Reporter talks about Freedom Floatilla Experience

Abbas Al Lawati was on the Freedom Floatilla reporting when it all went wrong.

Abbas talks to us about reporting on the Freedom Floatilla and becoming part of the story.



Gulf News reporter coming home
A sense of relief overwhelms Muscat home of Gulf News reporter Abbas Al Lawati
By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau ChiefPublished: 09:55 June 2, 2010
Gulf News Staff Reporter, Abbas Al Lawati.Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
Muscat/Dubai: A sense of relief and anticipation overwhelmed the Muscat home of Gulf News reporter Abbas Al Lawati and the newspaper's offices in Dubai amid reports that he may be coming home very soon.
Abbas, who was aboard the ship attacked by Israel, on Wednesday called up Gulf News from Jordan where he was deported from Israel.

Abbas said that all of his possessions have been confiscated, including his passport. This means he will be sent to his home country of Oman, although he lives and works in Dubai.
Reacting to the news, Abbas' mother Iffat Al Lawati said: "We are relieved to hear that he is safe."
According to a WAM report, the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it "will transfer Arab citizens who were aboard the Freedom Flotilla back to their home countries."

nightline on National Public Radio NPR

We spoke to Ivan Watson about media, freedom, censorship and the interview was pieced into a larger report.

Not bad actually give it a listen!

oct 29 Freedom of Expression!

We were joined by a great panel to talk about freedom of expression!

Listen to the JAMESCAST for a taste!

The answer to whether we need freedom of expression is simply that it is already there!

TECHNOLOGY is making restrictions on expression a joke.

BUT we do not use the technology because we are not ready to use these new found freedoms to their full potential.

Too bad really!