Happy Press Freedom Day; Merry Free Trade Month
Wednesday was World Press Freedom Day and at 1:19 p.m. the White House sent out a statement saying President Bush was saluting the free press for its dedication to providing information.
"I salute those in the press who courageously do their work at great risk. No independent media are allowed in countries such as Cuba and North Korea, and those who attempt to report are often imprisoned. Repressive laws severely restrict journalists and freedom of speech in countries such as Belarus, Burma, Iran, Libya, Syria, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe," Bush said.
"We condemn the harassment, physical intimidation, and persecution that journalists, including bloggers and Internet reporters, have faced in China, Egypt, Tunisia, and Vietnam; and the unsolved murders of journalists in Lebanon, Russia, and Belarus," the president added.
Bush said "bringing unfiltered information, news, and facts to the people and accountability to their governments is the hallmark of the fourth estate."
Meanwhile, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday that it was joining a number of organizations to commemorate May as World Trade Month. The chamber has launched a Web site on how trade affects Americans. -- Winter Casey
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