Venezuela: disaster area for the exercise of freedom of speech and journalism. #FreeVenezuela
Venezuela Repression Condemned by World’s Press
The Board of the World Association of Newspapers has strongly condemned the repression of freedom of speech and the press in Venezuela, and has called on President Hugo Chávez to stop proposed legislation and other measures aimed at silencing the independent press.
“The government “has once again threatened to apply military measures and repression against the media and to enact new and pending legislation limiting freedom of the press,” said the WAN Board in a resolution which was passed on the eve of the World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum, which brought more than 1,000 newspaper executives to Istanbul, Turkey, for the global meetings of the world’s press.In cracking down on the opposition press, Venezuela has recently created a government-controlled committee to regulate the content of news broadcasting and has reopened discussions that would criminalize libel statutes. Recently, the majority of pro-government members of Congress have approved a petition that asks the Attorney General to annul the nationality of several Venezuelan journalists, media owners and other opposition personalities. The resolution said: Whereas
The government of President Hugo Chávez Frías, ignoring his obligations and his commitment to respect the freedom of speech and the free press in accordance with the Venezuelan Constitution of 1999, has once again threatened to apply military measures and repression against the media and to enact new and pending legislation limiting the freedom of the press;
Whereas
In line with the abovementioned, on an initiative of the government, the National Assembly has approved after two debates the draft Law of Social Responsibility in Radio and Television, leading to the creation of government controlled watchdog committees to regulate the contents of news broadcasting; and, besides, it has re-opened discussions on the reform to the penal code, which would punish with prison those who transmit false information through the media or protest against public officials as well as further criminalizing the current libel statutes;
Whereas
The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) in its sentence number 1,942, validated the so-called contempt laws to punish criticisms by the press and journalists against the public powers and their representatives, in open contrast with the principles of democracy; and with this new sentence strengthens a previous sentence, number 1,013, of the same court, which has established general rules that restrict free speech and the freedom of the press in Venezuela,
The World Association of Newspapers Agrees to
Condemn the impending implementation by the Venezuelan State of all these aforementioned policies against free speech and the freedom of the press.
The Paris-based WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 18,000 newspapers; its membership includes 72 national newspaper associations, individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 13 news agencies and ten regional and world-wide press groups.
Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications, WAN, 7 rue Geoffroy St Hilaire, 75005 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00. Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97 36. E-mail: lkilman@wan.asso.fr
via wan-press.org
¿Fantaseas con la princesa Leia en bikini? Tienes que ver esto
Did you know Princess Leia had a twin sister? And that they sunbathed on Jabba barge's deck, half-naked and oily under the torrid light of Tatooine's twin suns? Neither did I, but I wish I knew when I was 11.
It's never too late, though.
Here you can see Carrie Fisher in her metal bikini alonside Tracy Eddon, her stunt double in Return of the Jedi. Both are suntanning between takes on the deck of Jabba's Sail Barge, on location in Tunisia's desert. Yes, Han, this shot is one in a million. [fukung via @Kottke]
No Doubt Sues Activision Over Band Hero Likeness [Lawsuits]
Activision is catching legal heat from band No Doubt over the group's appearance in the recently released Band Hero. No Doubt is suing Activision, seeking damages for turning the act into "virtual karaoke players." Sound familiar?
No Doubt says in a statement that the band "agreed to place avatars containing their name and likeness performing three No Doubt songs" but that Band Hero allows their use in more than 60 other songs, all without the group's knowledge or approval. (No Doubt's "Don't Speak" and "I'm Just A Girl" appear in the console versions of Band Hero, with "Excuse Me Mr." featured in the Nintendo DS version.)
Furthermore, individual band members can be "isolated into solo performances of these cover songs and placed randomly in countless variations."
According to No Doubt's claim, that goes against the contract it signed with Activision granting its likeness in Band Hero. It also contends that Activision refused to change the band's appearance beyond the agreed songs, saying that catering to No Doubt's request would be "too expensive."
The publisher of Band Hero raised the ire of Kurt Cobain's widow Courtney Love—as well as former Nirvana members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic—for the singer's inclusion in Guitar Hero 5. In that game, the late Cobain could be used in non-Nirvana songs, performing any instrument, resulting in hastily Twittered fury from Love and requests from her attorneys to limit the musician's appearance in the game.
No Doubt is seeking an injunction and damages in the suit. We've contacted Activision to get its side of the story and will update with comment, should it provide any.
First Shots from the Facebook Movie
The movie about how Harvard students Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin started Facebook — called The Social Network — is shooting at Johns Hopkins University today, All Facebook reports.
Actors Jesse Eisenberg (Zuckerberg) and Andrew Garfield (Saverin), as well as director David Fincher were on the scene.
So were Twitter users Mary Spiro and Raluca Musaloiu, who stopped to take some photos.
Hm. Kind of looks like Harvard
Jesse Eisenberg (center) is playing Mark Zuckerberg
Andrew Garfield (left) plays forgotten Facebook cofounder Eduardo Saverin
Mark Zuckerberg built Facebook in fall 2004, so the fall weather is historically accurate
Actual Johns Hopkins students woke to a funny site out their dorm windows
Nice camera
Leaving the dorm…
The guy on the right is probably director David Fincher, who also made Fight Club
Where Justin Timberlake? He plays Facebook's first president, Sean Parker, who wouldn't appear in scenes taking place at Harvard
