Netizens Rise for the Support of Egyptians on their Day of Rage

[Turborama]

The countdown for mass protests across Egypt has started, with very little information trickling from the ground after the Egyptian authorities shut down the Internet and virtually all other communication with the outside world. The aim is to clampdown on the protesters and netizens are fearing the worst.

Major demonstrations are being planned across the country after today's Friday prayers, in what has been dubbed the Million Egyptian March, in protest for political and economic reforms, and the end of Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule. The Day of Rage will signal the beginning of the forth day of protests, which has seen the death, injuries and the arrest of hundreds of anti-regime activists and mere by-standers.

Despite all this, the buzz online is upbeat, with an international out pour of support for Egyptians protesting against corruption and tyranny. Netizens are being innovative in by passing the blackout, by contacting Egyptians directly and amplifying their voices for the rest of the world to hear their cry.

Much more: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/01/28/egypt-netizens-rise-for-the-support-of-egyptians-on-their-day-of-rage/

[Le Taz Hot]

1. And the top stories on America's Corporate news?

It's snowing in New York in January. Charlie Sheen was rushed to the hospital yesterday. Oh yeah. A few people are protesting in Cairo.

K & R

[struggle4progress]

2. Egypt shuts down internet and blocks mobile phones as security forces gear up for biggest

anti-government protests yet
By Wil Longbottom
Last updated at 9:20 AM on 28th January 2011

... U.S.-based internet monitoring firm Renesys said the total shut-down earlier today was 'unprecedented in internet history'.

It said: 'Renesys observed the virtually simultaneous withdrawal of all routes to Egyptian networks in the internet's global routing table.

'The Egyptian government's actions tonight have essentially wiped their country frmo the global map.' ..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1351314/Egypt-protests-Government-shuts-internet-ahead-biggest-demonstrations-yet.html

[struggle4progress]

3. Egyptians lose access to Internet

Malaysia Sun
Friday 28th January, 2011

... Unprecedented protests which have gripped the country are believed to have been largely co-ordinated on the Internet primarily through social messaging networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Both networks suffered widespread disruptions Thursday but by Friday were almost totally inaccessable.

Mobile phone networks are also believed to be down almost entirely, restricting telephone calls and texting.

BGPmon, which monitors Internet useage globally, using data from 9 different RIS collectors located around the world, says according to its data, "88% of the ‘Egyptian Internet’ has fallen of the Internet."

"What’s different in this case as compared to other ‘similar’ cases is that all of the major ISP’s seem to be almost completely offline," BGPmon said on a blog on its Web site. "Whereas in other cases, social media sites such as facebook and twitter were typically blocked. In this case the government seems to be taking a shotgun approach by ordering ISPs' to stop routing all networks." ...

http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/d805653303cbbba8/id/737248/cs/1/ht/Egyptians-lose-access-to-Internet/

[xchrom]

4. Solidarity. Nt