[kictanet] Call for Nominations "Breaking Borders Award"

[alice at apc.org]

Call for Nominations "Breaking Borders Award"
On November 3rd 2009, Google and Reporters without Borders will hold an
event entitled "Breaking Borders" to commemorate the 20th anniversary of
the fall of the Berlin Wall.  We'd like to take this opportunity to
highlight the importance of free expression around the world and send a
clear message to repressive regimes that censor content both online and
offline by honoring outstanding individuals or groups, who have shown
courage, energy and resourcefulness in using the internet to promote
freedom of expression, ensure that diverse political viewpoints are heard
and stand up to those who censor information.

Therefore Google and Reporters without Borders invite you to nominate
candidates for the Breaking Borders Award.

We encourage you to share this Call for Nominations with others who might
wish to submit a nomination.

Nomination & Selection Procedure
Please send your nominations until the 20th of October to
breakingborders at google.com.
As part of your nomination please send us the name (contact if possible),
references (URLs or attachments), as well as at least one other person who
can assess the nominee's work. Nominations will be forwarded to the
designated Award Committee consisting of selected experts from Reporters
without Borders and Google.


Background Information Breaking Borders Event
Twenty years ago, the fall of the Berlin Wall became a striking symbol for
freedom and self-determination far beyond the borders of Germany.  But in
many places around the world today, people are still struggling take hold
of the right to express their thoughts and beliefs freely and openly.
Dissidents and journalists remain under severe pressure, and their voices
are all too often silenced by force. Google and Reporters without Borders
have partnered to celebrate and advocate for the importance of freedom of
expression and the role the internet  plays in allowing each and everyone
to freely participate in our global discourse.

Today, the Internet continues to be an increasingly populous and powerful
medium for spreading opinions across the spectrum throughout the globe. 
The estimated number of blogs has grown to 110 million last year from
fewer than two million in 2004.  Expression through online video has
become so popular that 20 hours of videos are uploaded to YouTube every
minute, and hundreds of millions of videos are watched on the site
everyday.  Even in countries where governments engage in heavy censorship,
the Internet has nevertheless proven to be an effective tool for sharing
information and promoting political change.


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Dr. Max Senges
Multistakeholder Cooperations

Unter den Linden 21
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