Most Americans take their freedom of access to information for granted. In many countries government and its agents restrict, ban, and /or monitor some or all sources of information including television, books, print media, and Internet. The two articles linked below highlight the lengths humans will go to find truth, to be entertained, and to be connected to local and international culture. If you’re unfamiliar with the dark, Kafkaesque tactics of information suppression employed by Iran, Saudi Arabia, China, Cuba, and others both articles are worth a read (and are a good reminder of why libraries need to be strong supporters of individuals’ freedom to access the information they choose).
The Weekly Package: How Cubans deliver culture without internet
Explores Cuba’s black market in hard-drive “packages” pre-loaded with films, television series, software and other content downloaded from the web.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xoHv3u5ojcyY50SJ23RT5WyBn3yHYRD1/view?usp=sharing
The Case of Hong Kong’s Missing Booksellers
As China’s Xi Jinping consolidates power, owners of Hong Kong bookstores trafficking in banned books find themselves playing a very dangerous game.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/03/magazine/the-case-of-hong-kongs-missing-booksellers.html