Freedom of Expression World Map

Did you know that 27,002 Second Life residents live in countries where freedom of expression is either restricted or forbidden? According to the most recent figures released by Linden Lab, 2% of Second Life residents live in countries where freedom of expression is not allowed, and another 3% reside in countries that permit only a limited degree of free expression.

http://www.TheSeventhSun.com/freedom.htm

The purpose of this map is to raise awareness of the growing problem of government-imposed restrictions and sanctions that limit access to online information and restrict the free expression of opinions, beliefs, and ideas. The map opens a web page with the pdf version that is updated with notes to track specific incidents, country-by-country, as information becomes available.

Please help raise awareness of this issue by displaying The Freedom of Expression World Map at your sim. The map is 1 prim and comes in 3 sizes. You can pick up a set free of charge at The Seventh Sun Plaza, or at our Shop OnRez store.

I'm surprised I'm the only to reply to this post. Kudos for sharing this information. Not sure what I can do to improve the situation, but the fact that some of these folks can visit Second Life has to be a good thing.

The map is wrong. Most of Europe and Canada need to be marked as "Partially Free" since they all have laws restricting free and open speech. People have been jailed and fined for expressing opinions not approved of by the government.

Very, *very* good concept and something noteworthy, especially in light of foreign countries launching their own virtual spaces.

The map is... a little flawed, though... I'd say they aren't any less free down there in Tierra del Fuego than elsewhere in the southern cone. And even in the deeply Católico capital of Argentina, gay marriage is allowed - not a freedom generally found even in the United States! Not that they don't have their problems - but freedom of expression is such a multiple and varied thing.

New Guinea, I can't remember anyone really caring much what one has to say; same with Ecuador. You'll be sooner labeled crazy and ignored, than hauled off...

And Thailand - true, one does not lawfully disrespect the King - but honestly, he is worthy of respect, and it's much more like a matter of flag-burning than oppression (don't dis' your flag, don't dis' a guy who has been more decent than the governments that come and go). I'd feel safer sharing opinions in Thailand than in many so-called free western countries - laws notwithstanding.

Tonga was listed partially free too - but c'mon folks, their monarchy has been standing for something like 2400 years. Can't be all bad, for a place known as the friendly islands! We might have a little something to learn from such a place, before leaning on their ways - Tongans are much more like a family than a nation in a *lot* of respects - an amazing culture.

I noted the Marshalls were listed as free, but on one of the islands last time I was through, the 'sheriff' and the 'mayor' of one island arrested each other for drinking (I think they were drinking together) and released one another when they got sober and bored. Can't remember the island, but for anyone who knows the area I was reading about this on an island paper outside the Robert Reamer's store on Majuro, circa 1990, eating a *precious* disaster of a popsicle that had clearly melted and been refrozen several times inside its wrapper. Yep, those guys were the majesty of principled justice for ya...

Thanks for your comments!

Well, it is a work in progress! I based it on the data from the Freedom House 2008 Report. http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/fiw08launch/FIW08Tables.pdf I figured that was a good starting point.

There are quite a few similar maps online, but I want to specifically track incidents in the news that relate to the online community. So I'll be sticking notes on it as I come across things. I also added a date last updated and a few more links to related sites.

Pollywog

It's a GREAT idea, Polliwog! Keep refining it, I'm an avid fan!

Freedom is a concept that is hard to define folks, if you think about it.

One mans (or woman’s) meat can be another persons poison.

My own view of freedom is the ability to leave AND to invest.

On that basis, we in the UK are freer than the USA because we have the freedom to leave, invest, and work (EU). US citizens do not currently enjoy all those attributes on an unfettered basis.