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Yoani Sanchez is a
Cuban blogger who has been a great example of how individuals fight for the
promotion and respect for human rights around the world, even by being part of
a restricted and dictatorial society. Yoani Sanchez is a common woman who has
fought for freedom of expression in Cuba by publicizing blogs and tweets so the
world can be aware and know her situation, and that of many Cuban citizens who
are not allowed to internet access. Yoani find access to an internet connection
with a regular phone in order to broadcast information; considering that the
Cuban government and monopoly denies and prohibits the use of personal phones
and access to the Internet or any kind of mass media (Cuban Constitution Art.53).
Yoani besides having the blog "Generación Y", she also writes for
the Spanish newspaper "El País". She also teaches free
courses in her living room, for Cubans who want to learn how to get internet
access through their normal cell phones. Besides training people in the use of
programs such as:
- Mozilla Thunderbird Portable 6.0.2: a very useful tool to manage email through a USB flash.
- TrueCrypt: computer security program to safeguard content.
- HURIDOCS and OpenEvsys: databases with information on human rights.
- WordPress basic, intermediate and advanced: includes Xampp local server installation and installation of WP on computer without web access.
Despite the difficulties, Yoani hasn’t given up her fight
for defending the right of people to be informed. Unfortunately, she has had to
face some awful consequences, like the recent 30 hour detention she had to
confront. Her husband and her were detained on their way to cover the trial in
Bayamo of
a Spanish politician who was accused of a rebel’s death. The reason of the
apprehension was an alleged plan of creating a “provocation” and “media show”
to manipulate and spread false news about the trial (The Miami Herald). After she returned home,
she couldn't make or receive phone calls, her way of communicating was through
text messages. It was not the first time the Cuban government cuts her cell
phone line.
The last days, Yoani has been focused on informing
about the new Migratory Law that was modified in the Cuban government. In some
way, Yoani is trying to confront and test the government on this law’s limits,
by planning to travel in January 2013. During 5 years the government had denied
20 times the permission to leave the country, she has hope that the reform will
allow her to travel but at the same time is aware that her situation is
complicated because of the activities she carries out. According to her tweets,
she had a quick interview with CNN news until the line connection was off.
Yoani is a great example of a human rights defender
who has challenged political barriers imposed by the Cuban government. She is
not afraid to speak her mind despite the risks of being detained, tortured,
murder or any other physical abuse. She has found ways to expose her thinking
and the real internal situations in her country. Yoani’s individual case has motivated
international community and human rights organizations to be aware of her
situation and thing going on in Cuba. As a result, international media help her
to spread out tweets, blogs, news and articles.
For more information about
Yoani’s critics and opinions, follow her on tweeter @yoanisanchez.
I like when people stops talking about the changes we need to make, and start making their own actions. Even if they have to fight againts a giant!! There's the example!!
ReplyDeleteHuman rights are made for human, so if we are considering ourselevs humans, why don't we all defend our rights?? or at least support who has the courage to do it.
how can we, if there is fear, it is a case of being under the figure of Big Brother, perhaps at all times we are being observed and this prevents us to act.
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