http://kentridgecommon.com/?p=4248
The Kent Ridge Common, 17 Jun 2009, Christopher Ong
Twitter Revolution in Tehran
When a US State Department Official made a request to the social networking site Twitter to delay its scheduled maintenance so that the world could be kept abreast of the developments in the aftermath of the Iranian elections, the role of new technology in potentially changing the course of history in Tehran cannot be anymore doubted.
Who would have ever thought that an internet service only a couple of years old that invites users to blog on the one premise – “What are you doing?” could have invited such broad ramifications?
Certainly not Ahmadinejad.
In the aftermath of the Iranian elections whereby news channels and sites like the CNN and the BBC are blocked, hundreds upon thousands of Iranians are joining the Twitter revolution in posting minute by minute photos, updates and links to the opposition protests in Iran.
International coverage of the opposition rallies are not allowed without explicit approval, and reporters from international news agencies are barred from leaving their hotel rooms or offices to discuss this event.
So far, only the Iranian-run state television have been offered unbridled access to the aftermath, and on Tuesday showed a pro-Ahmadinejad rally where thousands of his supporters crowded central Tehran.
Still, this has not stopped ordinary Iranians who have been generally tech-savvy enough to use proxy-sites and other means to bypass the blockade of access to online information. And the role of a new technology not even existing 5 years ago in Twitter as an alternative medium of information is becoming crucial.
“Basij militia are constantly vandilizing the city and state tv is constantly blaming it on Mousavi supporters!!” wrote one Twitterfeed, IranRiggedElect. “Keep your doors open,” wrote another, “so people can escape from the riot police.”
Certain TwitterFeeds boasts of 25 million connections within Iran and another 8 million outside. Indeed, a revolution is a revolution in its sole being as unstoppable. And nothing at this point seems capable of stopping the Twitter revolution.
“If we ever succeed then the power goes to the people for fact & not as a formality,” said NetRevolution. “this is the first Net Revolution.”
Will Singapore ban Twitter-feeds at the next general elections?
At the last general elections, political podcasts and videocasts were banned. Dr Lee Boon Yang, an interview with AsiaMedia, views these new internet mediums as a different kettle of fish, because they have a “greater impact to influence, due to the nature of the medium.”
Calling for political debates to remain “serious”, he suggested that individuals who participate in it must take “responsibility” and “cannot remain anonymous.”
Indeed, there is no certainty a new technology such as Twitter — that may prove to be crucial source of alternative information away from the mainstream media — will not be blocked from coverage of the next general elections. Some Twitterfeeds are anonymous, with one even recently masquerading as the Official Twitter Feed of North Korea.
But the next generation of Singaporeans who are increasingly becoming better-educated are thirsting for alternative sources of information and news, as evinced in the high amount of readers that flocked to online socio-political sites during the events of the recent AWARE saga.
Will the Twitter revolution hit us during the General Election?
For all you know, Twitter may only be visited at the Jurong Bird Park.
Discuss: Will Twitter or other forms of new technology play a critical role in shaping the next general elections? What would your reactions be if Twitter or other forms of new technology were banned?
-------------------------
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3. Shenzhen to surpass Singapore
4. Singapore May Non-Oil Domestic Exports Continue To Fall
5. Timeshare scams in Singapore
6. Singaporean MasterCard Cardholders Spending More at GSS 2009
7. University of Chicago in Singapore suffers drop in enrolment
8. Why is everyone excited about LKY's in M'sia?
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The Kent Ridge Common, 17 Jun 2009, Christopher Ong
Twitter Revolution in Tehran
When a US State Department Official made a request to the social networking site Twitter to delay its scheduled maintenance so that the world could be kept abreast of the developments in the aftermath of the Iranian elections, the role of new technology in potentially changing the course of history in Tehran cannot be anymore doubted.
Who would have ever thought that an internet service only a couple of years old that invites users to blog on the one premise – “What are you doing?” could have invited such broad ramifications?
Certainly not Ahmadinejad.
In the aftermath of the Iranian elections whereby news channels and sites like the CNN and the BBC are blocked, hundreds upon thousands of Iranians are joining the Twitter revolution in posting minute by minute photos, updates and links to the opposition protests in Iran.
International coverage of the opposition rallies are not allowed without explicit approval, and reporters from international news agencies are barred from leaving their hotel rooms or offices to discuss this event.
So far, only the Iranian-run state television have been offered unbridled access to the aftermath, and on Tuesday showed a pro-Ahmadinejad rally where thousands of his supporters crowded central Tehran.
Still, this has not stopped ordinary Iranians who have been generally tech-savvy enough to use proxy-sites and other means to bypass the blockade of access to online information. And the role of a new technology not even existing 5 years ago in Twitter as an alternative medium of information is becoming crucial.
“Basij militia are constantly vandilizing the city and state tv is constantly blaming it on Mousavi supporters!!” wrote one Twitterfeed, IranRiggedElect. “Keep your doors open,” wrote another, “so people can escape from the riot police.”
Certain TwitterFeeds boasts of 25 million connections within Iran and another 8 million outside. Indeed, a revolution is a revolution in its sole being as unstoppable. And nothing at this point seems capable of stopping the Twitter revolution.
“If we ever succeed then the power goes to the people for fact & not as a formality,” said NetRevolution. “this is the first Net Revolution.”
Will Singapore ban Twitter-feeds at the next general elections?
At the last general elections, political podcasts and videocasts were banned. Dr Lee Boon Yang, an interview with AsiaMedia, views these new internet mediums as a different kettle of fish, because they have a “greater impact to influence, due to the nature of the medium.”
Calling for political debates to remain “serious”, he suggested that individuals who participate in it must take “responsibility” and “cannot remain anonymous.”
Indeed, there is no certainty a new technology such as Twitter — that may prove to be crucial source of alternative information away from the mainstream media — will not be blocked from coverage of the next general elections. Some Twitterfeeds are anonymous, with one even recently masquerading as the Official Twitter Feed of North Korea.
But the next generation of Singaporeans who are increasingly becoming better-educated are thirsting for alternative sources of information and news, as evinced in the high amount of readers that flocked to online socio-political sites during the events of the recent AWARE saga.
Will the Twitter revolution hit us during the General Election?
For all you know, Twitter may only be visited at the Jurong Bird Park.
Discuss: Will Twitter or other forms of new technology play a critical role in shaping the next general elections? What would your reactions be if Twitter or other forms of new technology were banned?
-------------------------
More at Singapore News Alternative:
1. Twitter Revolution in Tehran, How Will Impact S'pore Next Election ?
2. Glut of apartments in Singapore preventing real estate recovery
3. Shenzhen to surpass Singapore
4. Singapore May Non-Oil Domestic Exports Continue To Fall
5. Timeshare scams in Singapore
6. Singaporean MasterCard Cardholders Spending More at GSS 2009
7. University of Chicago in Singapore suffers drop in enrolment
8. Why is everyone excited about LKY's in M'sia?
9. S'pore Ranked 33rd in Global City Brand Image Study
Latest videos added:
1. Bloomberg Exclusve Interview With President Obama
2. China's toxic 'green light bulbs'
.
