Posted on 05/04/2009 9:43:50 AM PDT by ClassicLiberal
Despite burgeoning information technologies including the Internet and digital wireless communications devices, more than 40 percent of the global population lives under regimes that do not allow freedom of the press.
-Many of the countries that have held consistently “worse” scores in the study and over the last several years include Iran, Cuba, Russia and Venezuela – all countries with which President Barack Obama has sought to improve country-to-country relations.
-“Iraq, actually we noted, was the only country in the Middle East this year that showed a numerical improvement, and this was primarily due to an improved security situation that made it easier for both foreign and local journalists to operate effectively and cover the news,”
-Specifically identifying Communist China and authoritarian Iran, the report says, “This year’s findings show that governments are now using traditional means of repression – including lawsuits, imprisonment, and other forms of harassment – to clamp down on this novel means of disseminating information.”
-“The only two countries in the region rated Not Free are Cuba, which has one of the most repressive media environments worldwide, and Venezuela, where the government of President Hugo Chavez continued its efforts to control the press.”
(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...
What % do not have freedom of religion?
Dissent is only patriotic when a Republican is in office.
Regardless, the MSM runs the daily DNC talking points and even is on point as to using the same simple terms “no gravitas”, “culture of corruption”, etc.
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