Wikipedia.org is the most valuable source for most internet users. Unfortunately, for every average Chinese citizen, he or she has the very difficulty to access the site. I usually use Vidalia (a tor plus privoxy combined nice program with easy to use GUI) to access Wikipedia, but this is really a pain in the neck, for the speed of a proxy server is really slow! There already has a long history in which China authorities deliberately filter out Wikipedia; In my memory, it was, only occasionally, two to three times lifted the restriction during the last three or four years.
Right now, the Wikimedia foundation is carry out a Fundraising Effort to, according their wish list :
- Make Wikipedia available in developing countries through DVDs, books and pamphlets.
- Pay for two Wikipedia Academy events in Africa.
- Send three students to our annual Wikimania conference.
- Deliver 100 million pageviews of free information!
I wish their wish list could include “make efforts to open the door for Wikipedia in the Chinese internet world”. I believe someday, sooner or later, we all can access the Mighty Wikipedia freely; acquiring Knowledge–the real knowledge–one pieces at a time!
May my wish become true! 