Massive protests in Turkey. Activists being arrested for using Twitter.

Turkey Is Now Arresting People For Using Twitter to Spread "Untrue Information"

By Josh Voorhees

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Posted Wednesday, June 5, 2013

A Turkish art group preforms in support of protestors at Taksim Square onJune 5, 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey

Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images

As my colleague Will Oremus wrote about earlier this week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has made no secret of how he feels about the use of Twitter. "Now we have a menace that is called Twitter," Erdoğan said on Monday, day four of the mass protests that are now in their sixth day. "The best example of lies can be found there. To me, social media is the worst menace to society."

At the time of those remarks, the Turkish government appeared to have no immediate plans to combat this menace/curse/scourge—despite scattered reports of Internet outages, the tweets continued to roll in, along with the Facebook posts, Instagram pics, and Vine videos. That may have changed Wednesday, via the Associated Press:

Turkey's state-run news agency says police have detained 25 people for "spreading untrue information" on social media and provoking protests. The Anadolu Agency says Wednesday the people were detained in the city of Izmir for allegedly "inciting the people to enmity and hate." It said police were still looking for 13 others.

No one seems to have any idea exactly which tweets in question landed the offending users in jail—something that only highlights the fact that Turkey's main media outlets have been noticeably slow to give the protests the coverage they deserve (which, in turn, has left many Turks relying on the social media site for their updates). Regardless, the arrest of a couple dozen Twitter users is unlikely to deter the thousands of others using the social media site to voice their displeausre with Erdoğan any more than the several thousands of arrests on the streets is going to deter the mass demonstrations that are now occuring across Turkey.

source: http://www.slate.com

Dozens arrested in Turkey over protest tweets, accused of 'inciting hatred'

Published time: June 05, 2013

Turkish police have detained at least 25 Twitter users for allegedly spreading false reports, as anti-government demonstrations in Turkey continue for a sixth day.

Social media activists have been accused of using Twitter to “instigate public hatred and animosity,” according to Turkish media. Police raided 38 addresses to locate the suspects. 

A protestor uses a mobile phone to give latestt news about the clashes near Taksim in Istanbul on June 3, 2013. (AFP Photo / Ozan Kose)

The activists were arrested early Wednesday in the western city of Izmir. Police said that their tweets contained “misleading and libelous information,” state-run news agency Anatolia reported. However, Ali Engin, an official from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), said that they were detained for urging people to protest. 

Police tracked down the activists through their IP addresses, and were reportedly able to locate most of them. CHP said that they have sent lawyers to assist the arrested individuals.

The lawyers revealed to the media that police files on the individuals included tweets about where to meet, about police actions, and about the names of volunteer doctors and lawyers.

Earlier on Tuesday, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc apologized for the treatment of protesters during riots that grew out of a demonstration last Friday against the planned demolition of Taksim Gezi Park to build a mall. The police use of teargas and pepper spray to disperse protesters has been heavily criticized. 

Turkish riot police officer fires tear gas during clashes with protestors between Taksim and Besiktas in Istanbul on June 3, 2013 during a demonstration against the demolition of the park. (AFP Photo / Bulent Kilic)

Arinc said that the police’s actions were wrong, and that security forces have been ordered not to use teargas except in cases of self-defense. "The excessive violence that was used in the first instance against those who were behaving with respect for the environment is wrong and unfair. I apologize to those citizens," Arinc said at a news conference on Tuesday. 

After unrest began last Friday, tens of thousands of anti-government protesters held demonstrations in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Mugla, Antalya, and many other cities and towns across Turkey. At least two people were killed and thousands were injured in the nationwide protests. 

Source:  http://rt.com/news/turkey-arrests-twitter-activists-258/

Turkey protests continue despite apology

Protesters meet with deputy PM to demand cancellation of Gezi park demolition and release of dozens arrested in Izmir. Last Modified: 05 Jun 2013 12:19

Protests have continued in Turkey as demonstrators defied a government appeal to end deadly unrest in which two people have died.

On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arnic apologised for "excessive violence" against protesters trying to save a park in Istanbul, a campaign which acted as catatlyst for deeper tensions within the country.

A meeting between the deputy prime minister and some of the protesters took place on Wednesday in Ankara. 

Police used tear gas and water cannon overnight and into Wednesday morning on hundreds of protesters, who ignored warnings to disperse in Istanbul, Ankara and the southeastern city of Hatay.

In Istanbul, thousands gathered peacefully at Taksim Square on Wednesday yelling defiance at Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had earlier dismissed the protesters as "extremists" and "vandals".

read more at http://www.aljazeera.com

Every Man For Himself

Much to my dismay, it is now July of 2010.  I am sure that many of you are with me when I describe time in this way.  Time is flying by and is simply flying so fast that it ultimately sneaks up on you with an updraft that makes your legs flip out from under you, causing you to land straight on your butt. 

As time flies so fast, so it seems people, things, places and current events change in a blink of an eye.  It seems like just yesterday when neighbors were kind to one another, and cities looked after their own citizens.  It seems like I was just reading about law enforcement looking after the wellbeing of citizens in their precinct like they were they were their own family and obeying the letter of the law in their own lives, because they knew it also applied to them. 

I know that I am not possibly alone when I say that it seems like it was just yesterday when neighbors would wave and say “Hi” to one another, even striking up conversations of small talk, should there be a moment.  It also seems like just yesterday when you didn’t have to worry about having to pull off to the side of the road with a flat tire or an empty gas tank because there would be a friendly face offering to help take care of you, genuinely meaning it in the most honest and kind way. 

I remember a time when people meant what they said and didn’t talk in cryptic language so as to mean something completely different than what they were actually saying.  I remember a time when people who were church going individuals actually lived a life that was fairly close to the life they portrayed by attending their church sessions and socials.  There used to be a time when people were proud of saying that they were from the United States of America, not apologizing for their country, not attempting to shade the truth from others, that they are really ashamed of their country and are working from within to tear it down, to shatter the constitution into a jigsaw puzzle of a million pieces.

What has happened that has made neighbors so leery of making eye contact with one another, much less waving and saying “hello”?  People are afraid of intentions.  Will my neighbor be suing me for stepping on their lawn?  Does my neighbor have a meth lab in their basement?  Is my neighbor one of the Most Wanted?  A sad day indeed!

Tell me why law enforcement takes the law into their own hands, doing under-the-table deals with their buddies, doing things that are against the law because they feel superior to those who don’t wear a badge that sets them apart from the ordinary citizen.  Why do they define laws themselves, instead of looking for a judge and/or jury to decipher the law, as is their job?  When did law enforcement decide that their job was a money-making one, in which the individual needs of the population didn’t matter, but the money and/or budget was the bottom-line?    What about the city, county and state governments, not to mention the country?  What drives them and equals success?  It sure isn’t the ordinary citizen who pays their taxes and lives a normal and decent life!  Money is the bottom-line in our culture now.  No matter where you have your profession, greed has seeped into the system and is now a permanent part of societal relations that is growing at a steady clip.  Law enforcement is told by their city councils, mayors, and other city officials that they need to bring in revenue for their city.  This is drilled into them so much that it becomes a job-keeping decision.  Which officials are good at bringing in the revenue?  Those are the ones that win.  When a decision like this affects the citizens in a negative way, the ultimate decision is made exclusively according to the dollar value.  Who is actually there to look after us?  Another sad thing regarding decisions made by governing officials is that, if you attend one of their meetings, decisions are being made without the input of the citizens.  If cities wanted to save money, they should rent out the large spaces that they have that never get used.  “What large spaces?”  You ask.  For one, the huge spaces they have for their council meetings in which citizens are allowed to give input.  It is silly!  You can usually count the number of citizens that attend those meetings on one hand.  This only emboldens the decision makers.  They can make these decisions and no one will argue or give an opposing view for the government groups to discuss, possibly a better alternative to the original decision.

When people speak, can you trust anything they say?  Making plans with anyone, it becomes so confusing when they never follow through, whether because of alternative plans to which you were not privy, or a sense that follow-through is just highly over rated.  Impressions are so important anymore that there is not a thought given before someone “one-ups” another in conversation, or does the same in buying a new car, or other material possession that they cannot afford.  The image of success is material, instead of a feeling of accomplishment.  There is no questioning that this is a main culprit in the crashing of our worldwide economic security! 

Some neighbors are church-going folk and some are less-likely to do so.  However, just because you have a neighbor that attends church once-a-week without missing it, doesn’t mean that their home life or life in general is up-to-par with that image.  Many of these God-fearing people are only so when in their meetings.  When they get home, they kick the dog, beat their spouse, and tell their children that they are no good.  Some of these folks can quote bible scripture in an instant, but know nothing about honoring their own parents, cleaving to their own spouse instead of another’s, or being charitable with their possessions and/or time.  Don’t people feel that they are being hypocritical when they say one thing and then proceed to do another?  Spirituality is much more than image!  When it is actually a way of life, the rewards are fantastic!  It seems that there is a large gray area that seems to apply to this growing group.  This includes the churches that are built upon money making, non-charitable systems.  Where is the sacredness in God?

From immigration reform to hurricane and oil spill clean-up, our country’s officials play the blame game, worrying more about their image and whether-or-not they will be re-elected, or whether a bill will get passed that will include their raise than worrying about the best interest of those they represent.  States are arguing against states regarding a hot-button issue that has been a priority of our nation for decades, referred to as “Immigration Reform”.  Gay rights are trumping those rights of heterosexuals.  Reverse racism is becoming a huge issue, blocking many of our children from the experience of attending a University or of being hired by an employer.  Natural catastrophes happen and governments worry more about their photo-ops than they do about those citizens that are suffering due to events beyond their control. 

Man-assisting-man is no longer the mantra.  Instead, we live in a world where the beautiful is covered up by the crisis of the day, where celebrity news covers front page instead of humanitarian need.  We live in a world where media defines our thoughts and actions, where our thoughts are not our own but, instead are drown out by video games and satellite TV.  Vitamin D is a deficiency epidemic because we no longer leave our homes to take a walk, or to sit on a neighbor’s porch for a chat.  We are plugged in, slouching next to on the worn sofa with our latest, disposable cell phone, enjoying a conversation through texting, opening our mouths only for a bite of our newest snack food.

Look outside your window.  Do the clouds make fun shapes?  Is the wind just right to fly a kite or play a game of hoops with your kids?  Is it a pleasant temperature for you to take a walk with your spouse, saying “Hello” to your neighbors along the way?  Is there an agenda that can be emailed to you by your government officials that tells you the details of the agenda for upcoming meetings so that you can attend for 15 minutes to help by giving your input?  Do you even know your neighbor? 

It is time to open our eyes to the beauty that is in this world, as well as what we can contribute to create a better place for ourselves and future generations.  What do you feel about the things that are currently changing?  Do you believe that your neighborhood, law enforcement officials and government officials are creating an every-man-for-himself environment, or do you have hope that things are good and that we can make a difference through even little changes?  Are you proud of the country in which you live, or do you feel like apologizing about what your government officials say and/or do?  

Back to the Roll of Duct Tape.

Remember when I posted that we could solve a lot of issues with a simple $4.00 (or less) roll of duct tape?

"President Obama stopped short of an apology to Sgt. James Crowley on Friday for saying he "acted stupidly" for arresting black Harvard scholar Henry Lewis Gates Jr., but said he should have chosen his words more carefully.

At an impromptu appearance at the daily White House briefing, Obama said he spoke with Crowley over the phone, and said he wanted to share a beer with Crowley and Gates at the White House.

"Because this has been ratcheting up and I helped contribute to ratcheting it up, I want to make clear that in my choice of words I unfortunately gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge Police Department or Sgt. Crowley specifically and I could have calibrated those words differently." -- Read Source Here

Need I say more?

Apology for Ads

This is a brief apology regarding the ads that are automatically generated due to content. Evidently, there is an issue with the ads generated following my recent Sabbath Day post. Please bear with me while I work on other content that will generate different ads that better represent the reputation of this blog.

Thank you!