Petition Tag - freedom of speech

The SDUSD administration is blocking more and more educational websites on its Internet-access system.

These sites include YouTube, Flickr, many computer-technology sights, all blogs they can find, and most forum sites.

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Wang Lihong, 56, was arrested in March on charges of "assembling a crowd to block traffic" amid a government crackdown on dissent following protests in the Middle East and North Africa. In the court, she pleaded not guilty.

Wang Lihong's lawyers say they had limited access to her case documents, in violation of legal provisions on lawyers’ rights, and that during the trial - which only lasted a few hours - they were not given enough time to present a proper defence. The judge repeatedly interrupted both the defendant and her lawyer during the proceedings.

Wang Lihong is a widely known human rights activist who often provides food and clothes for those living on the street waiting to seek justice.

She frequently moves in with activists under police surveillance to provide emotional support. She has visited the wives of detained activists to help them with cooking and child care, and often has helped them find financial support and secure legal aid for their spouses.

Wang Lihong suffers from chronic back pain and her health has deteriorated after several months in detention.

"Wang Lihong is one of many Chinese activists locked up in recent months on spurious charges, simply for exercising their right to peaceful freedom of expression," said Catherine Baber, Asia-Pacific Deputy Director at Amnesty International.

"Her trial is a farce and she should be released immediately."

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Stop Facebook censorship of Irish Republicans
This needs to addressed by Facebook Admins Our Freedom of Speech of Irish Republicans is being Jeopardized. Our accounts have been suspended and deleted for no reason then we seek freedom from the British empire you are discriminating against us and our Political Parties but for no reason Then we are "IRISH" and that is bigotry and racism.

Please respect our freedom of speech and allow us our Irish republicans voices.

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Piercings : Why can't we have them in school

1. They are NOT bothering people;
2. They sometimes help Confidence in students;
3. There isn't anything wrong with them;
4. There really isn't a Reason why we can't have them.

Why do are parents let us have piercings but the school decides we can't have them, that we have to take them out or sometimes we get suspended for having them.

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English / Español (sigue)

For the last 11 years Hugo Chavez has been in power in Venezuela, and has taken progressive steps towards a dictatorship. Events that have characterized his presidency include: 1) Repression of freedom of speech, demonstrated by the closing and expropriation of several opposition TV and Radio stations and the persecution of many journalists and common citizens who have expressed opinions against Chavez’s views and actions; 2) Unfair treatment including the use of force such as to cause physical harm to students and common citizens while during peaceful protests, as well as unbalanced use of power to induce fear and repress the freedom of speech; 3) Ongoing expropriation of privately owned businesses coupled with endless threads to continue the expropriation of private property of any kind; 4) Manipulation of the democratic system to ensure his long-term permanence in power, modifying the Venezuelan constitution to allow for indefinite re-election; and, 5) Politicization of military and police forces and of the judicial system. These are just a few examples of the ongoing violation of Human Rights, and the disrespect of the democratic system.

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Durante los últimos once años Hugo Chávez ha mantenido el poder en Venezuela, dirigiendo progresivamente el país hacia una dictadura. Eventos que han caracterizado su presidencia incluyen: 1) Represión de la libertad de expresión, demostrada al cerrar e incluso expropiar varias estaciones de televisión y radio de la oposición; y también por la persecución de periodistas y ciudadanos comunes que se han expresado en contra de las opiniones y acciones de Chávez; 2) Trato injusto, incluyendo el uso de la fuerza hasta causar daño físico, a estudiantes y ciudadanos comunes durante protestas pacificas, así como el uso desigual del poder para inducir miedo y reprimir la libertad de expresión; 3) Expropiación de empresas y negocios privados con amenazas continuas de eliminar la propiedad privada y la libre empresa por completo en el país; 4) Manipulación del sistema democrático para asegurar su permanencia indefinida en el poder, modificando la constitución para permitir la re-elección indefinida; y, 5) Politización de las fuerzas militares y policiales, así como del sistema judicial. Estos son solo algunos ejemplos de la violación continua a los Derechos Humanos y el irrespeto al sistema democrático.

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The first amendment to the Constitution says that the right to freedom of speech may not be abridged. Later the Supreme Court ruled that threats are not covered under freedom of speech.

The job of the Supreme Court is to interpret the Constitution and no where in the Constitution does it mention or imply any restrictions on freedom of speech. This Supreme Court ruling was wrong and needs to be fixed.

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Freedom of Speech is an essential component of a free society. In Canada, this freedom has been under attack under the pretext of protecting and promoting human rights.

Laws that prohibit the free expression of opinion undermine the very foundations of a free and tolerant society and are, therefore, illegitimate and must be abolished.

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In light of the movement by the Democrats in the U.S. Congress to start a petition to stop people from listening to conservative talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh; this petition has been established to road-block the unconstitutional efforts by the Democrat party in the U.S. Congress to drown out and muzzle conservative talk radio and the conservative movement in the United States today and into the future.

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deviantART is a popular online artistic community. It was first launched on August 7, 2000 by Scott Jarkoff and Matthew Stephens. Angelo Sotira is the CEO.

deviantART aims to provide a place for any artist, photographer, or writer to exhibit and discuss his or her works. It also provides a community of like-minded individuals and is visited by 1.5 million individuals per day who view 35 million pages (per day). The site consists of over 3.5 million users and over 28.5 million submissions as of December, 2006. Submissions to the site grow at a rate of 40,000 per day.

deviantART now displays multiple forms of art and creative expression laid out in an extensive category structure. The artwork on display includes photography, digital art, traditional art, literature and skins for applications. The site also has extensive downloadable resources for use within artworks such as tutorials and stock photography.

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2008年12月10日国际人权日暨《世界人权宣言》60周年，一批为数约300名的内地知识分子首先联署发表了一篇《零八宪章》(http://www.crd-net.org/Article/lingbaxianzhang/200812/20081209130050_12266.html)，表达他们希望中国政府改善国内人权、民主及法治状况的诉求。可是，联署人士因此受到一连串的迫害，包括被公安人员拘留，甚至被无理带走问话。

当中，北京著名作家刘晓波在2008年12月8日，即原定公布《零八宪章》两天前，被公安人员带走，至今仍未获释（更新消息：劉曉波於2009年6月23日以“涉嫌煽動顛覆國家政權罪”被正式逮捕）（更新：刘晓波于2009年12月25日被重判11年，剥夺政治权利2年）。其他因联署宪章而被公安人员传唤的人士包括︰北京著名宪政学者张祖桦、北京维权律师滕彪、上海维权律师郑恩宠、北京维权律师浦志强、西安维权律师张鉴康、广东维权律师唐荆陵、浙江作家温克坚、浙江记者昝爱宗，以及海南作家秦耕。据维权网2008年12月16日的消息指，至少39名联署人士受到威吓。 (详情请参阅︰http://www.crd-net.org/Article/Class9/Class98/200812/20081216212554_12417.html)
刘晓波被带走的消息震惊中国内地，以至全球各地人士，大家一呼百应联署支持《零八宪章》，要求中国政府立即释放刘晓波。

请参与此网上联署行动，亦可以将以下的请愿信发给中国政府，或当地的中国大使馆。

A group of about 300 mainland Chinese intellectuals first co-signed and released the Charter 08 (http://www.nybooks.com/articles/22210) on 10 December 2008 to demand for improvement of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in China. But many of them have been subjected to various forms of harassments, including detention and unreasonable interrogation by public security officers.

Among them, famous Beijing writer Dr Liu Xiaobo (刘晓波) was taken away by public security officers on 8 December 2008, two days before the Charter was originally planned to release. (Updates: Liu Xiaobo was formally arrested and charged with "inciting subversion of state power on 23 June 2009). (Updates: Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment and 2 years of deprivation of political rights on 25 December 2009.) Others who were summoned (chuanhuan) by public security officers included Beijing political theorist Zhang Zuhua (张祖桦), Beijing human rights lawyer Dr Teng Biao (滕彪), Shanghai human rights lawyer (郑恩宠), Beijing human rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang (浦志強), Xi’an human rights lawyer Zhang Jiankang (张鉴康), Guangdong human rights lawyer Tang Jingling (唐荆陵), Zhejiang writer Wen Kejian (温克坚), Zhejiang journalist Zan Aizong (昝爱宗) and Hainan writer Qin Qeng (秦耕). According to Chinese Human Rights Defenders, at least 39 signatories have been intimidated as of 16 December 2008 (See: http://www.crd-net.org/Article/Class9/Class98/200812/20081216212554_12417.html)

After he was taken away, thousands of people from mainland China and around the world co-signed statements to support the Charter 08 and demand the Chinese government to immediately release Dr. Liu.

Please sign this online petition or send the following petition letter to the Chinese government or the Chinese embassy in your country.

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Are you against the fact that the Danish Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, in collaboration with the Danish socalled “free” press and police authorities is keeping the freedom of speech hostage? Are you sick and tired of professional politicians (in Danish: levebroedspolitikere) who do as they please for their own needs (in Danish: der skalter og valter med Danmark og danskerne for egen vindings skyld)?

If your answer is yes please sign and pass on this petition to all your friends on your mailing list.

As implied the petition shall eventually be presented to the proper authorities at EU in Brussels with the request that they make use of The Treaty of Nice’s socalled “Jürg Haider Provision” (stating the terms as to how all the other member states may help an unfortunate member that has gone astray) implemented some 7 years ago upon the initiative of the Prime Minister’s predecessor, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen.

For further details please use the hyperlink to the above-mentioned WEB SITE.

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His name is Tariq Biassi and he's 23 years old. He lives in Banyas with his mother and two sisters. His father was was a previous political prisoner.

Tarek sells and maintains PCs. He is described by his friends as shy and quiet, spending his time surfing the web and blogging.

On 7-7-2007, Tarek was asked by the security branch in Banyas to answer a few questions concerning a comment he left on one of the "sensitive" websites. That was the last his family heard from him.

Up to this moment, two Syrian human rights agencies did report on Tariq's detention.

HRW mentioned his name in its report on Syrian officials' continuous arrests of people over online comments:

"On June 30, 2007, Military Intelligence in the coastal city of Tartous arrested Tarek Biasi, 22, because he “went online and insulted security services,” according to a person familiar with the case. Biasi remains in incommunicado detention, his whereabouts unknown."

The HRW report says Tarek was detained on June 30, but the Syrian human rights agency and his family and friends confirmed that Tarek was detained on the 7th. of July and not on June 30th. I am noting this issue for documentation purposes.

Tariq does not stand alone in these arrests policy over online comments, the HRW report lists seven names among those who've been detained for expressing their views online. This policy started in 2002 but it has been increasing recently and especially after the “Ministry of Telecommunications and Technology” circular; Sami Ben Gharbia; GVA author, wrote about the repression of internet in Syria and here he uncovers the circular's instructions:

"Recently, the new-formed “Ministry of Telecommunications and Technology” issued a new circular asking the owners of the Syrian websites “to exercise accuracy and objectivity (…) and to post the name of the writer of an article and the one who comments on it in a clear and detailed manner.” The Ministry added that “the failure to do so would result in warning the website owner and rendering his website temporarily inaccessible. In case the violation is repeated, the website will become permanently inaccessible."

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We are outraged at the assassination of Hrant Dink. Although our period of mourning and grievance for this great man has long passed, the wicked machine of intolerance, ignorance, and violence is still alive in Turkey, preventing progress on rights for Turkey’s minorities, and the resolution of the Armenian case.

This Turkish machine of denial has influence worldwide, as it is a 93 year old tried-and-tested promise to the rest of the world that Genocide can go unrecognized and unpunished on earth.

It is proof to other genocidal states that they need not be concerned with justice and the consequences of the genocide they are contemplating - because even a world that is well informed of its occurrence has not yet condemned the act.

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(updated 12/6/2009)
捍衛言論自由 抗議選擇檢控 修訂過時《電訊條例》

聲援司徒華等被檢控人士

支聯會主席司徒華因出席民間電台活動，五度被檢控，源於2007年5月25日以嘉賓身份出席民間電台在旺角行人專用區，舉行的一個要求平反「六四」論壇；2008年4月20日出席民間電台在旺角行人專用區的「開放大氣電波」論壇，要求特區政府修訂過時的《電訊條例》及向民間電台發牌；2008年5月4日出席在銅鑼灣時代廣場舉行的「從五四運動到香港爭取公共空間」論壇；2008年5月29日出席在銅鑼灣記利佐治街行人專用區舉行的「平反八九民運－－紀念『六四』十九周年」論壇；以及2008年6月30日出席在銅鑼灣記利佐治街行人專用區舉行呼籲市民出席「七一」遊行論壇。

世界上任何一個先進的城市，都有民間電台。香港作為國際大都會，應與先進國家看齊，開放頻道給予民間電台。選擇性檢控出席「民間電台」人士，是打壓言論自由。

支聯會要求特區政府立即修訂過時的《電訊條例》，撤銷所有人士的檢控並作出合理賠償，同時開放大氣電波，容許民間開辦電台。為了捍衛香港的言論自由，我們呼籲各界人士採取不同方式表達意見。

我們強烈要求：

1. 撤銷所有人士的檢控，包括：司徒華、劉慧卿、李卓人、張超雄、李永達、梁國雄、黃毓民、陳偉業、曾健成、羅堪就、陳妙德、林旭華、麥志恆、楊匡、張錦雄、李偉儀、柯華冰、曾浚瑛及潘達強；
2. 開放大氣電波，修訂過時《電訊條例》，容許民間開辦電台。


請簽名!

請協助將連結廣傳。
你亦可到本會網站http://www.alliance.org.hk/下載表格可自行複印，簽妥表格請交到九龍旺角彌敦道618號好望角大廈8樓，或傳真27706083回支聯會。
萬分感謝。


Defend Free Speech in Hong Kong; Protest irrational selective prosecution; Support Szeto Wah and other defendants

Hong Kong veteran politician Szeto Wah,78, the chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, was summonsed for delivering political messages using unlicensed communications equipment. He was charged of speaking at a forum hosted by the Citizen's Radio , topic of the program involved the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, and other four forums.There is totally another 18 persons has been charged.

Ho Chun-yan is representing Szeto in court, said Szeto and others did is protected by the Bill of Rights and other international covenants.That's lots of people had spoken on Citizen's Radio but not charged,included Hong Kong Executive Councillor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung and legislator Choy So-yuk of the DAB.

Szeto Wah pleaded not guilty to the charge and stated that he would not pay the fine if found guilty by the court. He would rather protest the charge in order to support the free speech as a citizen.

In order to support the free speech in Hong Kong, we ask for your support and signature in this petition.

Ref:
artice. Justice for Mr. Szeto Wah
http://www.hkptu.org.hk/ptu/director/pubdep/ptunews/552/ptunews.htm

(video updated 12/6/2009)

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While it is a constitutional right in America, and a governed law in many other countries, despite popular belief Freedom of Speech is not a right in Australia.

All the information and links can be found at

a)http://libertus.net/censor/fspeechlaw.html
and
b)http://www.aph.gov.au/Library/pubs/rn/2001-02/02rn42.htm

While these are not my websites, they explain the situation better than I ever could.

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The popular conservative discussion board, FreeDominion.ca, is under attack by the so-called Canadian "Human Rights" Commission, for the alleged (and totally bogus) complaint of "hate speech".

Canadians are rising up against this encroachment on our basic human right to freedom of speech. Join the fight for your country!

All the details of this complaint can be read by visiting:
www.grassroots-action.ca

Note: Although signers can nominate to be recorded as "anonymous", we encourage all signers to give their full name and address. E-mail addresses and street addresses are not shown to the general public. Only the petition's author has access to this private information, if entered. We encourage everyone to give their full contact information since this will lend more weight to the petition which will be submitted to the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Once the complaint and its process is completed, all personal information collected from the petition will be deleted. All information collected for this petition will remain strictly confidential and used only for this purpose.

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