Headlines from around the world – 30 April 2008

In today’s wrap-up from news outlets and bloggers across the globe:

The Guardian has a story about a Beijing man whose family home stands in the way of an Olympic city beautification project, the crackdown on outspoken bloggers continues in China, the Olympic torch arrives in Hong Kong plus …

The wall has been launched

The Beijing Olympic Games are now 100 days away, and we have marked the date with the launch of our national action aimed at dismantling China’s 'Great Firewall' in Melbourne.

Weekly report: Human rights, boycotts and nationalism

With only 100 days until the Beijing Games, human rights activists are continuing to pressure the Chinese regime and authorities may be starting to feel the pressure, writes Antony Loewenstein.

Triple the profit, triple the rights?

Yahoo! has recently announced a massive profit increase. It doesn't seem that the company has a dollar to rights matching scheme in place!

World Press Freedom Day

The day is a chance to remember the crucial role free press can play in the world and a chance to reflect on the damage caused to individuals and society when freedom of the press is denied. "Free and unrestricted media access" was one of China's promises to the world in line with the hosting of the Beijing Olympic Games.

So who is Sohu?

Sohu, Baidu, Microsoft, Google and Yahoo! are all a part of China's Great Firewall. These internet companies filter the world for Chinese net users.

Headlines from around the world - 28 April 2008

In today's wrap-up from media outlets and bloggers across the globe:

Fresh talks between the Dalai Lama and Chinese leaders are scheduled to begin shortly, the Times Online links Robert Mugabe and a Chinese arms-trading firm, the Olympic torch passes through North Korea plus ……

Free to have an opinion – a universal right

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers,” – Article 19 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Time to tear down the wall

This opinion piece, from our national director Claire Mallinson, was published in The Canberra Times on 24 April 2008:

A number of Australians will exercise a fundamental human right of expression and assembly today, and take part in peaceful protests along the Beijing Olympic torch relay route in Canberra ...

Headlines from around the world – 24 April 2008

In today's wrap-up from media outlets and bloggers across the globe:

Thousands of protestors turn up for the Olympic torch relay in Canberra, a group of Chinese lawyers are to sue CNN over comments made by one of its commentators, Coca-Cola’s senior vice-president writes about corporate social responsibility plus …

Weekly report: Tibet, Zimbabwe and Loving China

The nationalistic genie has escaped the Chinese bottle. Citizens across the world have reacted strongly to the perceived anti-Chinese political and media elite in the West. Protests have mushroomed throughout China against what demonstrators view as a slight against benevolent rule in Tibet. The government is clearly behind much of the reaction, writes Antony Loewenstein.

Flame touches down in Australia

The besieged Olympic flame is about to make its way along the barricaded streets of Canberra – with thousands of pro-Tibetan and pro-Chinese supporters expected to show up.

Google’s cloth ears

Google shows no sign of listening to the many who are seeking to ensure it supports, rather than hinders, basic human rights.

Headlines from around the world – 23 April 2008

In today's wrap-up from media outlets and bloggers across the globe:

The Australian Olympic Committee and Games’ corporate sponsors duck for cover as the flame heads Down Under, China criticises Paris’s decision to make the Dalai Lama an honorary citizen, Chinese human rights activist Hu Jia won’t appeal his jail sentence plus …

Headlines from around the world – 22 April 2008

In today's wrap-up from media outlets and bloggers across the globe:

Olympics are fogging Coke's vision Atlanta Journal-Constitution – It's the real thing, baby: Genocide in Darfur and unwanted occupation in Tibet and civil rights abuses in Beijing. It's all being implicitly linked to our favorite hometown sugar buzz, Coke…

Help us tear down the Great Firewall of China!

Over the next three months we'll be constructing huge yellow 'walls' - representing the Chinese internet censorship regime - in major cities across Australia. We want members of the public to dismantle the walls, brick by brick, in the run-up to the Beijing Games. But we need your help!

Headlines from around the world - 21 April 2008

In today's wrap-up from media outlets and bloggers across the globe:

Nepal authorizes use of deadly force to stop protests of Olympic torch on Everest International Herald Tribune – Nepalese soldiers and police guarding the slopes of Mount Everest are authorized to shoot to stop any protests during China's Olympic torch run to the summit, an official said Sunday…

No let up in Chinese anger at the West

The anti-Western fervour in China shows no signs of abating.

You can download Nu Wa's mask
to wear at the Firewalls (size=15kb)

Download a Nu Wa mask!

Nu Wa is our campaign mascot and he's going to help us speak out against internet repression in China. You can download a Nu Wa mask or ears to wear at our Great Firewall of China events or at any other event you might be holding.

Join us for the Olympic Torch Relay in Canberra

On Thursday April 24 Amnesty International will be part of a peaceful presence at the Olympic Torch Relay in Canberra. Join us in our campaign to improve human rights in China.