InfoAnda - Chinese voices find outlet in microblogs

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Foreign Countries Upset About "Protectionist" U.S. Trade Bill | 21 September 2010
Miami Mom Leaves 2-Year-Old On Bus | 28 May 2010
ETimor secures international funding donors: govt | 4 April 2009

Halliburton to abandon BlackBerry, turn to iPhone | | 8 February 2012

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Chinese voices find outlet in microblogs

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition Chinese voices find outlet in microblogs AFP - Wednesday, March 9 Send IM Story Print Chinese voices find outlet in microblogs Slideshow: Full Photo Coverage: Internet Portals & Search Engines BEIJING (AFP) - – Yu Jianrong has spent years advocating the rights of China's rural poor and denouncing lawless officials, but five months ago he took a step that expanded the reach of that campaign exponentially. Since opening a Twitter-like microblog account in October, the outspoken professor has emerged as a trail-blazer in harnessing the medium -- which barely existed here a year ago -- as an avenue for public expression. And as the country's docile parliament meets this week in Beijing, online voices like Yu's are increasingly stirring the real public debate -- and they are voices the ruling Communist Party will have to listen to, experts say. A professor of rural issues at a top state think-tank in Beijing, Yu, 48, has deftly walked a fine line to highlight perhaps China's hottest political issue today -- the depredations suffered by the country's lower classes. "Current technology has altered the social environment. Everyone has a microphone. Everyone is a news headquarters," Yu, a former lawyer, said of microblogging in a recent Chinese media interview. From his digital soapbox, Yu, who is invited to address officials across the country on proper governance, has publicised his lecturing of authorities who mistreat or suppress the populace. And he has called in recent blog postings for real constitutional democracy and an end to oppression. "In the long run, pressure cannot maintain stability and could cause new instability. It is tantamount to quenching a thirst with poison," he said in one post. In January, he delved into another charged issue -- persistent abductions of children who are often sold as labourers or forced to beg -- by launching a separate blog to help parents find missing kids that became a media sensation. The two microblogs on portal Sina.com have nearly 800,000 combined followers. Micro-blogs, like the rest of China's Internet, are heavily censored. But Yu has avoided muzzling by stopping short of directly criticising top leaders -- he instead focuses on officials' failure to follow "rules". He also refuses foreign media interviews, which could be seen as provocative. "I think you understand China, so you must know that these issues are just too sensitive," Yu said in declining an AFP request. After Chinese censors blocked Twitter in 2009, several homegrown versions emerged with enhanced services such as photo and video embedding, and proved wildly popular with China's world-topping 457 million web users. Market leader Sina.com told AFP it now has more than 100 million microblog users. The real-time exchange of ideas is pushing the boundaries of Chinese censorship and provoking clear, if so far modest, government responses. Several recent cases of official abuses or miscarriages of justice were addressed after they went viral on microblogs. Yu's abducted-child microblog -- which employs the photo-embed feature to allow parents to post pictures of missing kids -- prompted a flurry of state media coverage and a new government pledge to address the problem. And while no certain link can be made, Yu's microblogging on the rights of China's rural poor coincided with escalating government promises to address the issue ahead of the parliamentary session. "Microblogging is a great leap forward in terms of public opinion and speech, and Yu is not the only one using them in this way," said Xiao Qiang, editor of the China Digital Times, a US-based site focusing on Internet news from China. "China's official media usually dont touch some of these issues. So someone like Yu Jianrong can say more than official media can." The overseas-based Chinese Human Rights Defenders said in a recent report microblogs had helped make the Internet "the principal arena where the battles for freedom of expression" in China are fought. So far the official response has been to both embrace yet censor microblogging. Authorities have censored news and discussion of the "Jasmine" uprisings in the Arab world as well as anonymous online calls for protests in China. But a government white paper last year singled out microblogging's value in keeping authorities honest and growing numbers of officials and government departments have jumped on the bandwagon, opening their own accounts. The official Xinhua news agency said last week that microblog debate had "underlined the Chinese people's willingness to participate in talks on the country's future." "Nothing short of a communications revolution is taking place" in China, Nicholas Bequelin, Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch, wrote in Foreign Policy magazine. "Mobile phones and the Internet are profoundly transforming how citizens see themselves and their degree of tolerance for the arbitrariness shown by the state." Send IM Story Print Related Articles Want less Charlie Sheen? There's an app for that AFP - 19 minutes ago S. Korea accuses N. Korea over communications attack AFP - 1 hour 33 minutes ago Chinese voices find outlet in microblogs AFP - Wednesday, March 9 US-TECH Summary Reuters - Wednesday, March 9 Senate approves patent reform to end backlog Reuters - Wednesday, March 9 News Search Top Stories Cathay Pacific to buy, lease 27 new planes Oil, US stocks ease pressure on Asian markets Spider-Man comic nets US$1.1 million dollars Lack of sleep can make you overly optimistic: study Japan core machinery orders up 4.2% in January More Top Stories » Related Full Coverage Internet Portals & Search EnginesLatest development in the online world All Full Coverage » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed NASA scientists in row over 'alien microbes' Mass fish death in California harbor Lack of sleep can make you overly optimistic: study Oil prices ease as Saudi downplays supply fears Libya: live report More Most Viewed » More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo! Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Entertainment Photos Yahoo! News Network Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Italy's top bank ready to freeze Libya stake
First direct Serbia, Kosovo talks open on 'high hopes'
Oil prices ease as Saudi downplays supply fears
Spain's deputy PM leaves intensive care
German central bank sees 2.5% growth this year
Gates observes US progress in southern Afghanistan
World oil supply 'very adequate': Saudi minister
Afghan president tells his people hard year ahead
N. Zealand stun Pakistan in cricket W. Cup
Libya: live report
Down's syndrome test breakthrough 'on the horizon'
Nokia starts talks with Finnish staff over revamp
Taylor leads N. Zealand to 302 runs against Pakistan
Kuwait protesters swell in number, call for PM change |
Cuban state layoffs move slowly, workers uneasy |
Gunfire erupts in Abidjan, Gbagbo forces kill 4 |
Gates sees Afghan progress, warns of fight ahead
Iran forces fire teargas to disperse opposition backers |
Bangladesh court OKs Yunus' dismissal from bank
Sudan rebels to stand trial over peacekeeper killings |
ICC summons 6 suspects over Kenyan violence |
Holy streaming, Batman! 'Dark Knight' on Facebook
Holy streaming, Batman! 'Dark Knight' on Facebook
Women go flipping crazy for world's oldest pancake race
Not one more night: Phil Collins calls it a day
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
TV executives await blockbuster ad sales
Warner Bros to offer movies through Facebook |
At 25, MTV's "Real World" challenged to stay fresh
International Women's Day shines harsh light on 'femicide'
Toyota's global sales of hybrid cars top 3 million
New TV and social media trend among the youth: study |
Security high as Prince William and Kate in Belfast
Avril Lavigne more "emotional," "raw" on new album
Lime Wire, music publishers settle copyright case |
Single euro patent battle hits legal buffer
Taiwan softens on high-tech investment in China
Wireless expert Parrot seeks acquisitions
US-TECH Summary
Google logo, maps mark International Women's Day
Avril Lavigne more emotional, raw on new album |
Warner Bros to offer movies through Facebook |
Lime Wire, music publishers settle copyright case
TV executives await blockbuster ad sales |
SW China mega-city building huge security system
New TV and social media trend among the youth: study |
Mia Wasikowska travels from Alice to Jane Eyre |
India's Mahindra group forms alliance with Cisco
China blasts SKorea military hacking allegations
Rocker Robbie Robertson set to write memoirs |
Google to digitise Mandela archives
At 25, MTV's Real World challenged to stay fresh |
Genesis vocalist Phil Collins announces retirement |
Civilian deaths in Afghan war hit record high: UN
Libyan forces pound rebels; US wary on no-fly zone
S. Korea accuses N. Korea over communications attack
Coptic Christian killed in Cairo sectarian clashes
Oil, US stocks ease pressure on Asian markets
Chinese voices find outlet in microblogs
One dead as Muslims and Christians clash in Cairo
Libya no-fly zone must have U.N. backing: Clinton |
Spider-Man comic nets US$1.1 million dollars
Kuwait protesters swell in number, call for PM change
Cathay Pacific to buy, lease 27 new planes
Senate approves patent reform to end backlog
Iran forces fire tear gas at protesters: opposition website
Lack of sleep can make you overly optimistic: study
Suicide bomber kills 25 at Pakistan funeral |
Japan core machinery orders up 4.2% in January
Google Ventures backs online marketing startup
Egypt's army detains state security chief
Mass fish death in California harbor
Iran forces fire teargas to disperse opposition backers
Targeted civilian killings spiral in Afghan war: U.N. |
First direct Serbia, Kosovo talks open on 'high hopes'
Craigslist founder in new venture
Shakhtar move seamlessly into Champions League last eight
US probes hacker threat over WikiLeaks soldier
Strong quake hits northeast Japan, tsunami warning issued |
Wall Street insider trading trial picks jury
New TV and social media trend among the youth: study
Exposed: Egypt's spies dragged from shadows |
New Chrome browser ready for the world
Embattled Japan PM picks new foreign min amid diplomacy woes |
Paris court fines Google for copyright breaches
New Chrome browser ready for the world
Embattled Japan PM picks new foreign minister
One dead as Muslims, Christians clash in Cairo |
Strong quake hits northeast Japan, tsunami warning issued
Colombian troops free kidnapped oil workers |
Sri Lanka urged to end detention without trial
Holy streaming, Batman! 'Dark Knight' on Facebook
SKorea's top diplomat apologizes over scandal
Philippines on alert amid infighting among rebels
Japan's government selects new foreign minister
Large earthquake hits northeast Japan; no damage
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
At 18, he's the US teen truffle tycoon
Tourists reach new beach frontier in Myanmar
Philippine plane gets stuck in mud, delays flights
Magnitude 7.2 earthquake hits northeast Japan
Spider-Man comic nets US$1.1 million dollars
Former Alice in Chains rocker Mike Starr dies
Bassist from US grunge band found dead
Mexican court allows controversial film back
Charlie Sheen outranks Obama and Lady Gaga in social media
Precious Agatha Christie ivories to go on show in London
Charlie Sheen outranks Obama and Lady Gaga in social media |
Pakistan-IMF talks extended for 2-3 days
Seoul shares cut gains on tech sector weakness
Pakistan
Taiwan central bank: should pursue price stability
Senate approves patent reform to end backlog |
S.Korea Jan-Feb CPI growth topped c.bank views
Deutsche says unit may lose $10 mln during suspension
Seoul shares cut gains on tech sector weakness
S&P: Korean recovery firm, but inflation risks persist
NZ FinMin says growth to rise above 4 pct on quake rebuild
S.Korea c.bank says to focus policy on inflation
Former Alice in Chains rocker Mike Starr dies |
Charlie Sheen outranks Obama and Lady Gaga in social media |
Morals clause at issue in Charlie Sheen legal fight |
Libya: live report
Internet banking surges in southeast Asia
Serbia, Kosovo kick off landmark direct talks
RIM's PlayBook tablet gets 7digital music store
French court suspends Chirac graft trial
World powers pressure Iran over nuclear concerns
Toyota targets strong sales in emerging markets
Want less Charlie Sheen? There's an app for that
Saudi minister says dialogue needed, not protest
Schalke's Raul wary of Valencia in Champions League
Ten dead in Egypt religious clashes
Intel official: Iran sends Taliban deadly rockets
UN says Afghan civilian deaths spike in 2010
Egypt sectarian strife kills 13, challenge to army |
World powers pressure Iran over nuclear concerns |
Ugandan police fire teargas at poll protesters |
Ebadi says Arab-style revolt certain soon in Iran |
Pakistan's Islamist parties challenge weakening government
Blast at Moscow bus stop near security academy |
U.S. condemns violence in contested Sudanese region |
Bali to criminalise giving alms to street beggars
Taiwan's Ma seeks US help in closing arms gap
Netanyahu names new national security adviser |
Samsung, LG fight for 3-D tech supremacy
New PM vows to lift Ireland out of darkest hour |
AP Interview: Petraeus says tough summer ahead
Indonesia's radical Islamist group urges Sultan to ban Ahmadiyah
Nobel laureate appeals to keep job at microlender
World pays attention to S. Korean diplomats' sex scandal
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
Suicide bomber kills 37 at Pakistan funeral
Thailand blames teen pregnancies for rise in number of disabled babies
1kg marijuana found in Indonesian prison
Kazakh celebrities launch drive to bring out vote
Pakistan to announce T-bills auction result on Wednesday
Microblogs in China government's fight to win public approval |
Reliance Communications seals $1.9B Chinese loan
HK's Cathay adds 27 Boeing, Airbus jets to fleet
Nokia shares up after Symbian sales commitment |
China's Feb auto sales slow, hit by holiday
RIM's PlayBook tablet gets 7digital music store |
HK toy maker settles patent suit with Hasbro
Abbey Road studios launch 80th anniversary contest |
A Minute With: Jeff Beck revisits rock's glory days |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01