Photo: DPA

China blocks Berlin Wall anniversary Twitter site

Published: 30 Oct 09 11:35 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20091030-22927.html

China’s government has blocked its citizens from logging onto a German website celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall because Chinese bloggers were using it to voice civil rights concerns in their own country, the site announced on Thursday.

ADVERTISING
The Berlin Twitter Wall site was blocked in China on Monday afternoon Beijing time, according to the KulturProjekte Berlin, the non-profit arts organisation running the site.

Because it uses the micro-blogging site Twitter, users in China can still post comments, but their fellow Chinese internet users cannot read them.

“When we launched it on October 20, we got a lot of worldwide attention, so naturally Chinese people have seen it as a way to voice their opinions about internet censorship in their own country,” Carsten Hein, the project co-ordinator for the site, told The Local.

The site asks users to voice their thoughts on “which walls in the rest of the world should in their opinion now fall.”

Part of the Berlin government’s official celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the site has been bombarded with comments in Chinese, Hein said.

The fall of the Berlin Wall has long been a sensitive issue in China, as it came just a few months after the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, in which the Chinese army killed several hundred pro-democracy protesters.

The Local (news@thelocal.de)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It! Digg This Facebook  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

#1
12:38 October 30, 2009 by derExDeutsche
well, its a good thing Germany doesn't block ANY content on the Internet. Now, it can focus its attention and on others.

Its like the Alcoholic that says, 'well, I don't drink as much as Hans does.'
Report abuse »
#2
14:32 October 30, 2009 by Psychoid
@derExDeutsche

Germany still doesn't block any content from foreign countries. They planned it, but actually the protests might have achieved something.
Report abuse »
#3
14:50 October 30, 2009 by danyang
yes, it's the reason, protesting is legal in German. In China they will incarcerate them, beat them, or shoot them, and announce they are dangerous for country so that of they deserve having no human rights.
Report abuse »
#4
17:33 October 30, 2009 by mixxim
It is so good to hear of free speech in Germany, however there might be some (Irving) who disagree.
Report abuse »
#5
20:18 October 30, 2009 by Psychoid
Unfortunately there is no free speech in Germany. It's "freedom of opinion" here, which is more restricted. And claiming that none of the Nazis knew about the holocaust etc. is not seen as an opinion in Germany.

But it's a stupid idea to ban free speech. Without those laws no one would give a damn about Irving. Those laws made him famous. He's simply a successful troll.
Report abuse »
#6
20:43 October 30, 2009 by wxman
I like the picture on the Wall as the lead to this article. Breshnev and Honicker in a passionate open-mouth kiss. Typical socialist behavior. Breshnev even has his eyes closed, oh my!
Report abuse »
#7
03:48 October 31, 2009 by Devtc33
Capitalist Communism. I never thought in my life the 2 words would be combined but the empire of ancient China is reborn. The worse part I understand that a country with a recent history of revolution has a reason to fear it's own populace if you are the one in power. Sooner or later that control is going to be lost and when it does I fear those consequences.
Report abuse »
#8
06:52 October 31, 2009 by freechoice
This country is undergoing transformation, things were not allowed in the past is slowy opening up! Peaceful assemblies to demand for workers right are under the eyes of the police. Still many of such activities were not widely reported in the media. It still controlling public opinions through the media and influencing them on the Internet. A country whose primarily infatuated with technological advances and economic development will only leads to a nation without souls.

Their painful history of being bullied by 'foreigners' and carving up of their terrorities during the Manchu dynasty and Japanese during ww2 still remained the driving force behind their motivation for development and excuse for the regime to perpetuate their power with claims of foreign interventions.
Report abuse »
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
For comment quoting and other advanced formatting features,
try posting via this article's discussion forum page instead.
Today's headlines
Photo: DPA

Match-fixing ring rocks European football

Some 200 football matches in nine European countries including at least three Champions League games may have manipulated in a huge match-fixing scandal, German prosecutors said on Friday. READ (3 COMMENTS) »

Photo: a screenshot of taz.de

Editorial feud erects artistic six-metre penis

In a massive escalation of a long-standing editorial feud, the newspaper Die Tageszeitung has unveiled an artwork depicting the naked editor-in-chief of its right-wing rival Bild sporting a six-metre penis up the façade of its headquarters. READ (8 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Disabled woman fired for eating pâté meant for patients

A disabled Hannover woman working at a nursing home has been fired after 18 years on the job for eating pâté intended for patients, daily Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung reported on Friday. READ (16 COMMENTS) »

A file photo of Hitler in 1925 at an NSDAP meeting in Bavaria. Photo: DPA

France finds lost spy file on young Hitler

Secret French intelligence service documents on the young Adolf Hitler have surfaced in the country’s national archives, daily Le Monde reported on Friday. READ (4 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Von der Leyen moots expanded child subsidy for poor families

German Family Minister Ursula von der Leyen has proposed expanding a monthly child subsidy for low income parents, daily Passauer Neue Presse reported on Friday. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Defence minister expects Karzai to take action

NATO countries expect "more than just words" from Afghan President Hamid Karzai after he promised to combat corruption, German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said Thursday. READ (3 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Springlike highs expected for weekend

Anyone planning a weekend outing will enjoy sunshine and springlike temperatures in the coming days as a high pressure system moves over the Alps and into central Germany, the DWD weather service reported on Friday. READ »

Photo: DPA

Chestnut tree kills pedestrian

A 47-year-old Frankfurt woman died late on Thursday after a chestnut tree suddenly fell and crushed her, police reported. READ (7 COMMENTS) »

More Society
More popular articles »
Highlights
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
Born amid Cold War rivalry yet loved by children on both sides of the Iron Curtain, Germany’s bedtime TV character the Sandman celebrates his 50th birthday this weekend

See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Sponsored Links
Jobs in Germany, in English

579 jobs in Germany, in English
323 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Latest news from The Local in Sweden
Blog
Essentials

Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.

Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.

Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.

Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.

Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

News from the Goethe-Institut
News from Young Germany
News from DeutschlandOnline
Noticeboard
SHOW ALL NOTICES »
Toytown Germany
FULL INDEX »
Editorial intern - Berlin
The Local needs an editorial intern at its office in Berlin starting in January
FULL JOB DETAILS
JOB: Account Executive Global Brand Team
Edelman, the worlds largest privately owned PR agency, is looking for a native English speaking Account Executive (m/f) for the Global Team in Hamburg (starting in January 2010)
FULL JOB DETAILS
Food and drink gift baskets
We offer a wide range of exquisite and unique hampers, elegantly decorated for all occasions. Our service is first class and allows you to send personalised baskets to your loved ones across Europe.
FIND OUT MORE
Snappy summary of the week's best stories
The newsletter is sent out every Friday with an easily swallowed digest of the week's happenings allowing you to pepper your conversations with nuggets of news about the issues of the hour.
SIGN UP HERE>>>
Advertising 2.0
MARKETPLACE - promote your business to half a million targeted readers a month on The Local. Find great products and services in Germany or tell The Local's readers about your own business.
CLICK HERE>>>
Sales manager - Berlin
The Local is seeking a talented and experienced media sales professional for our online advertising sales in Germany
FULL JOB DETAILS
Best Foreign exchange rates dealing - all major currencies
Foreign Currency Direct voted as offering the best exchange rates. All currency exchange transactions are managed by Ben Amrany. We guarantee that readers of The Local/Toytown receive a 5 star service
FULL DETAILS HERE>>>

The Local Europe GmbH
Linienstrasse 214
10119 Berlin
Germany