Saad Hussni, Mark Zuckerberg, FB and censorship

In a time when people all over the world - not least in the Middle East - living in dictatorships, are trying to overthrow their leaders in favour of a democratic society, Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg (as the most well-known representative of FB) are heading the other way.

We've seen this many times before on FB: Pages with an intellectual and interesting content are being shut down or restricted while 'intruders' whose only goal is to destroy certain pages by spamming them are able to continue their 'destructive work'.

This might be due to the fact that Zuckerberg is not an intellectual himself, nor his collaborators and this leads them to perceive people using FB as an intellectual forum for interesting discussions as a threat to their existence and ideas.

I will give you one current example:
One of my friends on Facebook is Saad Hussni.
I joined his group as he initiated a page dedicated to film, directors, actors and other topics closely related to these subjects.

On this page he has displayed images and information, including film clips containing data and knowledge about 'Le Septième Art'.
This has lead to interesting discussions, complementary information added by others, intellectual discourses concerning films/movies, actors, directors and how to use the media in different ways etc.
Included in these discussions were also related topics as literature and influences from artists (and their paintings), musicians and so forth.

During the uprising in the Middle East and other countries Saad Hussni also published photos of the dictators now being opposed by the people in these countries, discussing their imminent(?) fall.

A couple of days ago his account was shut down and through other friends he has forwarded information where he explains that FB has decided to shut him down due to the fact that he has published material that infringes the publishing rules and -regulations controlling the content on FB!

What have we been able to see that might be seen as an 'abusive misuse of the FB-rules'?
Some photos have shown naked actors (Oh' My God!) and others the photos of dictators in different countries in the Middle East, as related above.
The photos of naked actors are by no means offensive, on the contrary they are very 'prim' if I may say so.
I here refer to photos publically available with the consent of the actors.

If this is to be regarded as 'abusive' I would urge those responsible for Facebook to take a more thorough look into the pages where people try to discuss serious matters but being 'abused' by spammers whose only goal is to degrade and humiliate the participants.

As one example I can mention a page where one discussed violence and rape against women and where a group of men 'participated' by using arguments like:
"In my country we use women as toilets"; "Women should be 'held hard' and 'trained', otherwise they don't learn to obey..." etc etc.
When I tried to initiate a serious discussion, they answered with anti-intellectual arguments, with the only goal to destroy the page. Sometimes they tried to 'defend' themselves by saying that this was their way of joking! The administrators closed the page down.
Facebook and Zuckerberg did not act against these men as far as I know.
Maybe he and his collaborators share their point of views?

Could the publication of photos of the dictators constitute the principal ground for FB:s action?
In that case it means that Zuckerberg and his 'friends'/collaborators, don't wish to upset alternatively share the same views as those very same dictators?!

If this is not the case one have to ask oneself if Facebook more and more is developing into a world of its own with censorship of ideas that might upset or create tensions between FB and different governments, organisations or institutions in the world.

On the one hand it's necessary with a certain control of the content being published on Facebook, on the other hand the freedom of opinion has to be respected, otherwise FB in a strange way diverge from the rest of the publishing world - except in the dictatorships - and in that case I think we all should reevaluate our participation in this giant social forum.

If FB has any other arguments for shutting down the account of Saad Hussni, it would be interesting to see them published, if possible.

In accordance with many FB-friends (Saad Hussni's 5000 'friends' on FB among others), I consider it totally unacceptable that Saad Hussni's account has been shut down and demand that it will be reopened.
So far no acceptable explanation has been given to the closing down of his account!







(Picture of FB-logo taken from: http://beachandbay.com.au/realestateblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/facebook-connecting-people.jpg)
(Photo Mark Zuckerberg taken from: http://www.linformaticien.com/Portals/0/2008/fevrier/mark%20zuckerberg.jpg)

The Right Livelihood Award

Among the different awards in the world I would strongly like to propagate for The Right Livelihood Award, sometimes called the 'alternative Nobel Prize'.

The founder - Jakob von Uexkull - wanted to create a prize awarding people

making a great effort within different areas of society, not only within the scientific sphere, like the Nobel Prize, and not only stemming from the industrial countries.

Jakob von Uexkull

He even offered the Nobel Foundation to contribute financially, creating two new prizes (one ecological) but they turned his offer down, as the very conservative and rigid organization this is.

Without this - or similar awards - the work carried out by the Right Livelihood Award laureates would hardly otherwise be recognized, certainly not by the Swedish Academy.

I feel that it's important promoting the work and engagement within other sectors of society besides natural science, where the latter always have been revered and admired by not least ignorant and historically narrow-minded politicians.

We have to keep in mind that natural science always creates problems for society.

Even the discoveries meant to help humanity - medical discoveries e.g. - always have great side effects and very often causes more problems than it solves.

A great deal of human intellectual resources have also - as we all know - been used to create weapons and other kinds of destructive tools meant to govern and submit humans.

Most inventions, within the natural sciences, devastates our natural resources like forests, lakes, mountains and other biotopes.

We all know this but unfortunately our politicians - and not people in general either - seldom discuss these huge problems caused by scientists who often themselves are quite narrow-minded, only interested in their own career and making some 'revolutionary discovery', rendering them immortality!

Saying this, I'm not as naive to believe that the Right Livelihood laureates are a group of idealists only seeking to promote the good of mankind.

I just want to point out that I think that the work they carry out, seldom gets the attention it deserves, thus making this award very important.

It's however not only important for the laureates and their work but also important as a reminder to people in general that there are other kinds of commitments at least as important as the scientifical work and - I would like to add - sometimes more important.

The laureates 2009 are:

David Suzuki;

René Ngongo;

Alyn Ware;

and

Catherine Hamlin;

As two examples I can mention David Suzuki and Catherine Hamlin.

In the motivations for why they should be rewarded we can read (Suzukis first and then Hamlins):

-"for his lifetime advocacy of the socially responsible use of science, and for his massive contribution to raising awareness about the perils of climate change and building public support for policies to address it".

is awarded -
"for her fifty years dedicated to treating obstetric fistula patients, thereby restoring the health, hope and dignity of thousands of Africa's poorest women".

(Picture logotype copied from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_Livelihood_Award)

(Photo David von Uexkull copied from: https://www.rightlivelihoodaward.org/support/foundation/founder/)

(Photo David Suzuki copied from:https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiPvMuci6vlAhUxDWMBHV1wBt8Qjhx6BAgBEAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rightlivelihoodaward.org%2Flaureates%2Fdavid-suzuki%2F&psig=AOvVaw37NepUzgnrE7-fYgOXKd-8&ust=1571669481525089)

(Photo René Ngongo copied from: https://www.rightlivelihoodaward.org/laureates/rene-ngongo/)

(Photo Alyn Ware copied from: http://www.worldmarchusa.net/images/alyn_ware.jpg)

(Photo Catherine Hamlin copied from: http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/03/28/drcatherinehamlin_wideweb__470x318,0.jpg)

Human rights, Alison Des Forges Defender

In these days when we focus a lot around the Nobel Prize Laureates, it's important to pay attention to other prizes for work done in an environment where the laureates risk their life.

I therefore publish this extract from an article concerning human rights workers.

Four courageous and tireless advocates of human rights - from Burma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Russia - have been awarded the prestigious Alison Des Forges Defender Award for Extraordinary Activism according to Human Rights Watch.

These four individuals are, in their work, trying to uphold freedom of expression, to protect women in conflict, and to ease the plight of political prisoners, despite threats and persecution from the authorities.

The awards are named for Dr. Alison Des Forges, senior adviser to Human Rights Watch's Africa Division for almost two decades, who was tragically killed in a plane crash in New York on February 12, 2009. Des Forges was the world's leading expert on Rwanda, the 1994 genocide and its aftermath, and Human Rights Watch's annual award honors her outstanding commitment to and defense of human rights.

The four winners of Human Rights Watch's 2009 Alison Des Forges Defender Award for Extraordinary Activism are:

* Daniel Bekele , lawyer and activist from Ethiopia

Bo Kyi, co-founder of Burma's Assistance Association of Political Prisoners

* Elena Milashina, reporter for Novaya Gazeta, Russia's leading independent newspaper

...and  Mathilde Muhindo, women's rights activist working to stop sexual violence in Democratic Republic of Congo.

The motivation or explanatory statement for this prize:

"These extraordinary individuals confront tremendous challenges every day, yet they work selflessly to end human rights violations and bring abusers to justice," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. "We hope this award, named for Alison Des Forges, will inspire and protect them as they struggle to uphold human rights in their countries."

Human rights defenders are critical partners for Human Rights Watch staff conducting investigations in more than 80 countries around the world.

The award winners will be honored at the 2009 Human Rights Watch Annual Dinners in Chicago, Geneva, Hamburg, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Toronto, and Zurich.

Daniel Bekele, Ethiopia

In the ever-shrinking space for freedom of expression in Ethiopia, Daniel Bekele, a prominent anti-poverty activist and human rights lawyer, has faced heavy-handed government repression. After leading a grass-roots effort to promote voter education and participation in Ethiopia's controversial 2005 parliamentary elections, as well as election monitoring and reconciliation after the vote, Bekele was arrested and spent two-and-a-half years in prison on charges of inciting violence against the government. Human Rights Watch honors Bekele who, at great personal risk, challenges the Ethiopian government to uphold the civil and political rights that protect all people.

Bo Kyi, Burma

As a former political prisoner and co-founder of the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (AAPP), Bo Kyi works tirelessly to secure the release of Burmese people who have been jailed for their political independence and activism. Over the last 20 years, Bo Kyi has demonstrated unfaltering courage, sharing his story and those of other political prisoners and exposing the Burmese military junta's numerous abuses. Human Rights Watch honors Bo Kyi for his heroic efforts to speak out against Burmese repression and to advocate on behalf of those who have dared to criticize the military junta.

Elena Milashina, Russia

As a leading investigative journalist for Novaya Gazeta, Russia's most prominent independent newspaper, Elena Milashina exposes the truth about human rights abuses and widespread government corruption. Despite Russia's attempts to silence its critics and hide abuses, Milashina remains outspoken, publishing accounts of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, and torture. She also continues to investigate the 2006 murder of her newspaper colleague and mentor Anna Politkovskaya, calling for accountability at the highest level. Human Rights Watch honors Milashina for her courage in confronting Russia's deeply problematic human rights record.

Mathilde Muhindo, Democratic Republic of Congo

As director of the Olame Centre, a women's rights organization, Mathilde Muhindo empowers women to fight against the pervasive discrimination and horrific sexual violence that are endemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She led a coalition of local women's organizations to advocate successfully for a comprehensive law on sexual violence. Human Rights Watch honors Mathilde Muhindo for her tireless dedication to the safety, health, and rights of the often-forgotten women in eastern Congo.

(Photo Daniel Bekel copied from; https://www.hrw.org/news/2009/10/01/daniel-bekele-ethiopia-recipient-2009-alison-des-forges-award-extraordinary-activism)
(Photo Bo Kyi copied from: http://cynicsandidealists.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/bo-kyi-at-hrw-lectern.jpg)
(Photo Elena Milashina copied from: http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2009/11/13/Elena-306.jpg)
(Photo Mathilde Muhindo copied from:https://www.hrw.org/news/2009/10/01/mathilde-muhindo-democratic-republic-congo)

Hossein Derakhshan/'Hoder'

Svenska (English below):

Hossein Derakhshan eller 'Hoder' som han kallar sig på sin blogg är en iransk-kanadensisk bloggare som har kommit att bli en symbol för yttrandefriheten i Iran, så som inte minst den västerländska omvärlden ser det.
Dock är det ej endast i väst han framhålls som en banérförare för yttrandefriheten utan även i Iran och många andra närliggande länder i Mellanöstern.

'Hoder' hade tidigare 20 000 dagliga besök på sin blogg bland internetanvändare i Iran.

Det sägs dag finnas mer än 800 000 iranska bloggare, vilka han kan sägas ha inspirerat genom sitt skrivande.
Numer filtrerar dock myndigheterna i Iran hans blogg för att stoppa landets meborgare från att läsa densamma.

Idag har han blivit ett så etablerat namn att han föreläser världen över och skriver debattartiklar i tidningar som New York Times och The Guardian.
Han behandlar främst de politiska spänningsfält som utgörs av triangeln Iran, Israel och USA.

I detta hans senaste projekt har han bl.a. vid upprepade tillfällen besökt Israel i ett försök att ge en annan bild av iraniern än den av oförsonlighet som är det dominerande inslaget från den iranska regimen, detta inte minst gällande Irans syn på Israel som stat och dess existensberättigande.

Just nu befinner sig Hossein Derakhshan i Paris.

'Hoder' vill visa att inte alla iranier delar den iranske presidenten Mahmoud Ahmadinejads åsikter om att Israel borde utplånas och att Förintelsen aldrig ägt rum.
Detta kanske också kan ske mer effektivt eftersom han själv är muslim och i princip delar den religiösa övertygelsen hos Ahmadinejad och andra troende muslimer men där skillnaderna i tolkning av och uttryck för denna trosuppfattning ändå står klar.

Risken då man har en ledare i ett land som dessutom är en teokrati och som uttrycker åsikter med hänvisning till en helig text är att ledarens utsaga skulle utgöra en korrekt tolkning av den heliga texten in i nutiden. Detta kanske 'Hoder' och andra mer moderata troende kan förändra genom att uttrycka skiljaktiga åsikter i religiöst-politiska frågor.

Personligen anser jag att den muslimska världen i större utsträckning än som idag skett skall försöka omvärdera synen på Koranen.
Den är en - enligt vedertagen definition - 'heligt skrift' precis som judarnas Torah och de kristnas Bibel men precis som i dessa religioner måste det finnas insikt om att man inte kan läsa en trostext av detta slag som ett 'sanningsdokument' utan att den genom århundraden har tolkats och fortsättningsvis tolkas in i vår egen tid.

Jag vill inte göra gällande att alla kristna eller alla judar ser på sina heliga texter på detta sätt -tyvärr - men jag önskar att det förhållningssättet till heliga texter och tron överhuvud sprider sig. Detta gäller även andra 'trossystem' som exempelvis politiska ideologier.

Parentetiskt kan sägas att det finns inom Islam lärda koranuttolkare som inte alls delar de ledande prästerskapets syn på Koranen, dess uttolkning och tillämpning av exempelvis Sharialagar i vår tid.

Mer om detta i senare bloggar.

Nästa steg i 'Hoders' process är att försöka sätta iranska och israeliska kulturarbetare i kontakt med varandra. Detta för att genom kulturens olika former skapa större förståelse för varandra.

English:

Hossein Derakhshan or 'Hoder' as he calls himself on his blog, is a Iranian-Canadian 'blogger' who have become a symbol for the freedom of speech in Iran.

This opinion is not only manifested in the West but also among those who is longing for more freedom in Iran in order to be able to express their opinion freely both verbally and in writing.
'Hoder' previously had more than 20 000 visitors per day on his blog among internet users in Iran.

According to some figures, there are more than 800 000 Iranians who utilize the 'blogspace' to express their opinion on different issues. Many of these 'bloggers' is said to have been inspired by 'Hoder' and his blog.

Nowadays the Iranian authorities 'filter' his blog in order to prevent the Iranian citizens from reading it.

He has though become such a well known and established debater that he nowadays is invited to lecture all over the world and he also writes debate articles in newspapers like New York Times and The Guardian.

He is dealing primarily with the political field of tension made up by the triangle Iran, Israel and the USA.

In his latest project he has several times visited Israel in an attempt to mediate a somewhat different picture of the Iranians than the one of irreconcilability that dominates the statements from the Iranian government today. This not at least regarding Irans official statements on the state of Israel and its raison d'être.

'Hoder' wishes to show that not all Iranians share the views of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad when he says that Israel should be exterminated and that the Holocaust never happened.

This is maybe more effectively perceived among the public as 'Hoder' himself is a muslim who in principal must be said to share the religious conviction of Ahmadinejad and other muslims.
The differences concerning interpretation and expression of their common faith is though clarified.

The danger in having a political-religious leader in a country that also is a theocracy - like Iran - is that when he declare his view on political issues by referring to a holy text like the Quran, this is sometimes understood as a correct interpretation of the religious message in to our time.

Personally I would like to see the muslim world reassess their view on the Quran.
When I say "the muslim world" this is of course an inappropriate generalization.
I aim of course on those who read and try to apply the message of the Quran literally, word by word.

The Quran is - according to generally accepted definition among believers - a 'holy scripture' like the Torah in Judaism and the Bible within Christianity.
However it is - I believe - more common within these two last religions to look upon the holy texts as the work of man trying to interpret the will of God more than a work of God dictated to humans. It is important to realize that one can not read a worshipping text of this kind as a document of 'truth' not being aware of that it has been interpreted and still is interpreted in to our own time.

I would like to add that far from all Christians and Jews look upon their Holy texts in this fashion but I wish that this way of confronting your belief system and holy texts will spread within all religious systems (and political too).

As a parenthesis I would like to point out something we all know, namely that there are learned scholars, interpreters of the Quran, who do not share the view of the Holy text as interpreted and practiced through the Sharia laws within Iran.

More about this in later blogs from my side.

The next step in 'Hoders' project is to try bringing Iranian and Israeli cultural workers together in order to increase the understanding between the two countries through culture.







(Photo Hossein Derakshan copied from: http://laregledujeu.org/iranlibre/files/2010/09/hossein121.jpg)

Anpassning för funktionshindrade lågt prioriterat område.

Senast 2010 skall hinder som försvårar för funktionshindrade att nå allmänna platser vara borta har det sagts.

Hittills har endast fem procent av hindren åtgärdats.

Detta är ett område som diskuterats i många år och där storslagna visioner har fastslagits av olika politiska partier både på riks-, och kommunalplanet.
Fortfarande behandlas människor med funktionshinder på ett nonchalant sätt.
I stads- och bostadsplaneringar tas sällan i beaktande de skilda problem olika typer av arkitektur eller andra produkter kan ge upphov till för synskadade eller rullstolsbundna, för att nu endast nämna två kategorier av många.
Är det kanske så att våra politiker och beslutsfattare inte anser denna grupp vara tillräckligt stor för att utgöra ett intressant 'väljarsegment'? I så fall får man nog sätta sig ned och räkna igen.

Vad gäller det praktiska utförandet eller planeringen av arkitektur eller hjälpmedel som underlättar för funktionshindrade, råder ingen brist på fantasi och idéer.
Det är som vanligt våra politiker som utgör bromsklossen i planeringen och utförandet av åtgärder för de människor som hindras i sin framkomlighet p.g.a. att vårt samhälle utformats för någon form av 'genomsnittsmänniska' med de flesta fysiska och psykiska funktioner i behåll.
Skärpning politiker!

Försök sätta er in i dessa människors situation. Det borde inte vara så svårt - inte ens för er!


(Foto två funktionshindrade i rullstol kopierat från: http://edu.ikd.hik.se/ezpublish/var/hik/storage/images/tidning_21_09/
handikapp_2010/aennu_inte_helt_oeppet_foer_funktionshindrade/72467-11-swe-SE/aennu_inte_helt_oeppet_foer_funktionshindrade_large_wide.jpg)