www.bethkanter.org

All Eyes on Egypt

This is a recent post on one of my favorite bloggers and media experts out there.  Her name is Beth Kanter and her blog is www.bethkanter.org  you can find this article as well as others related to the Egypt Revolution currently underway.  I usually do not just post another article here but I thought this was an interesting idea.  Please read on to hear how Google and Twitter are helping people communicate with one another. 

One last thing before I turn you over to Beth, throughout the course of human history whenever there has been an improvement in information begin transferred revolution and change has always followed.  I am not saying Twitter and Facebook are the heroes in these movements.  Instead information is the hero, whoever possesses the information has the power.  And when that power lands into the hands of the people, then ….. Egypt!!!

ONLINE activism:

• Tweet with the hashtag #Egypt to the top of the trends.
• Blog your hearts out!
• Comment on articles & share them with the plug-ins offered on each website.
• Share stories of those you know on the ground.
• Post images on Twitter, Facebook, your blogs.
• Circulate articles you find valuable (like this one).
• Tag friends in Egypt, and those active in this movement in your posts/tweets to broaden impact.
• Make your profile picture something that shows support for those in Egypt (feel free to use the attached image).
• Re-tweet posts of Egyptian activists, demonstrators, and media that are on the ground. Add the hashtag #Egypt if not already applied.
• Share this note with EVERYONE!

Offline action:

• Talk to people – make global news part of their everyday conversation.  Expose those who are unaware of the story or why this affects them & present the opportunity to take action & spread the word.
• Participate/organize local demonstrations – http://MeetUp.com/ is a great tool & there are maps online calling out all sorts of demonstrations.
• Post signs (obey rules & laws).
• Listen – none of us know everything and there is a ton of information flowing.  Take the opportunity to learn more so you can share more.

Rules:

• Be respectful.
• Participate in a nonviolent manner.

Demonstrate to Egyptians and others fighting similar battles around the world that we join them in their fight for DEMOCRATIC freedoms!

According to Global Voices, there is a total Internet blackout in Egypt, but there is a workaround:

Google and Twitter (along with SayNow, a company recently acquired by Google) made a timely announcement: that they were jointly launching SpeaktoTweet, a service that would allow Egyptians to call an international number and record a voice message that would then be tweeted from the Twitter account @speak2tweet.  All evening, recordings have been popping up on the Twitter account from Egyptians who have had the chance to learn about the service.  Because of the total Internet ban, Egyptians on the ground have presumably learned about the service from phone calls to and from friends and family outside of the country.

State of the Union

It’s that time of the year again.  An event so important to our country, that it’s mentioned specifically in the constitution, more specific than voting.  It’s an opportunity for our President to speak to the country about where we are at, where he envisions us to be in the near future.  The State of the Union is important for many reasons, but as I sit here and watch the President speak, I am overwhelmed by the act of civility in the mixing of parties, as simple or superficial as it may be.  You have to start somewhere.

I was impressed with the tone through out.  It is true that I am an Obama supporter.  I believe that as the richest country in the world, we need to take care each other in the form of Health Care and public education.  I believe that the banning of assault weapons is not an attack on our second ammendment rights, but a responsible reaction to a dangerous technology that our founding fathers could not foresee.  I also believe that regulations are important because absolute power corrupts absolutely, but I also believe in free markets.  I believe that we are being challenged, I think we all have to take a moment and look inside ourselves, republican and democrat, and truly decide on what is important. 

I love what the President said about family values, “It’s not just the winner of the superbowl that should be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair”.  I think these are sentiments that we all can get behind.  But maybe I’m wrong.  Education, in my opinion, is the gateway to the solutions.  Higher education finds lower crime, lower poverty, better innovation, better technology, better jobs.  Schools are important, but so is parenting, and the president touched upon that brilliantly.

The President’s been fair and reasonable.  I feel he is sincere in his desire to work to solve problems.

Congresswoman Giffords

Image via Wikipedia

I wanted to write this yesterday as the news was coming out about the sickening tragedy that struck Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, but I was so angry that I needed to calm down.  After a night’s a sleep, that anger has slowly turned into defiance.

As everyone on the planet probably knows by now, Gabrielle Giffords was one of over a dozen people shot at a community event at a local Safeway.  Giffords was shot in the head and has survived, but is in critical condition.  Among the dead was a federal judge and a 9 year old girl. 

I want the information to sink in a moment.  A 9 year old girl, born on 9-11-01, excited about government, meeting her local congresswoman, dead.

There was a similar event where a government official was gunned down last week.  It was Pakistan.

Now I ask, who are we?  To me there are many problems here, we should solve them at the ballot box, that’s what the constitution is ultimately about.  We need to look at the constitution as a whole and not just 2nd Amendment.  We need to take a deep breathe and realize that we all want the same things in life.  Liberty, Security, Happiness.  People need to realize that when you carry a firearm to a political event to send a message, that message sometimes gets heard by people it wasn’t intended for.  When you use a cross-hair and “target list” to show your followers that political offices you want to take back, sometimes that gets seen by people who don’t quite understand what that message is about. 

The part that infuriates me the most is this isn’t a surprise.  With the rise of the tea-party, which I think is a valid political movement  with some valid arguments against big government and wasteful spending, but with that rise, came an extreme fanatical group of “freedom fighters” who wanted to “take their country back”.  They were at rallies dressed in fatigues and carrying loaded weapons.  When anyone questioned their motives or their use of common sense, they responded with their constitutional rights, they just didn’t understand that message that it sends. 

I often said our country’s philosphy is not because we should, but because we can. 

Giffords was a moderate democrat.  Not an ultra-liberal, not a socialist or communist or terrorist.  Not That It Matters.

Related Articles

• Tucson Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Shot At Campaign Event (alan.com)
• Reactions to Shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (seattlest.com)
• Did this Palin ‘Crosshairs’ ad get Congresswoman Giffords shot? (americablog.com)
• Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords reported shot in Arizona, was on Palin’s infamous “target” map (boingboing.net)

What A Long Assange Trip It’s Been

As everyone in this galaxy knows, there’s a man spilling the beans on the United States and it has a lot of people looking sheepish.  The U.S. Attorney General’s office is trying to come up with some law that will put Wikileaks founder and director Julian Assange to the test, hopefully shuttering his website and serving a warning to anyone who wants to follow in his footsteps. 

 The situation in a nutshell, is people inside the U.S. government have been downloading files, some of them considered “classified” and transmitting those files to sources outside our government and outside our country, essentially putting the question of jurisdiction, freedom of speech, the role of the press, who is and who is not considered “press” as well as a host of legally tricky situations. 

 Is Assange a journalist?  What classifies anyone as a journalist?  It seems in the digital age, partnered with the 24-hour news channels use of “journalists” such as Olberman and Beck, everyone nut job is a journalist with a camera and/or internet connection. 

 Is it bad?  Who’s to say really.  Did the release of this information put people’s lives in danger?  Yes.  Did the cooking of information in the lead up to the war in Iraq put lives in danger, absolutely.  Did the Iran-Contra scandal put lives in danger, I would have to say yes.  Did Watergate or the Pentagon Papers put lives in danger, you could argue. 

 Do we have the right to know?  I could argue both sides.  The founding fathers envisioned a government of the people, for the people, by the people, so yes in the spirit of that, we have the right to know.  Those same founding fathers also framed our government to be a Representative Democracy because not all are qualified to serve and there should be decision that are held within certain powers with in the government and not up for a nationwide majority vote, so with that, no, we don’t have the right.

 Is what Assange did wrong?  Depends who you are.  I’m pretty sure Hillary is pretty pissed off.  It sucks when one of your friends finds you think they’re stupid.  I can relate pretty well, I had a “friend” say I was a “jerk” on Facebook, not realizing that I could see what they were saying.   So if Assange was a true friend, he wouldn’t of done it, but he’s not and he did.  Will it change the way we do business?  Probably, but so what, we are constantly changing how we do things.

 Is what Assange did illegal?  Assange did not hack in to military computers to retrieve this information, it was given to him and he distributed it through his website Wikileaks.  There have been cries to charge Assange with treason which is really retarded because he’s not a U.S. citizen.  Another argument is “he leaked classified documents”.  Again I have to argue that the Bradley Manning leaked the classified documents, not Assange.  Well wait a minute…..Bradley Manning……  Who is Bradley Manning???

 Bradley Manning is that 22 year old punk intel analyst who downloaded all those files and gave them to Wikileaks.  The guy is a Private in the U.S. Army and what he did violates many laws.  Why aren’t we hanging this guy for treason?  Wouldn’t that be the greatest deterent?  Wouldn’t that effectively shut down Wikileaks?  If anyone else felt inspired wouldn’t they think differently when facing the gallows?  Why are we so upset with Assange?  He didn’t make up the information, he didn’t even steal it, it was given to him.

 We have been duped, Manning is the real enemy here.

response to “Funny thing about Religion”

You got me thinking. How’s this for a generalization?

Real “religious” or “spiritual” experiences can only happen when we are in a state of humility. Bear me out, I’m not going soft.

When we consider the vastness of the universe or look up at the stars, we have a “spiritual” experience because we recognize how small we are.

Likewise, when mystics have revelations, whether it’s seeing “beyond” appearances, or feeling a unity beyond sensation, or conceiving of some state of “grace,” it all comes from “emptying” the mind of the concept that humans can explain everything.

Again, whenever we experience a kind of euphoric sensation for doing something “charitable,” the sensation is from denying “self’ or being selfless. This is a form of humility.

I can’t say I know much about many religions but there are plenty of examples of this in Judeo-Christians texts, in lives of “Saints,” in Buddhists stories, and so forth.

OK, there’s a point to this rambling.

If this generalization is true, that is, that religion has something to do with humility, then your point is proved. Because it is not possible to be both superior and religious/humble at the same time. This applies equally to “believers” who make up rules for others, zealots who “punish” others for their religious transgressions (whether you are the Inquisitor or someone who shoots abortion doctors or flies planes into buildings), or any other kind of behavior based on the belief that one has the inside track on the way God thinks about things.

But of course this is a relatively new concept in history. Generally, the “true believer” is so certain that everyone else is damned that he doesn’t mind helping out the Creator in doing in those people. That’s why I’ve always thought that the truly religious can’t really be dead certain of his beliefs, he needs to have at least a little bit of doubt to keep him humble. Remember the story of the guy who wants his son healed. When he’s told with faith everything is possible, he says “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

Anyway, great story. Your connection with strangers has more of religion than most of the churchgoers I know ever exhibit, despite all the parables they hear every week that explains that.

From our good friend at hiddencause.wordpress.com

Just a funny thing about religion

Not funny as in ha ha but funny in that it is very strange.  I am spiritual, and I believe many things that cannot be explained through science or some sort of proof.  That being said I do have some huge issues with religion, the religious right, or the religious left or any type of person claiming that religion can and should tell me what to do. 

Recently I had the opportunity to sit with some folks in a dive bar and over a couple of beers have a somewhat real conversation about religion.  But before I get into the conversation a little history of the night.  My friend and I were sitting in a bar and nursing a beer.  In walks about ten people (5 men, 5 women) all dressed in very simple dress.  Basically they looked Amish.  They had handmade clothes and the women wore bonnets and the men wore beards.  Right away they appeared different from everyone else in the bar and they acted that way as well.  They stayed clear of the other patrons and just happened to pull up to the bar next to me, it was the only spot left in which you could order a beer. 

I am a very outgoing person and I had some questions.  Before the gentleman could leave my side I asked some questions.  He left with a stunned look and later his buddy came over and asked me if I needed anything.  Soon we were talking about many things, the way they dressed, the russian accents, their religion, how they chose their faith, etc.  It was fascinating.  These folks had thick Russian accents because they were never around English speakers (though most of them had grown up in Oregon).  They were not sure why they grew out their beards but it was part of their culture, and they could go out this particular evening if they paid their penance for the next several weeks. 

Here is the rub.  I started to ask real questions, why this, and why do you do this, and how come people have to do this, etc.  They amicably brought up things Jesus said or things in the bible or just shrugged shoulders.  In the end I realized what I usually realize in these situations.  They follow the religion because that is what their parents followed, or they chose this lifestyle becasue their spouse did (this was reason was only foudn among the women). This is the reason I am writing this.  These folks were great and we had a great time that night.  Several times they mentioned the fact that usually no one says anything to them and they stay to themselves.  But they lived a lifestyle that pulls them from the society, it keeps their children from other children, and it embraces customs that are chauvinistic and downgrade women.  It also demonstrates an intolerance for other people and the acceptance that everyone else is doomed and hell-bound. 

The funny thing about religion is the fact that if you are going to use it to judge me then know your information and have it right.  If I am going to go to hell then you should be able to tell me why.  And if you follow your religion and you don’t take the time to understand it then what would God want with you.  I think He is able to pick and choose the best and a blind follower is not who I think He wants around. 

This is a lesson that is constantly brought forth by people quoting the bible to express the truth of some fact, or the change of some law or the denial of science.  But for every truth people point out there are tons of unanswered questions that are overlooked.  From the begat of Cain and Ables kids or who married Seth?? to Jonah being  inside a whale piece, Or even how long soem folks lived in ancient times, there are tons of examples of the bible being a literary work not the “gospel”. I do not mind anyone explaining why things are the way they are, but do not tell me what I am supposed to be when you don’t even understand why you are the way you are. 

OUT!!!

Is There Anybody Listening?

Today is election day in the U.S. and I find myself becoming more and more distant from the entire process.  To be honest, I’m embarassed by the process.  With the emergence of the Tea Party, I began to get excited for about a day until it was gobbled up by ultra-right wing conservatives.  I’m for freedom, I’m for fiscal responsibility, I want my government to do 2 things, regulate trade and keep me safe.  I want them to keep me safe not by invading other countries, but by using force as a last defense.  I want them to regulate trade by holding companies like BP responsible for their failures.  I want them to keep me safe by making health services available and affordable to everyone, so I’m not catching the next plague by sending my kid to pre-school.  I want them to regulate trade so that companies aren’t exploiting the work force for profit.  I want government to keep me safe by providing firefighters and police in my local community so that if something should go wrong and I need either service, they are there regardless of my political affiliation or socio-economic status.  I want government to regulate trade so the toys that my daughter is playing with are free of dangerous chemicals.  I want them to keep me safe by having safe-gaurds to ensure the safety of drinking water and food supply, I want them to regulate trade so that our own economy remains viable.

I believe in Freedom, I hold it dear.   I loved the “Tea Party” and their mantra of personal freedom.  I too believe people should be left to make their own decisions, personal decisions.  I don’t believe people should have the right to opt out of taxes because their children don’t go to public schools.  It’s in a communities best interest to have strong schools with a solid financial foundation.  But when it comes to personal rights, personal freedoms, I agree with the concept.  I feel the people should be free to marry whomever they wish, regardless of race, religion, or gender.  I feel women should have the right to choose their own reproductive journey, especially in cases of rape, incest or health of the mother.  I believe in freedom of the people to express themselves when those situations don’t immediately threaten the public.  So if a person feels it’s a useful demonstration to burn the flag, as much as I feel it’s a stupid way to protest, I support that.  I don’t support the burning down of a ski resort to protect the badger or something like that. 

However, I don’t feel we need our country back, it’s ours.  What we need is to educate ourselves.  We need to talk to each other and realize that we all want the same things, we just want them via different paths and together I believe that we can find a better way.

Let’s just say this post is worth the read.

This is typical of the modern conservative “punditry.” It’s a bunch of silly axioms that don’t even make sense and were fed to them from on high. Government can’t produce a “service of good” (whatever that means; is it a typo?), eh? What about the government “producing” the very system you use to promulgate your “ideas”–the internet. How about the bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. How about the interstate highway system and the Hoover Dam. Where did you learn chemistry or algebra? Who provides your drinking water? Who invested in, stimulated and harnessed the innovation to go to the moon?

Conservatives reify government. They think that private corporate-dom is a state of nature and government is artificial. They believe the market is how humans interact, when in fact the market is a construct of government. There could be no exchange of goods and services unless the government provided the medium and enforced contracts.

Insurance is a product, eh? Insurance is nothing more than a contract. It exists by virtue of the legal rules that create and enforce expectations. The legal system is a construct of what? The market? If you want to enforce someone’s promise, what corporation do you go to for that?

You want innovation? Is the market going to give you a patent for your idea? Which private enterprise will do that? Only government will enforce “property rights.” Government comes before corporations; without it corporations (which are a government sanctioned devised to shield shareholders from contract liability) don’t even exist. You can call that socialism if you want. It’s the kind of socialism that corporations want more of.

And yes the current insurance reform is not ideal. But the government can certainly provide health insurance. Ask the 65+ year olds that the conservatives riled up into thinking Obama was going to take away their government-provided health coverage. Conservatives made it sound like Medicare was private insurance. In fact, the head of the Republican party in my neighborhood argued that the public option was a terrible idea because it would drive the insurance companies out of business because as everybody knows, corporations need “profits”–so government has an unfair advantage it’s cheaper.

The fact is conservatives are interested not in an efficient market but rather in a feeding trough and exemption from taxes. That’s why corporations hire lobbyists; because they want protection from government. The conservative “writers” offer up maxims the way medieval scholastics offered up philosophy: it sounds like they are thinking; in fact they are only worshipping. In the conservatives’ case, they worship profit. They haven’t the slightest interest in whether the market comports with public good. They want theirs and they could give a fig whether anyone else benefits.

As for the rest of the “talking points,” they are nothing more than smug conservative conclusions. You can get them off the shelf, like a can of beans.

The Not-so-great Compromise

I have officially burned my liberal card and am throwing my hands in the air and walking away.  In yet another monumental mis-step, the Adminstration has begun negotiations with the Republicans over everything, by giving the Republicans everything they want.  I’m amazed to be quite honest with you that the smart people in the White House (and the Senate) are so deaf to the opportunity to beat the Republicans at their own game.  It’s not the Republicans have better ideas, they dont, but they sell their bad ideas very very well.

Case in Point #1….The START treaty

The START treaty is between the U.S. and Russia and allows for U.S. personnel to overlook the handling of Russian nukes, which in today’s political climate, regression to the old Soviet ways, is an important part to prevent a second Nuclear Arms Race, and to keep these highly sought after Nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists.  It’s a key part of national security and has the backing of every Republican not in office, including the endorsement of every Secretary of State that’s alive.  The Republicans in the Senate, most specifically Jon Kyl doesn’t seem to think so.  As part of their strategy for 4 years now of sit and do nothing, they have brought it to a whole new level with this move.  In the immortal words of that radical liberal who first signed this treaty in the 80’s and wanted a 0 nuclear arms treaty, you know that ultra socialist Ronald Reagan, “Trust but Verify”.

Point #2  Unemployment Benefit Extension

The argument against extending unemployment benefits is the impact it will have on the deficit which is bloated (which it always is during a recession, which is why the next time we have a surplus, we should pay down national debt instead of tinkering with the tax code, but that’s a whole different argument).  Many Republicans have been grandstanding on the notion that we shouldn’t extend Unemployment Benefits without paying for them by budget cuts.  It makes sense and seems republican enough until you get to point #3.

Point #3  Bush Tax Cut Extension

The Democrats in the House recently passed an extension for the tax cuts for those who earn under $250,000 and the Republicans voted against it because they want all the tax cuts extended….permanently….which will add an estimated $700 billion to the deficit.  What’s the problem with that?  See Point #2. 

Point #4  Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

When John McCain was asked about DADT, he said that nothing should be done about it until the leadership of the military says so.  When Admiral Mullens, Chairman of the Joints Cheif of Staff, expresses the importance of ending this policy, Senator McCain says the Admiral Mullens doesn’t count as military leadership, nor does Secretary of Defense Gates.  When the study is cited, Senator McCain says that more studying needs to be done.

Crickets from the Administration…..

Teddy Roosevelt once said “walk quietly but carry a big stick”.  Well it’s time for the administration to start swinging.  The President should be encouraging Democrats in the House and Senate to vote for tax cuts for the middle class, income under $250,000 and if that passes, we will debate the pros and cons of another tax cut for upper income households.  Caving to Republican demands before any debate or discussion is not the way to go.  Tax Cuts and Unemployment benefits are two very seperate issues and one should not be traded off for the other.  To do so undermines the hard work of the American worker and the sacrifices normal Americans have made during tough economic times.  It makes me sick that Republicans would hold off on the START treaty to prevent this administration from having a foreign policy victory.  As for DADT, if someone wants to put their life in the line of fire for this country, I think their bravery and dedication should be celebrated, no matter who they find attractive. 

To compromise, to find the common ground in any issue, takes back and forth.  It takes intelligent people debating the facts, discussing the upsides and downsides.  However, the only thing Congress and the President have compromised on is the health and the future of this great Republic.

China and disagreement, the battle over Nobel

Image via Wikipedia

This week, Norway will make the news in its annual way with it’s naming of the Nobel prize winners in various fields.  Remember last year when a liberal like me scratched his head when President Obama was awarded the prize for Peace without really having accomplished anything toward the struggle for peace.  I mean, he was supposed to close Gitmo, which he didn’t do, and Republicans were supposed to love him for that, but they dont.  He escalated the war in Afghanistan, and supervised the ending of combat operations in Iraq (I suppose I can give him that one, although President Bush had laid the ground work for that.  To give the kudos to Bush however wouldn’t be right either since he’s the one who declared “Mission Accomplished” years ago and lied to get us there in the first place).  But really, the Nobel peace prize?  Ghandi didn’t even get that, and although I agree with many of his policies and am discouraged about the response of the American people to his approach, I hardly feel the man is Ghandi.

But this week, it will be announce that jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo will be named the 2010 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.  China is furious!  I mean, how dare those assholes in Norway give any credit to a guy who is in prison…..for thinking in a different manner than the Chinese leadership wants him to be.  China is threatening Norway by saying this announcement will negatively effect relations between the two countries.  China has also claimed that any U.S. support for this move will damage relations between our two countries as well.  Stand by for my reaction.

Fuck You China!  For too long we’ve been willing to tread lightly on what China has to say and if we’d hurt Chinese feelings.  Meanwhile, their pumping shit into our economy, while penalizing any goods that come back, they are holding their currency back artificially because it strengthens their economic stance and damages the rest of the developed world.  They’re screaming past us in development of green technology and it’s time we unite this country and collectively say “FUCK YOU CHINA!”.

I am urging a boycott of anything made in China from this point forward until they allow common decency into their streets.  I mean, jeez, Christine O’Donnell, the Republican nominee for Senate from Delaware says some pretty retarded stuff, but this is America, she has the right to look like a dumbass!  And all you assholes buying your stupid “God Bless America” t-shirts at Wal-mart, you’re part of the problem!  Those t-shirts are made in China and you buy that shit from Wal-mart because it’s cheap.  Pay a few dollars more and start buying America again. 

The chinese people won’t read this because they filter everything they decide is not in the best interest of the Chinese public.  That would be like the Government blocking Perez Hilton’s blog, I mean, Jesus Christ I wish they could, but I’m glad they can’t.  I think we should give a million prizes to everyone who has the courage to stand up against the status-quo in a peaceful and intelligent manner. 

I also think we have an obligation and responsibility to our own country to stop doing this to ourselves.  We should seek out American products and when we can’t find American products, we should seek out small businesses to interact with.  We need to begin taking care of ourselves. 

Congratulations Liu Xiaobo, for even being considered should be a great honor and you have at least one American which is proud of you and saluting the Chinese government with our own salute, 4 fingers down with the middle standing proud.

Related Articles

• Liu Xiaobo, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Getting Better Food In Chinese Jail (huffingtonpost.com)
• Liu Xiaobo Wins Nobel Peace Prize (huffingtonpost.com)
• Dalai Lama: Statement on Liu Xiaobo Being Awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize (yubanet.com)
• Jailed Nobel winner asks wife to collect prize (ibnlive.in.com)
• Chinese Dissident Liu Xiaobo Wins Nobel Peace Prize (politicsdaily.com)
• Liu Xiaobo’s wife fears China may prevent Nobel prize collection (guardian.co.uk)
• China angry at dissident’s Nobel Prize (bbc.co.uk)
• Dalai Lama enters China Nobel row (bbc.co.uk)
• Keeping the pressure on China | Wu’er Kaixi (guardian.co.uk)
• Norway “snubbed” by China in trade deal (nowpublic.com)
• China rails on about Norway and dissident’s Nobel (cnn.com)
• China cancels Norway meeting over Peace Prize (calgaryherald.com)
• Letter: The Nobel Prize and China (nytimes.com)
• China steps up suppression of human rights in wake of Nobel Peace prize (telegraph.co.uk)
• China dissident wins Nobel Peace Prize (bbc.co.uk)
• China steps up retaliation against Norway for Nobel (reuters.com)
• Chinese Dissiden Liu Xiaobo wins Nobel Peace Prize (nowpublic.com)
• China says Nobel prize shows lack of respect (reuters.com)
• Ignoble reactions to the Nobel Peace Prize (newstatesman.com)
• China Puts Dissident’s Nobel Peace Prize Winner’s Wife Under House Arrest (shoppingblog.com)
• Furious China Blocks Visit to Nobel Winner’s Wife (abcnews.go.com)
• China Already Furious At Nobel Peace Prize Choice, Calls It An “Obscenity” (businessinsider.com)