Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Oh, Come On!

Through a long series of events, I wound up at the 2015 World Press Freedom Index.

Hmm, Finland is #1 in both press freedom and goalie coaching (don't think it's impossible that we might take a summer trip to Finland one year, either).

The U.S. is #49 out of 180.

Of course, you're already wondering who's at the bottom of the rankings. North Korea, incredibly, was only #179.

What? There's a country with LESS press freedom than North Korea?

Indeed there is, and it's Eritrea.

Here's the explanation:
Deservedly last in the index for the past seven years, Eritrea systematically violates freedom of expression and information. It is Africa’s biggest prison for journalists, with at least 16 currently detained – some of them held incommunicado for years. In 2014 alone, Reporters Without Borders supported about 30 requests for international protection filed by Eritrean journalists who had fled their country. President Afeworki, who is on the Reporters Without Borders list of “Predators of Press Freedom,” does not envisage reforms any time soon and continues to ignore the international community’s recommendations. In early 2014, he said: Those who think there will be democracy in this country can think so in another world.”

Damn. Enjoy hell, "President" Afeworki.

If you want to browse through the data, it's here.

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