Free Expression in Asian Cyberspace

I’m spending the rest of the week at the “Free Expression in Asian Cyberspace” conference organized by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ).  Delegates from at least 15 countries in the region are speaking about a range of issues affecting press freedom across Asian nations and the Internet.  For a good blow-by-blow coverage, visit the PCIJ blog here, here, here, here, here, here, and here) or the Conference Blog. 

Presenters from different countries spoke of government-sanctioned restrictions on their press freedom ranging from harrasment to arrests to disappearances.  It makes me realize just how much we take for granted our press freedom here (despite the government’s best efforts).  But for some of the participants, the dialogue at the conference had some more ominous consequences.  I understand that some delegates were unable to attend because they were detained at the airport long enough to miss their flights.  One has apparently been arrested.  Yet another (a presenter here) pleaded this morning for the bloggers present to take down erroneous information identifying the delegate with an underground press freedom organization — this in the wake of an AP article that just hit the wires this morning.  As the delegate stood up and addressed the bloggers, it dawned on me that our freedoms can cause real harm to other people in places where repression is the norm.  It was a sobering thought and I think a major lesson we all learned in this conference.
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iBlog2

 
 iBlog2 is now history.  We had more speakers (5 times more than that original 5 in iBlog), 2 separate rooms, and surprisingly, more attendees (a total of more than 200 sign-ups) than the first Philippine Blogging Summit.  The day was kicked off by Rebecca Mackinnon’s inspiring keynote and then the six tracks on everything we thought bloggers would be interested in (i.e., Professional Blogging, Media, Podcasting, Legal Issues, Arts and Writing).  Given that we scheduled this on a weekday, we were blown away by the number of people who trekked out to the UP College of Law for this event.

I spent the day taking pictures and basically running around like a headless chicken. My overall impression is that blogging is coming into its own in the Philippines.  We’re seeing more newbies, more dedicated bloggers, and deeper concerns about where all of this is headed.  I can assure you, the folks at the UP Law Internet & Society Program will be here to do its part.  We hope to mount iBlog3 either next year or if we can hack it, as early as the end of the year.  (more…)

iBlog 2 Begins

 
In his opening remarks at iBlog2, UP Law Dean Salvador Carlota, observed that as bloggers come together in this second summit, majority of Filipinos are probably ignorant of the technology that supports blogging.  “These things are not yet in their consciousness.”  Internet access being what it is, blogging is still in its infancy in these islands but a growing number of users are blogging and some, blogging seriously. 

Glancing at the crowd at the Sta. Ana Room at the UP College of Law, we have a pretty good turnout for a weekday event.  I’m told that 120 people had signed up by 9:30 a.m.  Congratulations go out to the hard working folks at the UP Internet and Society Program!

Here we go. 

What was the No. 1 Song when you were born?

To find out, go here.  Mine turned out to be “Honey” by Bobby Goldsboro - a song I would not know were it not for the fact that my dad used to play it over and over after my mom passed away in 1976.  I ended up memorizing the lyrics and had no idea the song had any other connection to me. 

iBlog 2

Go to iBlog 2 , the Philippines’ 2nd Blogging Summit. Attendance is FREE. Register now to save your seat!

EFF Takes Down Legal Guide for Bloggers

I just got this in an email from EFF:

EFF Takes Down Legal Guide for Bloggers

Opens Online Home for Wayward MySpace Profiles

San Francisco - You might have noticed that EFF has removed its Student Bloggers’ Legal FAQ. This was in response to a cease-and-desist notice we received for “encouraging kids to talk back to their parents and teachers.” This incident has opened our eyes to a new plague on the Internet — the lost and wandering MySpace profiles of thousands of young people across our nation.

“These profiles are an unfiltered view of young people’s thoughts and dreams, and that’s just scary,” said Bea Kweiter, a volunteer at the online home. “If this freewheeling expression is allowed to continue, there’s no way the people associated with it will ever get a job in the real world. Well, unless some boss somewhere has a MySpace profile of her own. But that would never happen.”

The home offers a safe place for profiles to learn how to self-censor. There is also a detox center for exclamation-point overload.

 Read the whole press release at: http://www.eff.org/cgi/tiny?urlID=556

Health Warning: Dihydrogen Monoxide (DMHO)

You should be aware of the health risks associated with DMHO.  You’d be surprised at the number of ordinary household items that contain DMHO.  For more info, go to the DMHO Research Division website.  You should also read their FAQ. 

Be careful. DMHO may get you.