Net users concerned by the Iranian nuclear threat

Iran's nuclear threat

In its latest report on the Iranian nuclear programme, the International Atomic Energy Agency estimated that the concealment of a new site close to Qom indicates the presence of other illegal installations in Iran.

This blog shows satellite images of the site, taken from Google Earth. In particular we remark the changes between 2005 in 2009 in terms of the installations, and especially the new presence of tunnels.

The question of the appropriate action to take with regards the Iranian nuclear programme dominates on many specialised sites. The Washington Institute has broadcast this video in which a series of experts question the viability and consequences of preventative military action.

 
The same questions about the Iranian threat are asked in this video from the University of Stanford, where Robert Baer, a former Middle East CIA officer is quizzed. According to him, Iranian retaliation for such as attack could carry heavy consequences.
 
 
Meanwhile, several organisations are mobilising online to request that sanctions be placed on Iran. This site has posted a list of contacts in foreign companies which are present on the ground. The aim being to convince them to leave Iran.

Azerbaijan: bloggers convicted

It is presumably for this satirical video that two Azerbaijani bloggers, Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, were sentenced last week to two years and two and a half years imprisonment respectively. This sketch, broadcast online by the two activists mocks the government, which bought donkeys from Germany at an exorbitant cost.

Officially accused of hooliganism, the bloggers benefit from support by net users, who criticised the verdict. This user for example, denounces what he describes as a politically motivated trial, aiming to silence dissidents.

And mobilisation in favour of the two men has intensified online. This Facebook group, calling for their release has over five thousand members around the world.

This video petition was launched the day after their arrest four months ago. Messages of support flooded in from the four corners of the world.

In Bucharest, Romania, this Azerbaijani blogger brought up the case at the bloggers world forum, where bloggers expressed their solidarity with the incarcerated cyber dissidents. It was also the occasion to consider the growing role the internet plays in Azerbaijan’s media scene.