Michelle Obama tells Chinese students internet freedom's a universal right

[PoliticAverse]

(Reuters) - U.S. first lady Michelle Obama told an audience of college students in the Chinese capital on Saturday that open access to information - especially online - is a universal right.

But Obama stopped short of calling on China to offer its citizens greater freedoms on a visit in which she is expected to steer clear of more complicated political issues, but rather try to build goodwill through soft diplomacy.

"It is so important for information and ideas to flow freely over the internet and through the media," Obama said told an audience of about 200 U.S. and Chinese students at Beijing's prestigious Peking University.

"My husband and I are on the receiving end of plenty of questioning and criticism from our media and our fellow citizens, and it's not always easy," she added. "But I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."

Read the rest at: http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/03/22/china-usa-michelle-obama-idINDEEA2L02W20140322

[Vattel]

1. I worry that the proliferation of alleged universal rights

in documents such as the UN declaration of human rights obscures the rights that actually are universal.

[yeoman6987]

3. I understand what she is saying

but can the children do anything about it? I think they are very manipulated in China. The internet is very controlled. I guess the kids could protest the control of the internet. Do you think that is her reasoning for mentioning this to the children?

[Vattel]

4. Idk what her reasoning is and her basic message seems okay to me.

I was just commenting on the notion that internet access is a universal human right.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

5. Internet isn't as controled as everyone thinks. Facebook is officially blocked, but most of my

students post on it everyday.

There are literally millions of Chinese people sitting in 网吧 (net bar) coming up with new ways of breaking the Great Firewall of China. They are usually two or three steps ahead of the internet cops.

They block internet, then allow advertisements everywhere for VPNs.

We as Americans under-estimate Chinese kids a bit. They all know the same things we know (CCP is crazy, corruption is everywhere, police are useless) about their system. . .the thing is, as long as they have their toys and can get around the problem of the GFC, they really don't care.

[pangaia]

6. Thanks for confirming what I think -hope- I see when I am in China.

You obviously have closer ties to young people than I do.
My connections are more artists, musicians, dancers, film makers, etc.. and some younger business people....

[Nanjing to Seoul]

8. Well, I'm trying to get more connections with artists and film makers. That's why I

changed agencies from an American based on who kept telling me what China wanted but has never been here to an American agency based in Beijing.

As I keep telling them, the time is now right for my Nanjing War Crimes Tribunal piece.

[Cha]

2. Thanks PA..

First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters Malia and Sasha are greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at the Diaoyutai State guest house in Beijing, China -

bigtree http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024705709

[AngryAmish]

7. That is rich coming from the US.