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Petition Tag - censorship
Web filters are a form of censorship. They prevent people from seeing what they need to see.
They are in schools and businesses. They must be stopped.
2. Support Michael Smith | Reinstate him to 2UE 
If you let them take your right to free speech, how are you going to stop them from taking all the others?
We believe that freedom of speech and a free press is fundamental to the democratic principles that our country is based upon.
We believe that Fairfax have suspended Michael Smith for having information that if aired, would threaten both the position of Julia Gillard and the longevity of her minority government.
3. Restore the freedom to perform to Iranian musicians
The status of Iranian musicians after 1979 Revolution has worsened because of the following evidences:
1) Non-governmental music is not supported by Iran's regime.
2) Musicians need to pass the authorization process to have the permission to perform.
3) Female solo singers are forbidden from performing for men entirely.
4) Since the revolution, Iranian instruments are not allowed to be shown on state television programs.
4. NO to Saudi Regime Guests at British Royal Wedding
On February 14, 2011 peaceful protests commenced in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The protests were aimed at bringing attention to the need for a more equitable society which would allow for elected representation of the citizens, an end to religious discrimination, more transparency in the the functions of government, and an establishment of a constitutional monarchy.
These peaceful, unarmed protest marches were met with deadly force with live ammunition, copious tear gas, concussion grenades and torture of injured people in hospital. There have been, and continue to be arbitrary arrests of medical personnel, journalists, students and citizens from all walks of life in Bahrain. At the invitation of HRH King Hamad of Bahrain, heavily armed troops and tanks of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries entered Bahrain and continue to this day to use deadly force against the citizens of Bahrain.
Gross human rights violations are taking place every day including denial of medical treatment, torture of people in custody who are being held incommunicado and without legal representation, resulting in four deaths.
5. Support for: The Video Nasties Retrospective.
I, Tim Porter have been organizing an retrospective, dedicated to an important time period in Horror Cinema & British Film History. The Video Nasties (as they were named by the press) created a mass of moral outcry. These movies were released on a new technological device that could be used at home: The VHS Player.
Videos were un-certified and figures such as Mary Whitehouse and the Conservative government decided to draw up a list of titles to seize and prosecute these movies as they were deemed evil and repugnant. This caused a ripple effect with the British Board Of Film Classification (BBFC), as similar films were heavily censored.
This retrospective focuses on the events of the 1980's. I plan to screen 16 of the so-called nasties. These screenings will include special guests ranging from film critics, filmmakers and academics. We plan to debate and discuss in a broad context the impact that this time period has made, whether the films were as harmful as first thought and a general discussion on censorship. We will also highlight recent films such as: A Serbian Film (2010) as a prime companion to the response from the media and censors about the film's content.
These screenings are proposed to go ahead at the University of Westminster: Harrow Campus. I am asking for your support as the university are hesitant about the event. This petition is to show the interest and a possible idea on audience numbers this event will attract.
6. Tell the Smithsonian to Stop Censoring Gay Artists
On Nov. 30, 2010, the Smithsonian Institution (USA) removed "A Fire in My Belly," a work of video art by gay artist David Wojnarowicz from the National Portrait Gallery, caving in to a 2-day pressure campaign by anti-gay groups and politicians, who threatened the institution's public funding. (Watch censored video here.)
Ironically, the work was part of an exhibit highlighting the marginalization of gay people, called "Hide/Seek," the first such exhibit in a public museum in the United States. (See www.hideseek.org for more information.)
Museum Officials Caved In to False Charges, Censored Work
The "objectionable" content was 11 seconds of a 4-minute video; the brief imagery within the larger work consisted of a crucifix crawling with ants, an image of the late artist's feelings of abandonment and isolation as he was dying of AIDS in 1980s America.
Anti-gay forces knowingly mischaracterized the work as "an obvious attempt to offend Christians during the Christmas season," even though the exhibit opened in October 2010 and is scheduled to run through February 2011.
Protesters Banned From Museum
When free-speech protesters attempted to restore the art to the museum, they were SILENCED, DETAINED, and BANNED from all Smithsonian facilities. (Watch the protest video here, and read the news coverage here and here.)
Smithsonian Continues Long Tradition of Silencing Gay Americans
Just as gay- and AIDS-related art was censored by the U.S. government in the 1980s, it's still happening today. AND WE REFUSE TO BE MADE INVISIBLE AGAIN.
Tell the Smithsonian -- which is part of the U.S. government -- that there is room in America for ALL people and ALL points of view.
Tell the Smithsonian to stop censoring art!
7. Abolish FCC Censorship Regulation
"The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions."
The above is taken from the FCC's government website.
The FCC was originally used to monitor radio and television signals. We believe it has outgrown that and began it's catering toward special interest groups such as the Parents Television Council.
The PTC was founded by L. Brent Bozell III in 1995 in response to negative criticism towards the significant increase of sex, violence and profanity on primetime television.
We believe that FCC censorship has outlived it's purpose and call on parents to take action if you want to see freedom of speech thrive.
8. Remove the word Pornography from Australian Customs Incoming Passenger Card
The Australian Sex Party is demanding the new question that has appeared on Incoming Passenger Cards at the Customs point of entry into Australia be removed. The new question asks if they are carrying any ‘pornography’.
Sex Party President, Fiona Patten, said that this development now gave Government officials an unfettered right to examine someone’s laptop or mobile phone as they re-entered the country. A senior Customs official, Richard Janeczko, has been quoted as saying that materials “stored on electronic media devices such as laptops, thumb drives and iPhones” are on their target list.
“If you and your partner have filmed or photographed yourselves making love in an exotic destination or even taking a bath, you will have to answer ‘Yes’ to the question or you will be breaking the law”, she said. Travellers must now also declare perfectly legal materials such as Category 1 and 2 Restricted magazines, X18+ films and quite probably a large section of R18+ films which have explicit sex in them. Ms Patten said the change marked the beginning of a new era of official investigation into people’s private lives – being investigated or searched on the basis that you might have legal material in your possession.
She said that by answering YES to the new Question One on the declarations, people would then be asked whether they are declaring a weapon, illicit drugs or pornography. When they answered ‘pornography’ their materials would then be examined by one and possibly a number of Customs Officers. If people were at all embarrassed by the question, often surrounded by family and friends, they could be taken into a private room and even have their person searched.
“Is it fair that Customs officers rummage through someone’s luggage and pull out a legal men’s magazine or a lesbian journal in front of their children or their mother-in-law”, she said?
Customs’ official reasoning behind the changes states that ‘No consultation was undertaken under section 17 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 before this instrument was made as it is of a minor or machinery nature and does not substantially alter existing arrangements.’
“The term ‘pornography’ is not referred to at all in the federal Classification Act which Customs rely on to classify their material .
9. Abolish the Digital Economy Bill
This bill is a disgrace, swiftly passed through parliament with little debate, only 5% of MP's attending the debate and voted how their respective parties wished them to anyway.
Passed through right before parliament is dissolved so that this cant be brought up in parliament until May/June.
Innocent people will be persecuted by this, having their internet connections removed for simply being suspected of file sharing. This law is far too loose and will have serious application problems. It has introduced censorship to the UK, with the ability for the Secretary of State to block any website he/she believes to be associated with File Sharing. That could include website like Google!
10. Australians against Internet Censorship by our Government
The Labor federal government has announced plans to censor "inappropriate" material on our internet. We cannot let this happen...
The nerve of the Australian (Rudd or any other) government to tell the world, and our own people that they condemn nations such as Iran and China for "oppressing the people" with internet censorship. Now for them to turn around and say they're doing it to protect us from "inappropriate" material.
Who deems what is inappropriate? They have already stated that the blacklist will not be known by anyone except the government and law enforcement agencies.
They say its to stop things like child porn and bestiality, but once the floodgates open, it will make it much easier to slip anything the government of the day wants into the blacklist, with US, the Australian public being none the wiser.
Examples in recent history can be seen in the likes of Thailand, Norway and Denmark. Where censorship was made law under the pretext of protecting the public (children predominately) from the evils of the world. Then it was proven that the Thai government also blacklisted over 1200 websites that were critical of Thai's royal family^ (source: Sydney Morning Herald 19/03/09)
Internet censorship is crossing a very fine line. Once legislation of this magnitude is made into law, there is no turning back. The Patriot Act in the U.S.A. is one of many examples of this. Obama promised, if elected, would get rid of, he reneged, and in fact extended its length and added more to it.
The government has no right to control the one medium that is a daily part of our lives. The internet provides the entire world on a platter for all to see at the click of a button, we have to accept that no matter what, filter or not, there will always be evil on the net, but the positives by far, outweigh the negatives.
11. Release Hossein 'Hoder' Derakhshan from Evin Prison
Update: September 21, 2010 Trial has been held and the prosecutor has requested the death penalty by execution for Hossein 'Hoder' Derakhshan. The sentencing verdict has not been delivered to the court but the risk is implied. Please sign and forward petition to all contacts. Thank you.
Hossein 'Hoder' Derakhshan is an Iranian-Canadian Blogger, journalist, and internet activist. He has been advocating the use of the internet as a means for social and political reform in Iran.
He is credited with starting the blogging revolution in Iran and is called by many journalists as the father of Persian blogging or the 'Blogfather'. He also helped to promote podcasting in Iran. His weblog, like some other political Persian blogs and websites, has been blocked (or filtered) by the government in Iran, since 2004
On leaving Iran, he was shortly detained and summoned to the Ministry of Intelligence. A few days later he was interrogated by an intelligence official over the content of his blog and was forced to sign an apology before being allowed to leave Iran.
After returning to iran On November 1, 2008, Derakhshan was arrested at his family home in Tehran.
As of late April 2009, the New York Times stated that Derakhshan remained under detention and had not been charged. However, by late October 2009, approaching the one-year anniversary of his arrest, his family began speaking out to Persian and English-language media. His father, Hassan Derakhshan, most notably released an open letter to the new head of the Iranian Judiciary, Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani. asking for more information about his son's detention.
12. Remove Pornography from Children's View
We have a responsibility to protect children from harm. Sayno4kids believes that exposing children to pornographic material negatively impacts on their self esteem and sexual development.
Children have the right to enter their local store without being confronted by highly sexualised material. This petition gives you a voice on this issue - help us change the law to protect the innocence of children.
On Friday 12th of June Iranian people voted in the presidential elections, many with much dissatisfaction about how they were ruled for the last four years, and with high hopes for a change. Yet Iranians woke up the following day to a result which many believe to have been rigged, becoming what many are now calling a coup d’état by the Ahmadinejad’s government, against the vote of the people.
در تاریخ 22 خرداد بسیاری از مردم ایران در پی نارضایتی 4 ساله و امید برای تغییر در انتخابات ریاست جمهوری شرکت کردند، ولی صبح روز بعد از انتخابات ایرانیان با نتایجی مواجه شدند که بسیاری بر این باورند که در آن تقلب شده، و از آن تحت عنوان کودتای دولت احمدی نژاد علیه رای مردم یاد میکنند.
There have been many issues surrounding the elections which have led to these allegations of fraud, including heavy censorship, arrests and repression of the reformists and their supporters, beatings and shootings at demonstrations by government forces which have led to high numbers of causalities and a growing number of deaths.
اتفاقات بسیاری در حول وحوش مساله ی انتخابات افتاده که منجر به ادعای جعلی بودن نتایج آن شده است از جمله سانسور شدید، دستگیری و سرکوب رفرمیست ها و هوادارانشان، ضرب و شتم و گشودن آتش به روی مردم توسط نیروهای دولتی که باعث بالا رفتن تعداد کشته شدگان شده است.
The escalation of censorship of newspapers, websites, TV and radio services around the elections have contributed to the reporting of the events surrounding this event extremely difficult. Many international human rights organizations including Amnesty international, Article 19, Reporters Sans Frontier, and others have expressed their dissatisfaction with the Iranian elections and the events that have followed it since.
اعمال سانسور بر روزنامه ها، وبسایت ها، تلویزیون و رادیو هایی که به پوشش اخبار مربوط به انتخابات ایران میپرداختند به شدت افزایش یافته است. بسیاری از سازمان های بین المللی حقوق بشر از جمله سازمان عفو بین الملل، بند19، گزارشگران خط مقدم و... نارضایتی خود را در باب مساله ی انتخابات و اتفاقات پس از آن ابراز کردند
14. No Censorship of Internet Content
The federal government intends to censor illegal content on the Internet, compulsorily. We will not be given a choice to view this material, unlike the previous net nanny proposal. It will simply become inaccessible by all Australians. These restrictions will put Australia on the same level as countries such as China, Cuba, Iran and North Korea.
See article “Net clamp on users” in the Courier Mail on Wednesday 29 October, 2008, page 5.
The problem lies with defining “illegal content”. So far euthanasia and pro-anorexia sites are on the chopping block. What’s next? Illegal content will be defined and redefined by the government from time to time as they see fit depending on their personal views and political stance. Senator Conroy himself admitted that he does not know what content the mandatory filter would bar. This is unacceptable and an intolerable restriction on our freedom of speech (which is the freedom to speak freely without censorship or limitation) and our freedom of information.
How far will this go? If this trend continues, then perhaps you might not be able to even read this petition soon, having been blocked by the government as being undesirable or anti-government.
We should at least retain our right to choose. People who do wish to have unrestricted access to the Internet should be able to opt for this. Government should not have unfettered control over our freedom of speech, expression and freedom of information.
15. Stop The Australian Internet Censorship
The Australian government has decided it would be a good idea to censor the Internet, making Australia an essentially Totalitarian state.
Sign this petition to stop this from happening!
16. Stop Censorship
In a thread where you were dared to post your own picture, a popular member of the city challenged the idea of the thread, where a mod decided to pick a fight with this user. I defended this user named Scoobydooby67 by "instigating" with this user agianst him, and taking the thread off course.
17. Say No to censorship in Iran
A petition to Say No to censorship in Iran.
18. Race & Diversity: Censorship of Big Ralph: Black Police Chief
UPDATE FROM THE FREEDOMJOURNAL
(“Big Ralph: Reflections of a Black Police Chief” discusses Race and Diversity published in 1997)
Beloved there is nothing in this life that will remain the same forever. So shall the wicked dry up as the dry grass and weeds of a drought stricken land? Then as we look out upon the horizon there extends the righteous farther than the eye can see. These times are good as the wretched of the earth not only see sunshine but also see and feel the heat of summer and the breath of the mighty Wind.
Take this for your thought and mediation realizing that evil will come to end in time. If not sooner later as there is a Day of Judgment.
Greetings Brethren,
Peace be unto you. We bear witness that the signs of the times are changing as quick and swift as the Wind blows. The recent Supreme Court decision regarding race and diversity is a concern that the FreedomJournal/Psyche Z Publishing has thoroughly written about twenty years hence.
We declare that our research on this subject and specifically the integrationist philosophy of the Civil Rights Movement (NAACP) has caused these agencies and their supporters to be in the vanguard of our forty-year battle against CENSORSHIP. The book “Big Ralph: Reflections of a Black Police Chief” therefore has been the most CENSORED BOOK IN AMERICA mainly from our analysis because of the succinct discussion of race and diversity and the insightful and truthful critique of the Civil Rights Movement and it’s leadership.
We come not to lift ourselves up are to be puffed up. But we declare that our research is the only existing detailed discussion of the factors that related to the pertinent issues of school integration and the hidden and untold story regarding the realities of Brown v. Board of Education.
SO BEFORE YOU ACCEPT THE ROLE OF A CENSOR AT LEAST READ WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CENSORING. YOU MAY FIND THAT WHAT WE HAVE DISCLOSED MAKES SENSE AND YOU AGREE WITH OUR ASSESSMENT.
Peace and Paradise,
Carl A Patton, writing for the FeedomJournal July 3, 2007 in service to the Lord of Lord’s, King of King’s Christ Jesus and as God is our witness we only seek an equal opportunity.
19. Release Manhunt 2 in the UK, and stop the BBFC from abusing it's power
Recently the British Board of Film Classification refused to rate the video game Manhunt 2, effectively banning the game in the UK, as without a rating it would be illegal to sell the game.
We feel that this will has a negative impact on freedom of expression and, if left standing, will continue to have a negative impact on our freedom of expression and civil liberties in the future.
Links:
BBC News coverage: Censors ban 'brutal video game
Anti video-game campaign is 'working'
This article is particularly distressing, as Ms Pakeerah's goal appears to be the complete ban of all violent games (although the article says videos) from all store shelves. If she even comes close to realising this goal, it will have a devastating impact on our freedoms of expression, speech, and choice.
20. Appeal Against IFCO Decision to Prohibit Manhunt 2
The IFCO have banned the game Manhunt 2, saying "that the level of gratuitous violence is unacceptable.". Even though many extremely violent and graphic films such as 'Hostel: Part 2' have been awarded an 18 certificate, Manhunt has been completely banned.
It seems that the IFCO has fallen prey to political pressure over this game, with many people suggesting that the original Manhunt was the cause of a stabbing of a 14 year old boy in 2004; The police denied any such link between the game and the murder however, citing drug-related robbery as the motive.
The presiding judge also placed sole responsibility with Leblanc in his summing up after awarding him a life sentence. It was apparently the victim who owned a copy of Manhunt, it transpired that the murderer did not even own or ever play the game.
21. Free therecreationalvegan.wordpress.com from Chinese censorship
therecreationalvegan.wordpress.com, a website devoted to all things vegan, is censored by the Peoples Republic of China and therefore off limit to 1.3 billion souls.
All humans, no matter nationality, should have the right to peruse important information about kale, tofu, and eggplants.
22. Bring NickGisburne back to YouTube
Nick Gisburn's video on YouTube, which consisted entirely of English translated quotes from the Qur'an, was deleted. His accounts have been deleted and he has been banned to ever use YouTube again. Recently, YouTube argued that they deleted his video due to copyright infringement, the guidelines for which are significantly unclear due to the loose definition of "fair use." However, Nick was misinformed that the videos and account were deleted for inappropriate content, as opposed to copyright violations.
This petition has been written in the spirit of free speech to get Nick back on YouTube based on the misinformation he was given, his resulting innocence in these series of events, and his value to the YouTube community.
23. Please Bring Back "Big Brother Adults Only"
June 23, 2006
Channel 10, under pressure from right-wing extremists, has decided to axe the show Big Brother Adults Only. We feel that this is a breach of our civil liberties as consenting adults to watch adult content.
We, as viewers form attachments to particular housemates, and would like to see THEM, as opposed to any old porn star, engaged in sexual discussions/situations.
We feel that no religious group should have the right to push their views onto everyone else.
With regards criticisms that teenagers may be watching, we feel that it is their PARENTS responsibility to ensure that this does not happen, and the rest of us should not be penalised for the poor parenting of a few.
We also feel that 9:30pm is a late enough timeslot for this show to be aired.
24. Support Freedom of Artistic Expression! Oppose State Censorship!
Feb 10, 2006
Footscray police in flag heist
Michael Ascroft, Melbourne
Just two days after a deliberately burned Australian flag was put on display above a Footscray street, it was seized by police. The flag was installed outside Trocadero Art Space for the exhibition Proudly unAustralian by Melbourne artist Azlan McLennan. The provocative artwork was intended to be on public display for Australia Day.
McLennan commented to Green Left Weekly about "the audacity of the police to refuse to recognise how many Indigenous and Muslim Australians take offence to the Australian flag". He asked: "Does this mean that every time I see an Australian flag in public, or every bit of corporate advertising for that matter, that I can call Footscray police to have it promptly removed?" According to McLennan, "the law requires a reasonable amount of notice be given" so artists have the opportunity "to choose to remove the work themselves".
From Green Left Weekly, February 8, 2006.
http://www.greenleft.org.au/
For further info go to http://www.azlanmclennan.org/press5_trocadero.html
Or to view the transcript of the ABC 7.30 Report's interview with Azlan McLennan: 'Art prompts call for flag-burning law change' go to http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2006/s1563582.htm
Broadcast: 06/02/2006
25. Contro la pornografia su Internet
2 gennaio 2006
Il numero di minori che popolano Internet cresce di giorno in giorno: di pari passo la pornografia gratuita sulla rete aumenta spropostitatamente: adesso siamo arrivati a livelli spaventosi. Qualsiasi ragazzino che abbia un minimo di pratica con il pc può scaricarsi dalla rete migliaia di immagini e video raccapriccianti.E' tutto gratuito: disponibile 24/24.
Cosa possono combinare certe immagini scioccanti nelle loro giovani mente e nel loro sviluppo?
La pornodipendenza è la nuova droga del nuovo millennio. La più pericolosa: perchè silenziosa.
Tuteliamo i nostri figli affinchè crescano sani e non squilibrati ossessionati dal sesso.
26. Allow social critique by Professor Andrew Fraser
A controversial law professor, Andrew Fraser, who was banned from teaching at Macquarie University has returned to his offices, but avoided a confrontation with officials by deciding, initially, not to attend lectures.
The Canadian-born Associate Professor was last month cautioned by Macquarie University over a letter he wrote to his local suburban newspaper, suggesting Australia was becoming a Third World colony by allowing non-white immigration.
Professor Fraser says that African migration increases crime, he believes that school test results point to a rising ruling class of Asians and he wants Australia to withdraw from UN refugee conventions.
No-one has disproved Professor Fraser's assertions and instead of disciplinary action, Macquarie University should provide specific support for Prof Andrew Fraser's academic freedom.
A petition to stop the extreme censorsip that Yahoo! Inc. has on the Yahoo! Groups Community.
28. Accidents Will Happen - Degrassi: The Next Generation
June 6, 2004
It is reported from many sites that The-N will not be airing Accidents Will Happen, part of the Degrassi series because it is controversial and deals with teen abortion.
29. insane clown posse anti-censorship
We think censorship is stupid. Let the children listen to what they want. If parents dont want them to hear it they can stop them from listening to it.
30. Pro-Acceptance of Anorexics on the Web
Online censorship has reached new heights in this day and age, when Mothers Against Everything Under the Sun rule, and the massive witch-hunt of pro-anorexia sites that has been recently sweeping the web is an almost inevitable result of a society that bows down to them. As a result of overprotective parents and overly zealous webhosts who are eager to cater to their wishes, hundreds of sites have been shut down in one of the largest sweeps of censorship in the history of the web. Many of these allegedly "pro-ana" sites are actually pro-support, and their refusal to actively bash anorexics who are unwilling to recover has earned them hate mail and censorship by their free webhosts. Just having the word "anorexic" in a sentence, not followed by "recovery", is practically enough to get a site banned by free webhosts such as Angelfire and Yahoo. With such poor judgment in evaluating which sites are harmful and which are not, is it any surprise that this petition had to be written?
