China's Great Firewall

While protests against oppressive governments continue throughout the Arab world, don't look for anything of a similar nature in China. The likelihood of another Tiananmen Square-type uprising is pretty slim. Part of the reason is China's great firewall -- a high tech version of the wall first built in China in the fifth century to keep out invaders. China's great firewall is designed to keep out ideas that Chinese authorities deem unhealthy for the Chinese people. Like last week, when the idea for a Jasmine revolution floated into cyberspace. As soon as Chinese censors caught wind of a protest blooming on local websites, they immediately exorcised the word Jasmine from the Chinese internet. By Sunday, the day protests were to begin, many activists were already detained. The few people who did show up were quickly arrested. The great firewall shows barriers need not be made of stone.