The upheaval after Iran's election has proved that the Internet has evolved from being the handiest purveyor of smut and knock-off Jimmy Choos to an instrument that can allow people in Louisville to influence events in Tehran.
This two-part series will focus on what you can do. Read Part 1 [4] to learn how to use Twitter to help ensure Iran has a fair election.
Part 2, Media pressure and circumventing Iran's Internet firewall
Media pressure
With an abundance of dead [5] celebrities [6] and philandering governors [7], the media will need prodding to focus on a story that will matter long after Jacko and Farrah are still dead and governors are still hypocrites.
Contact Louisville's media outlets and demand they continue to cover the Iran election.
- "The Courier Journal" [8]
- WAVE 3 [9]
- WHAS 11 [10]
- WLKY 32 [11]
- WDRB 41 [12]
Circumventing Iran's Internet firewall
According to its Web site, Tor [13] "is free software and an open network that helps you defend against a form of network surveillance that threatens personal freedom and privacy, confidential business activities and relationships, and state security known as traffic analysis."
By allowing your computer to run a Tor relay [14], you can help ensure Iranians (and other dissidents worldwide) have unfiltered Internet access.
One caveat though, I am a tech geek but am having problems configuring my iMac to serve as a Tor relay. Hopefully it will be easier for you.
(Photo: Flickr/@@:@@ [15])