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SELECTIVE CENSORSHIP- Study finds criticism is accepted well but any suggestion of collective action is a no-no

WHEN Barack Obama visited China in 2009, the American leader made it a point to publicly declare himself "a big supporter of non-censorship" and said that criticism made him a better president.

"I think that the more freely information flows, the stronger the society becomes, because then citizens of countries around the world can hold their own governments accountable," he said. "They can begin to think for themselves."

Implicit in his remarks was the assumption that Chinese censors try to stamp out criticisms of the government and Communist Party.

Well, a new study by Harvard University casts doubt on that supposition. The study, which investigated "the most extensive effort to selectively censor human expression ever implemented", declares that the purpose of the Chinese censorship programme "is not to suppress criticism of the state or the party".

Censorship of social media in China, it turns out, is by no means a blunt instrument. Instead, it is finely tuned, with censors across the country allowing critical viewpoints of the government and of government officials.

"Posts with negative, even vitriolic, criticism of the state, its leaders and its policies are not more likely to be censored," the study, led by Professor Gary King of Harvard's department of government, concluded.

"Negative posts do not accidentally slip through a leaky or imperfect system. The evidence indicates that the censors have no intention of stopping them."

Even more surprisingly, the study concludes that the Chinese government is pretty evenhanded when it censors the Internet, deleting "views that are both supportive and critical of the state".

The primary goal of censorship, it turns out, is to restrict "the spread of information that may lead to collective action", even action that is not directed against the government or, indeed, is not overtly political.

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Beijing works the Internet to its advantage

A looming land grab for internet governance by the United Nations' International Telecommunications Union (ITU) could spell a drastic change for governments and internet service providers alike.

However, misguided or not, the union's motivations are far from a desire to annex the internet, observers say.

Representatives from 193 nations will convene in Dubai this December to redefine the scope of the ITU's International Telecommunications Regulations (ITR) treaty, a set of principles governing global telecommunications interconnects and cost structures last re-negotiated in 1988.

The treaty currently covers operational, regulatory, economic and legal concerns in telecommunications, including things as banal as the 'accounting principals' behind interconnection fees.

But the ITU intends to update the treaty to account for the biggest single change since its negotiation: the global spread of the internet.

The regulations, primarily aimed at traditional voice networks, were developed well before the advent of Skype, and before VoIP as a technology began eating into the core voice revenue stream telcos traditionally relied upon.

According to iiNet's chief technology officer. John Lindsay, new delivery models have given the "old world" of government-owned telcos an impetus to fight back.

"The ITU would love to make the messy unregulated world of VoIP and online content go away," Lindsay told iTnews.

Though seen by countries and some ISPs as an attempt by the ITU to 'fix' the problem, Lindsay said it is also the one the union initially created.

"The ITU can be thanked for sky-high global roaming charges, high international voice terminating access prices, and codifying the Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing plan," he said.

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Censorship vs economics in battle for internet control

Schools Coalition, ACLU of Utah express concerns to superintendent.

Controversy in the Davis School District over limiting student access to a book about a lesbian couple raising a family continued Thursday, when a national anti-censorship group asked school officials to reconsider a recent decision to place the picture book In Our Mothers House behind counters in elementary libraries.

The Kids Right to Read Project, a joint effort of the New York-based National Coalition Against Censorship and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, wrote to Superintendent Bryan Bowles.

"Parents who object to the book could easily supervise their childrens reading choices," the groups said, but restricting the access of others "diminishes the education value of the library whose primary role is to allow students to make choices according to their own interests, experiences, and family values."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah on Tuesday sent a similar letter to Bowles, stating that the decision to limit access to the book by author Patricia Polacco is likely unconstitutional.

"Federal courts have consistently concluded that the First Amendment protects student access to books in their school libraries, free from limits based on the administrations disagreement with the viewpoints expressed in the books," said John Mejia, legal director of the ACLU of Utah.

"From what we know of the districts removal of the book, we have serious concerns that the district may have fallen short of these protections."

The districts decision to keep the book behind the counter followed an April 30 meeting during which a seven-member committee determined it isnt aligned with district curriculum standards. The committee of teachers, administrators and parents voted 6-1 to keep the book off shelves, with Bountiful High librarian Trudena Fager casting the dissenting vote.

District spokesman Chris Williams said the decision was made because state law dictates that curriculum cannot advocate homosexuality.

Concerns about the book surfaced in January, after the mother of a kindergarten student at Windridge Elementary in Kaysville became upset when her child checked out the book and brought it home. The mother and her husband took their concerns to elementary school officials, according to Williams.

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Anti-censorship group joins conversation about book limitation in Davis County

Schools Coalition, ACLU of Utah express concerns to superintendent.

Controversy in the Davis School District over limiting student access to a book about a lesbian couple raising a family continued Thursday, when a national anti-censorship group asked school officials to reconsider a recent decision to place the picture book In Our Mothers House behind counters in elementary libraries.

The Kids Right to Read Project, a joint effort of the New York-based National Coalition Against Censorship and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, wrote to Superintendent Bryan Bowles.

"Parents who object to the book could easily supervise their childrens reading choices," the groups said, but restricting the access of others "diminishes the education value of the library whose primary role is to allow students to make choices according to their own interests, experiences, and family values."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah on Tuesday sent a similar letter to Bowles, stating that the decision to limit access to the book by author Patricia Polacco is likely unconstitutional.

"Federal courts have consistently concluded that the First Amendment protects student access to books in their school libraries, free from limits based on the administrations disagreement with the viewpoints expressed in the books," said John Mejia, legal director of the ACLU of Utah.

"From what we know of the districts removal of the book, we have serious concerns that the district may have fallen short of these protections."

The districts decision to keep the book behind the counter followed an April 30 meeting during which a seven-member committee determined it isnt aligned with district curriculum standards. The committee of teachers, administrators and parents voted 6-1 to keep the book off shelves, with Bountiful High librarian Trudena Fager casting the dissenting vote.

District spokesman Chris Williams said the decision was made because state law dictates that curriculum cannot advocate homosexuality.

Concerns about the book surfaced in January, after the mother of a kindergarten student at Windridge Elementary in Kaysville became upset when her child checked out the book and brought it home. The mother and her husband took their concerns to elementary school officials, according to Williams.

Continued here:
Anti-censorship group joins debate about book restricted in Davis County

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 14, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recently, the Senate of Pennsylvania unanimously approved Governor Tom Corbett's reappointment of PA Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) President and Founder Pat Halpin-Murphy to the State's Cancer Control, Prevention and Research Advisory Board (CAB). Pat has served as a member of this statewide board under five Governors, helping to develop the State's cancer plans, a cancer registry and offer input to the PA Department of Health (DOH) on cancer-related issues, including the Department's unprecedented partnership to create the first-ever Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan for the Commonwealth. As such, Pat Halpin-Murphy served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Advisory Board and the Pennsylvania Cancer Control Consortium, an organization with representatives from government, universities, cancer centers, hospitals, health coalitions and community organizations, formed by DOH. Pat also chairs the Refunds for Research for Breast and Cervical Cancer committee which has raised and awarded nearly $3 million in grants to outstanding researchers across the state.

In 1980, the Pennsylvania Cancer Control Prevention and Research Act (Act 224) established an 11-member Cancer Control, Prevention and Research Advisory Board (CAB) that meets quarterly and advises the Secretary of Health on cancer control and prevention-related issues. The law also requires the Pennsylvania Department of Health to develop a state cancer plan. The first Commonwealth Cancer Plan was issued in 1983; the plan called for establishment of a cancer registry, reduction of tobacco use, promotion of early detection for breast and cervical cancer and support of epidemiological and demographic studies. From 1983 to today, the CAB has convened to set direction for cancer control through review and recommendation for additional cancer plans, cancer control initiatives, annual budgets, unsolicited cancer proposals and evaluate new cancer programs.

"I am honored and delighted to continue my service to families and all Pennsylvania residents, under the leadership of Governor Corbett and the Secretary of Health," said Halpin-Murphy. "With 32 women being diagnosed with breast cancer each day in Pennsylvania, it is vital we collaborate, leverage and harness our resources, knowledge and expertise to tackle and reduce the incidence of cancer in in this state," she added.

Pat acts as an Advocate Member, representing breast cancer survivors, on the Board of Directors for the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP). In addition to her role as an Advocate Member, Pat chairs the NSABP Patient Advisory Board, which reviews new proposals and protocols for clinical trials. She serves as a member of the University of Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Advocacy Board for the P2 trial, as well as participates in RTOG's consensus group on whether or not women who have four or fewer positive nodes should receive radiation. Additionally, Pat serves on the Patient Advocacy Committee of the Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups, Inc. and previously served on the corporate board for Highmark Blue Shield.

The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, founded in 1993 by Pat Halpin-Murphy, is a statewide non-profit organization and the only statewide grassroots organization that speaks to and for breast cancer survivors. It was organized to extend public awareness of breast cancer, and to encourage increased public and private funding for research, legislative advocacy and high quality screening, diagnosis and treatment. Some of PBCC's accomplishments include: the annual statewide Conference, advocating and promoting Free Treatment for Breast Cancer, Friends Like Me Care Packages, Take a Swing Against Breast Cancer(R) home run derby events, Refunds for Breast Cancer Research, 67 Women, 67 Counties traveling photo exhibit, and more. Each year more than 12,000 Pennsylvania women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. More than 2,000 will lose their lives to the disease. The PBCC's mission is to find a cure for breast cancer and to improve the quality of breast cancer education, research, programming and outreach in the state.

"My goal has always been to provide hope of a brighter tomorrow by providing action and valuable information to women with breast cancer today," said Halpin-Murphy. "By working with other esteemed and outstanding colleagues on cancer issues and challenges, we can successfully continue our progress and advancements in this state." Pat was recently recognized by the National Governors Association as their Distinguished Service to State Government awardee and by the Pennsylvania Commission for Women with their Women Change America Award. As the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition's Founder and President, as well as a breast cancer survivor, Pat is totally committed to eradicating breast cancer now so our daughters won't have to. She is quoted as saying, "Pennsylvania has the fourth highest rate of breast cancer in the nation; we say enough is enough, it's time to end this devastating disease."

Pat is an avid political scholar and committed public servant. Pat grew up in Philadelphia, earning a Master of Science degree in Economics from Drexel University, a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from West Chester University. She lives in Montgomery County, PA. She has two daughters and four grandchildren.

Kevin Smith Communications Director 717-721-2580 x109 Kevin@PABreastCancer.org

The PBCC will kick off its 20th Anniversary Celebration later this year through Breast Cancer Awareness Month events throughout October and beyond.

The PBCC represents, supports and serves breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy and breast cancer research grants. The PBCC is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure now...so our daughters won't have to. For more information, please call 800-377-8828 or visit http://www.PABreastCancer.org.

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PA Breast Cancer Coalition President Pat Halpin-Murphy Reappointed to PA Cancer Control, Prevention and Research ...