In this edition: an online campaign to free 9 Ethiopian bloggers; the White House takes on the problem of sexual assault on campus; and a diver swimming with seal pups.
ONLINE CAMPAIGN TO FREE NINE ETHIOPIAN BLOGGERS
Online campaigning is well underway for the release of nine Ethiopian bloggers and journalists, members of the “Zone 9” group, arrested at the end of April on allegations they were using social networks to incite violence and create instability in the country. The accusations have been met with lively commentary online and many have been speaking out in support of the jailed opposition activists.
NGOs including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have posted statements on their respective websites condemning what they describe as arbitrary arrests and urging the Ethiopian government to release the prisoners at the earliest possible opportunity. Both organizations are concerned about the crackdown on dissenting voices in Ethiopia over the past few months and ask the authorities to respect the right to freedom of expression.
As do the dozens of web users who have posted their photo to the “Zone Niner” Tumblr blog set up to campaign for the jailed bloggers. Social networkers from all over the world have posed with a sign reading “blogging is not a crime” and are calling for the nine detainees to be released as soon as possible.
A growing number of messages are appearing on Twitter under the #freezone9bloggers hashtag. Outraged micro bloggers are slamming the way the 9 activists are being treated and insist they must be freed immediately.
WHITE HOUSE LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO END CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT
Hollywood actors including Benicio del Toro, Daniel Craig and, Ste... Go on reading on our web site.
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