Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA DURING OLIMPICS
SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA DURING OLIMPICS
By GODFREY OBONYO.
One week before the start of the Beijing Olympics, Olympic athletes, officials and public leaders from participating countries were asked to adopt Chinese human rights defenders persecuted by the Chinese government.
As the Olympics approach, human rights activists in China faced serious risk of abuse. Several activists in Beijing experienced growing harassment and surveillance, while abuse of activists across China is also on the rise, according to Amnesty International.
The International human rights watchdog, called upon China to cease the arbitrary detention, intimidation or harassment of activists and human rights defenders and to release imprisoned ones as the games for humanity approaches. All activists and human rights defenders should also be free to highlight issues of legitimate concern without fear of penalty or harassment, Amnesty international demanded.
The organization called for substantial reforms in four key areas linked to the core Olympic values of “respect for universal fundamental ethical principles” and the preservation of human dignity including Freedom of speech’ arbitrary detention, intimidation or harassment of human rights activists , Internet censorship and complete media freedom and to alt death penalty.
On course of the move international intellectual, spiritual and political leaders published a public appealed, calling on the International Olympic Committee to allow full access to information at Beijing Olympics and on Olympic athletes to express themselves in support of people whose rights were being violated by the Chinese government. The Olimpc watch reported on July 31.
The signatories of the appeal, including writer and former Czech president Václav Havel, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng, European Parliament Vice-President Edward McMillan-Scott, and philosopher André Glucksmann, rejected the notion that peaceful promotion of human rights would constitute political propaganda prohibited by the Olympic Charter.
Pointing to the fact that human rights are a “universal and inalienable topic, enshrined in international human rights”, they argue: “To speak of human rights is not politics; only authoritarian and totalitarian regimes try to make it so. To speak of human rights is a duty.”
The signatories call on the IOC to allow Olympic athletes to be able to “learn about the real situation in China and to point out human rights violations freely whenever and wherever in line with their conscience”. They also call on all Olympians “to use this liberty to support those whose freedoms, even at the time of the Olympics, were denied by the Chinese government”.
The appeal comes as Olympic Watch, a Prague-based human rights organization Chairman Jan Ruml is among the signatories, was addressing national Olympic teams, recommending to each a particular Chinese prisoner of conscience to adopt and take action in their support.
The selection of Beijing for the organization of the 2008 Olympic Games was accompanied by the Chinese government’s pledges of visible progress on their respect for human rights.
We understood these as a condition whose fulfillment the International Olympic Committee would demand. That is how this year’s Olympics could contribute to a greater openness and respect for international standards of human rights and liberties in the host country.
If the words of the Olympic Charter, stating that it is a goal of Olympism to “place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity”, are to be fulfilled, it is necessary for all Olympians to be able to learn about the real situation in China and to point out human rights violations freely whenever and wherever in line with their conscience. The activists called on the International Olympic Committee to make that possible.
By GODFREY OBONYO.
One week before the start of the Beijing Olympics, Olympic athletes, officials and public leaders from participating countries were asked to adopt Chinese human rights defenders persecuted by the Chinese government.
As the Olympics approach, human rights activists in China faced serious risk of abuse. Several activists in Beijing experienced growing harassment and surveillance, while abuse of activists across China is also on the rise, according to Amnesty International.
The International human rights watchdog, called upon China to cease the arbitrary detention, intimidation or harassment of activists and human rights defenders and to release imprisoned ones as the games for humanity approaches. All activists and human rights defenders should also be free to highlight issues of legitimate concern without fear of penalty or harassment, Amnesty international demanded.
The organization called for substantial reforms in four key areas linked to the core Olympic values of “respect for universal fundamental ethical principles” and the preservation of human dignity including Freedom of speech’ arbitrary detention, intimidation or harassment of human rights activists , Internet censorship and complete media freedom and to alt death penalty.
On course of the move international intellectual, spiritual and political leaders published a public appealed, calling on the International Olympic Committee to allow full access to information at Beijing Olympics and on Olympic athletes to express themselves in support of people whose rights were being violated by the Chinese government. The Olimpc watch reported on July 31.
The signatories of the appeal, including writer and former Czech president Václav Havel, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng, European Parliament Vice-President Edward McMillan-Scott, and philosopher André Glucksmann, rejected the notion that peaceful promotion of human rights would constitute political propaganda prohibited by the Olympic Charter.
Pointing to the fact that human rights are a “universal and inalienable topic, enshrined in international human rights”, they argue: “To speak of human rights is not politics; only authoritarian and totalitarian regimes try to make it so. To speak of human rights is a duty.”
The signatories call on the IOC to allow Olympic athletes to be able to “learn about the real situation in China and to point out human rights violations freely whenever and wherever in line with their conscience”. They also call on all Olympians “to use this liberty to support those whose freedoms, even at the time of the Olympics, were denied by the Chinese government”.
The appeal comes as Olympic Watch, a Prague-based human rights organization Chairman Jan Ruml is among the signatories, was addressing national Olympic teams, recommending to each a particular Chinese prisoner of conscience to adopt and take action in their support.
The selection of Beijing for the organization of the 2008 Olympic Games was accompanied by the Chinese government’s pledges of visible progress on their respect for human rights.
We understood these as a condition whose fulfillment the International Olympic Committee would demand. That is how this year’s Olympics could contribute to a greater openness and respect for international standards of human rights and liberties in the host country.
If the words of the Olympic Charter, stating that it is a goal of Olympism to “place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity”, are to be fulfilled, it is necessary for all Olympians to be able to learn about the real situation in China and to point out human rights violations freely whenever and wherever in line with their conscience. The activists called on the International Olympic Committee to make that possible.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Third day of the seminar
Third day of the seminar
The third day of the training has dwelt on journalistic research techniques, that is how you can get or access information via internet, I gained skills in doing research journalistically, especially on how one can be selective to find information and facts in a very limited time to meet the deadline.
The Second session of the day introduced us to high skills on how to access/ get peoples’ (sources) contacts especially those we need to obtained information from them, basically when the need arises.
We also reviewed about the blogs use and how to edit blog pots by using HTML, and finally, how to create some links via personal blog pages.
The third day of the training has dwelt on journalistic research techniques, that is how you can get or access information via internet, I gained skills in doing research journalistically, especially on how one can be selective to find information and facts in a very limited time to meet the deadline.
The Second session of the day introduced us to high skills on how to access/ get peoples’ (sources) contacts especially those we need to obtained information from them, basically when the need arises.
We also reviewed about the blogs use and how to edit blog pots by using HTML, and finally, how to create some links via personal blog pages.
Third day of the seminar
The third day of the training has dwelt on journalistic research techniques, that is you can get or access information via internet, I gained skills in doing research journalistically especially on how you can be selective to finding information and facts in a very limited time to meet the deadline.
Second session of the day has introduced us to high skills on how to access/ get peoples’ (sources) contacts especially those we need to obtained information from them, basically when the need arises.
We also reviewed about the blogs use and how do edit blog pots by using HTML, and finally, how to create some links via personal blog pages.
The third day of the training has dwelt on journalistic research techniques, that is you can get or access information via internet, I gained skills in doing research journalistically especially on how you can be selective to finding information and facts in a very limited time to meet the deadline.
Second session of the day has introduced us to high skills on how to access/ get peoples’ (sources) contacts especially those we need to obtained information from them, basically when the need arises.
We also reviewed about the blogs use and how do edit blog pots by using HTML, and finally, how to create some links via personal blog pages.
Second day of the workshop
On the second day of the workshop we studied about the use of internet in everyday journalism.
We were able to open our own bogs and posted the fast document which was actually based on the previous day’s topics.
After opening the blog we went further visiting various websites including, the government of Tanzania's website, the parliament website and other journalistic websites from Europe Africa and Asia, these included webs of all Tanzanian Newspapers that are online, and the TV stations which broadcast online like star tv, ITV and the kenyan NTV all of which have links ''to youtube website''
Others include the Daily monitor of Uganda,Daily Nation, of Kenya, Mail and Guardian of South Africa, Guardian of UK, Al-jazeera, and BBC to mention but few.
We also visited websites of some news agencies like Reuters, allafrica, IPS, IRIN and Kafoi among others, the main objective of the session was to study how internet has assisted daily journalistic assignments.
Finally, the only problem we encountered was slow internet network that caused unnecessary time wastage.
We were able to open our own bogs and posted the fast document which was actually based on the previous day’s topics.
After opening the blog we went further visiting various websites including, the government of Tanzania's website, the parliament website and other journalistic websites from Europe Africa and Asia, these included webs of all Tanzanian Newspapers that are online, and the TV stations which broadcast online like star tv, ITV and the kenyan NTV all of which have links ''to youtube website''
Others include the Daily monitor of Uganda,Daily Nation, of Kenya, Mail and Guardian of South Africa, Guardian of UK, Al-jazeera, and BBC to mention but few.
We also visited websites of some news agencies like Reuters, allafrica, IPS, IRIN and Kafoi among others, the main objective of the session was to study how internet has assisted daily journalistic assignments.
Finally, the only problem we encountered was slow internet network that caused unnecessary time wastage.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
THE EXPEREINCE OF INTERNET USE WORKSHOP ORGANISED BY MISA TANZANIA FOR TANZANIAN JOURNALISTS
THE EXPEREINCE OF INTERNET USE WORKSHOP ORGANISED BY MISA TANZANIA FOR TANZANIAN JOURNALISTS
By GODFREY OBONYO of DAILY NEWS.
Journalism has been a developing profession like other professions that have been reparably impacted with the ever-growing Information and Communication Technologies(ICTs), currently, globalization has changed even culture and demand among the societies from all parts of world,
Just like Tanzanian political funs would want to know what is happening daily in the American democratic Barrack Obama’s Campaign rallies, American political supporters would be eager to know about Zimbabwe political crisis and its development or about political impasse in Zanzibar.
media is the only channel, through which information can reach people in all these angles of the globe, is through media.
This creates a great demand for the world to have media practitioners who are adequately skilled with ICT knowledge and experience, regarding that ICT is the basic engine for connecting societies across the world.
Basing on this, journalist should be well experienced in using internet and its applications to enable them get information from various parts of the world not only easily but also as quick as possible.
This is the basic reason why I was very much impressed to attend this workshop, which is for Tanzanian Journalists organized by MISA, as a young journalists practicing in this third world count ry.
For the first day I was able to study about study about different search engines that would definitely ease my job by providing me with millions of free information through internet and give me a range of knowledge about what is going round the world.
I also learnt about many web sites and web pages through which I can as well, be packed with essential formations that are useful raw materials to me as a journalist and with broad experience on o how to exchange the same information with both local and foreign colleagues plus the audience.
In the first day of the workshop I also learnt on how internet can be used for shopping, booking, learning, office management and many other ways in which the currently growing technology has changed the society and communication systems globally.
Through internet, I came to learn that media streaming has been possible and it is possible, e.g. through podcasting a person in far location where a local radio broadband could not reach can as well listen to the radio, websites like www.seet .tv would make it easy for me as a Tanzanian journalist to view a North American TV through internet as I listen to Brazilian Radio through the same.
I really propose to the local media here that good internet connections were necessary now following the growing demand to practice sufficient journalism that would be professionally commended.
I would like to learn more about the use of internet and computer in general basing on grounds that since the world is scientifically and even culturally converging day after day.
By GODFREY OBONYO of DAILY NEWS.
Journalism has been a developing profession like other professions that have been reparably impacted with the ever-growing Information and Communication Technologies(ICTs), currently, globalization has changed even culture and demand among the societies from all parts of world,
Just like Tanzanian political funs would want to know what is happening daily in the American democratic Barrack Obama’s Campaign rallies, American political supporters would be eager to know about Zimbabwe political crisis and its development or about political impasse in Zanzibar.
media is the only channel, through which information can reach people in all these angles of the globe, is through media.
This creates a great demand for the world to have media practitioners who are adequately skilled with ICT knowledge and experience, regarding that ICT is the basic engine for connecting societies across the world.
Basing on this, journalist should be well experienced in using internet and its applications to enable them get information from various parts of the world not only easily but also as quick as possible.
This is the basic reason why I was very much impressed to attend this workshop, which is for Tanzanian Journalists organized by MISA, as a young journalists practicing in this third world count ry.
For the first day I was able to study about study about different search engines that would definitely ease my job by providing me with millions of free information through internet and give me a range of knowledge about what is going round the world.
I also learnt about many web sites and web pages through which I can as well, be packed with essential formations that are useful raw materials to me as a journalist and with broad experience on o how to exchange the same information with both local and foreign colleagues plus the audience.
In the first day of the workshop I also learnt on how internet can be used for shopping, booking, learning, office management and many other ways in which the currently growing technology has changed the society and communication systems globally.
Through internet, I came to learn that media streaming has been possible and it is possible, e.g. through podcasting a person in far location where a local radio broadband could not reach can as well listen to the radio, websites like www.seet .tv would make it easy for me as a Tanzanian journalist to view a North American TV through internet as I listen to Brazilian Radio through the same.
I really propose to the local media here that good internet connections were necessary now following the growing demand to practice sufficient journalism that would be professionally commended.
I would like to learn more about the use of internet and computer in general basing on grounds that since the world is scientifically and even culturally converging day after day.
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