities of the government carries unpleasant consequences. There is nothing of the kind here. On the contrary, people who expose the American government are given all kinds of rewards and can enjoy a fine career, which I wish for you. I would just remind you not to forget which government you are fighting against. For were you, in the heat of the moment, to get confused about this you would have to return to a little room again (and this time, most likely, it would not be at the airport).
Two, it would be best, old chap, if you grasp from the beginning that Russia is a spiritual country.
Perhaps in the USA they taught you that Russia’s wealth lies in its oil and its timber. Well, that has long ceased to be the case. All the oil was stolen back in 2004 by Mikhail Khodorkovsky and all our forest reserves will soon have been stolen by Alexei Navalny. So today our spiritual wealth can best be expressed as “Orthodoxy, Autocracy and Populism”. Orthodoxy is a very liberal religion. You may drink alcohol, eat pork, or, like Abbot Timothy, drive your BMW roadster while under the influence – in short, do whatever you like. You mustn’t dance, that’s the main thing. Dancing is a crime. But you’re no dancer, Ed, so it’s not a problem as far as you’re concerned. Autocracy is Russia’s form of democracy. It’s very spiritual and you’ll like it. Every few years we re-elect Vladimir Putin. Putin recently caught the biggest catfish in the world. The very biggest was caught by Lukashenko. That’s all you need to know about politics in the Commonwealth of Independent States – if you don’t want to return, that is, to a little room in a hotel somewhere like Krasnokamsk. Populism: that means the national spirit and you can get acquainted with it by listening to the songs of Stas Mikhailov, though my advice to you would be, Don’t.
Three, please don’t imagine I have any objections, it’s a matter of indifference to me, but it would be better if you’re not gay. If you are, well, don’t leave the hotel. If you’re Jewish then you won’t be able to work as a rural schoolteacher. Does that strike you as silly advice? Ed, I know what I’m talking about. Take my word for it.
I hear that your defence lawyer Kucherena has given you Crime and Punishment. It’s an excellent book. Do read it, and do so BEFORE you encounter a certain middle-aged lady called Yelena Mizulina. Don’t do anything you might come to repent of later! No matter how noble the idea that guided your actions.
Lastly, a couple of practical suggestions.
Do not commit any offences when you’re out driving until you have been elected deputy of one assembly or another. Don’t waste your money buying a flat – all you have to do is become friendly with Ramzan Kadyrov. Learn to play badminton and if someone offers to help you run for Mayor of Moscow, do not agree. It’s a trap! There are three simple rules you must remember: Do not wear white, at least not when you’re near Bolotnaya Square; Don’t walk about in tight-fitting garments anywhere within sight of the State Duma; and Don’t Dance within the vicinity of a church.
Please don’t imagine that I am trying to scare you. On the contrary. You can do everything else that I haven’t mentioned above. If you want to tell lies, go ahead; if you want to steal, be my guest, thirteen years in a row: and no problem. Just remember my advice and, to be safe, don’t leave the hotel. I can’t explain – and anyway, you wouldn’t understand. It’s just better if you stay inside,
It would take at least as many words as the author uses to decipher the allusions in this short letter. Here it’s worth noting the following.
In 2008 the various Russian security services were allowed by law to use a “technical system to support investigative activities” (its acronym is SORM) which gave them access to communication networks without seeking prior permission. Such access is now a condition of registration for any new website, and providers must foot the bill themselves for installing the necessary equipment and software. For an account of SORM in action see this link.
The author of the letter Roman Dobrokhotov is a Moscow-based blogger, and a journalist with the internet news-site slon.ru.
In 2012 he was described by Al Jazeera in the following terms: “Roman has been arrested 120 times. His actions – part performance art, part comedy and part political statement – are daring and entertaining but his cause is deadly serious.” Dobrokhotov’s targets, according to the TV broadcaster, are “Putin, the Orthodox church and ultra-nationalists”.
Вчера я узнал о том, что тебе удалось все-таки получить в России временное убежище. Поздравляю тебя от лица всей прогрессивной мировой общественности. Теперь ты, наконец, в безопасности. Здесь, в России, никто и не подумает преследовать тебя за какие-то там разоблачения спецслужб, прослушивающих телефоны и читающих чужие письма без решения суда. Ибо у нас, слава богу, правовое государство – российские спецслужбы еще с 2008 года имеют полное законное право прослушивать телефонные разговоры и читать электронную почту, всем это известно и разоблачать нечего. Но пока ты только начинаешь знакомиться со всеми измерениями свободы нашего российского общества, позволь мне дать тебе пару скромных советов – как никак у нас тут в России есть своя специфика и лучше бы тебе знать о ней заранее.
Во-первых, Эд, смело занимайся любимым делом. Это в Америке разоблачать правительство было чревато неприятностями, в нашей же свободной стране ничего такого нет, даже наоборот – люди, разоблачающие американское правительство всячески поощряются и делают прекрасную карьеру. Чего я тебе и желаю. Но только призываю тебя не забывать, с каким именно правительством ты борешься. Ибо если ты в пылу эмоцией тут что-то перепутаешь, тебе придется вернуться в капсульную комнату (причем, скорее всего, даже не в аэропорту).
Во-вторых, старина, сразу бы тебе лучше усвоить, что Россия – это духовная страна. Возможно, в американской школе тебя учили, что российские богатства – это нефть и лес. Так вот это уже давно не так. Всю нефть украл Михаил Ходорковский еще в 2004 году, а намедни и вес лес украл Алексей Навальный, так что главные наши богатства нынче духовные – православие, самодержавие и народность. Православие – это очень либеральная религия, можно пить алкоголь, есть свинину, гонять в подпитии на родстере BMW с дипномерами, как игумен Тимофей – в общем, ни в чем себе не отказывай. Главное – не танцевать. Танцевать нельзя, это уголовка. Но ты же не танцор, что тебе, какая разница. Самодержавие же – это такая традиционная российская форма демократии, очень духовная, тебе понравится. Каждые несколько лет мы выбираем Владимира Путина. Владимир Путин поймал почти самого большого в мире сома. А самого-самого большого поймал Лукашенко. Это все что тебе следует знать о политике в странах СНГ. Если ты не хочешь вернуться в капсульный отель где-нибудь в Краснокаменске. Народность – это национальный дух. Ознакомиться с ним можно посредством песен Стаса Михайлова, но лично мой совет – не знакомься.
В-третьих, ты не подумай ничего такого, мне лично все равно, но все-таки лучше, если ты не гей. А если гей, то из отеля на всякий случай не выходи. А если еврей – то не становись сельским учителем. Дурацкий совет, вроде бы, да? Но я-то знаю, о чем говорю. Просто поверь.
Я слышал, адвокат Кучерена подарил тебе «Преступление и наказание» – это отличная книга, прочти ее пожалуйста ДО того как познакомишься с одной пожилой женщиной по имени Елена Мизулина. Не делай того, за что бы тебе потом пришлось раскаиваться! Какой бы благородной идеей ты ни руководствовался.
И напоследок, пару дельных советов: не нарушай правила дорожного движения пока не станешь депутатом, не трать деньги на покупку квартиры (просто познакомься с Рамзаном Кадыровым), учись играть в бадминтон, а если предложат выдвигаться в мэры Москвы – не соглашайся, это разводка! И запомни три простых правила: белого не надевать (по крайней мере не рядом с Болотной площадью), обтягивающего не носить (во всяком случае, слишком обтягивающего и рядом с Госдумой) и не танцевать (по крайней мере рядом с церквями).
Ты не подумай только, что я тебя пугаю. Наоборот же. В остальном-то у нас все можно. Хочешь ври, хочешь – воруй, хоть 13 лет подряд, никаких проблем. Просто помни мои советы. А лучше, что уж там, не выходи из этого отеля своего. Не могу объяснить. Ты не поймешь все равно. Просто – лучше не выходи.
Emma is an actress and workshop facilitator, writer and director.
