Hongkonger here. I help out with a number of volunteer tech groups in HK, including a few resistance groups. I'm also on the Hong Kong Python User Group committee.<p>We are hoping for the best but would like to prepare for the worst, so I'd like to ask fellow HNers here who have been in similar situations before: what can we expect to encounter in terms of disruptions in communications? Under those situations, how can we counter them with technology? There were rumors that cell towers in certain areas would be shut down, which I don't think happened. The cell network slowdown was more like overloaded cell towers to me. We tried Firechat yesterday and it's terrible. With 100s of people on the same room, it's impossible to follow the feed. It's also very easy to be taken over by CCP spies who just won't stop polluting the room. Is there anything you'd recommend?<p>Thanks HNers in advance.<p>Updated resources on the situations on the ground:<p><a href="http://today.code4.hk/" rel="nofollow">http://today.code4.hk/</a>
I'm from Chinese mainland, a student at Shanghai.there is not even a piece of information about this leaked to the mainstream media. many of my classmates managed to get information from multiple sources but more have no idea what happened.<p>it's quite strange that the blocking turns a political event into a technical one.<p>I'm not a 100% supporter for the protest, but I extremely dislike the government's passion of blocking everying. it makes me feel hopeless in the country knowing more and more interesting things are becoming far away from us.
Hongkonger here also (now going to out to see the latest situation)<p>For those who want a TLDR: <a href="http://www.vox.com/2014/9/28/6856663/hong-kong-democracy-protests-photos" rel="nofollow">http://www.vox.com/2014/9/28/6856663/hong-kong-democracy-pro...</a><p>Lot of protesters are just TEENAGERS/STUDENTS who want a peaceful protest , and the crazy police are fully armed and used countless tear gas on them.<p>This is going to be one of the largest events in HK history.
Honest question: how effective are these sorts of protests in achieving their intended goals?<p>Maybe I'm suffering from confirmation bias, but it seems all the major demonstrations in the last few decades (Tiananmen Square, Iraq War, Occupy Wall Street, post-Iranian election, etc) have sizzled out and failed. The one exception I can think of is the anti-Proposition 8 protests, but Prop 8 was defeated in the courts through routine legal channels (ultimately culminating in the Supreme Court decision on Hollingsworth v. Perry) and it's unclear whether the protests held any sway over the rulings.
All this "article" says is that Hong Kong protesters are using two hashtags on twitter, while giving no further information on the nature or purpose of the protests.<p>Much better to read the linked Independent piece: <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/hong-kong-protest-why-are-prodemocracy-supporters-staging-a-sitin-9760234.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/hong-kong-prote...</a>
In 1998,the Indonesian students stage a mass protest to demand what was then thought impossible and insane. They demanded that president Soeharto step down, the end to the military rule, and a free democratic election. After the students face real bullies and tanks, they finally bought down a 32 year old regime and a president once considered one of Asia strongman. In 2014 this year, Indonesia was internationally (UN) acclaimed to held the largest (150 million voters) and free direct presidential election ( 1 man 1 vote). The winner is mr jokowi who is from an ordinary background, non- millitary and not from any elite families.
In a Democracy, NOTHING is Impossible. However, reforms need to take place before it can really happen. BLood, tears , time and sadly lives are the cost for it.
When the hk students is face with ak47 from the PLA and stood their grounds, only then they can claim they are willing to “die for democracy”. Only then the hk students can say they are In the same league as the “tiananmen students”. I will also like to remind the hk students that the students at tiananmen 89, jakarta 98, Tunisia 12, Ukraine 14 did not wear googles, as nothing can stop a bullets from a automatic rifle. If you are all having second thought, then. I suggest that you guys go home and maybe come back next year. The world are watching and waiting to see if the cute hk students are really the “legendary” Chinese students at tiaanmen who let PLA tanks roll on them and haunts your communist leaders till now.
I'm in Shenzhen and we're getting a little news trickling in since there is a lot of back and forth daily traffic. They seem to be making some use of mesh-network (FireChat) for communication: <a href="http://www.pingwest.com/firechat-hongkong/?from=timeline&isappinstalled=0" rel="nofollow">http://www.pingwest.com/firechat-hongkong/?from=timeline&isa...</a><p>This would also be an ideal scenario for PirateBox. I roll the LibraryBox version on a regular basis for under $20.
Mainland-resident here. Been in and out of HK since 1998. Usually only a few days. However, a FOAF is a just out of jail old-school dissident in Hong Kong.<p>I can see why people are protesting: partly its the want to stay independent, partly it's fear of the steadily increasingly mainland presence - not just in government, but people. Regular HK'ers are studying Mandarin (very different from their more historically significant and representative dialect, Cantonese) and aiming to do mainland business.<p>My main observation would be: heard about it from foreigners, got bugger-all details from purely foreign media, saw no mention in mainland media (which, to be fair, I rarely see). So just to confirm: there is zero coverage in the mainland, and not much elsewhere as far as I've seen.<p>Anyway: good luck Hong Kong, you have a really unique situation in which you can exercise your rights. Make it worthwhile.
It's also fairly well documented that not unlike Mossadegh etc, CIA branch-offs like NED and NDI are openly funding Uyghur "East Turkistan" and "Occupy Central" etc
<a href="https://www.ndi.org/hong-kong-designing%20democracy" rel="nofollow">https://www.ndi.org/hong-kong-designing%20democracy</a>
<a href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/us-openly-approves-hong-kong-chaos-it-created/5405387" rel="nofollow">http://www.globalresearch.ca/us-openly-approves-hong-kong-ch...</a>
I'm going to be pretty cynical there. China's shown it is willing use force (and bigger army diplomacy) if necessary. Spreading the word about this in China's even more difficult (internet censors). Unless the CCP buckles I can't see HK coming out on top.
This is going to be Tianmen all over again: kill the chicken to scare the monkey. I remember seeing a photo of military vehicles coming into HK a couple weeks ago. If West did little with Russia you can bet they'd do even less with HK.
I feel sad for HK.<p>A protest led by teenagers? Where are the adults? If these teenagers were devised, where are their parents? Do they have any idea whom they are fighting against, fighting for?<p>Shame on all HK adults.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_enforcement_and_the_Occupy_movement" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_enforcement_and_the_Occupy_...</a><p>...in case people forget about the clean up needed in their own backyard first.
The amount of hyperbole in this thread (and in the protest) is unbelievable.<p>Protesters are quick to talk this up as the next Tiananmen Square when in fact looking at the ground it's nothing like it.<p>You just need to look at Hong Kong culture to see that this is being overblown. It's the HK style, there's no middle ground, it's either the end of the world or nothing worth mentioning.<p>Of course the people have a right to protest but people should really think about what they are doing instead of getting delusional in the name of "freedom".<p>Show some class for once, have a measured response not this circus that is clearly going to end in a terrible car crash. It's already being hijacked by troublemakers.