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Ok, let's do something productive. It is called "Google-bombing for Alaa." Here is the deal: http://freealaa.blogspot.com/
A team of bloggers from all around the world are teaming up to create a special blog about Alaa's detention. Then bloggers from all around the world are asked to link to this page using the text "Egypt". (Due to the way that Google's PageRank algorithm works, a page will be ranked higher if the sites that link to that page all use consistent anchor text.)
- The initiator chooses a word to be searched : "egypt"
- The initiator chooses the target website : "http://freealaa.blogspot.com/"
- The initiator creates a link like this :
<a href="http://freealaa.blogspot.com/">egypt</a> result will be: egypt - The initiator places this code in his website, as his signature in forum, in his blogs as a tag to a post, on his sidebar, etc… do whatever you like with it (see Rachel Rawlins, example here!).
- The initiator talks to other people about the "bomb" and tells other people to use the code in their own writings.
- GoogleBot indexes and ranks, resulting in Google search having Alaa's case as a first result
We think this could be a very popular action because it would give people around the world a chance to do something productive in support of Alaa. Hopefully having the illegal detention of a political prisoner as the first page when the word "Egypt" is searched would be an embarrassment to the Egyptian government (assuming they have enough shame to be embarrassed by such a thing). Secondly, it would raise awareness about Alaa since anyone searching for "Egypt" on Google would learn about his case. Finally, the Google-bombing itself might draw more MSM attention to Alaa's detention.
So, let's do it. Google-bomb for Alaa!
Write "Egypt" and link it to http://freealaa.blogspot.com/
PS. Some of the most famous google-bombs are also expressions of political opinion (e.g. "liar" leading to Blair or "failure" leading to Bush.
Update 1: Global Voices - Managing Editor, Rachel Rawlins, is the first to make a Google-bomb for Alaa. See the example here. Thanks, Rachel!
Update 2: As Tololy called it: "Walk Like an Egyptian". Many more bloggers started "bombing". To name some: Oleander, Alb Sayed, Sofia and of course Global Voices…
Update 3: The "Google-bomb for Alaa" is on Digg. Go Digg it!
Update 4: You might like to add a link to your post here. This wiki lists 'some' of the 'google-bomb' post. Of course this is done manually, so it can't be the full list.
{ 9 } Comments
Haitham, great idea, and I'm definitely on board. My only comment is that in the last hour, I've gotten the Free Alaa blog to load successfully twice, and I'm on a high speed connection.
So maybe we can move the blog to a more reliable host (other than blogger), or maybe we can have several instances of it (mirror sites) so that the traffic is distributed.
Good idea. Count me in.
I have no problems with the speed of the Free Alaa! blog?
I've written a lengthy post (in Danish), calling for others to protest and publicize the case and including the GoogleBomb several places:
http://www.modspil.dk/politik/free_alaa____opsummering_og_opfordring.html
Let's hope a lot of people do the same!
Haitham,
Got one up here. Great Idea. One way we can all get it spreading more is to post the bombs in newsgroups.
Release Alaa.
my google-bomb is ON
Sabbah,
I created an entry in the Wikipedia on Alaa Abd El Fatah & his plight. I figure some journalists might turn to Wikipedia once they start hearing his name mentioned around the blogsphere.
The entry is bare bones. I encourage anyone who has more information to contribute to it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaa_Abd_El-Fatah
Peter,
Thanks a million. I'll post this link in "Free Alaa!" blog now.
?????? ????? ??? ????? ????????? ?? ???
Have blogged and dugg this! Good luck.
{ 20 } Trackbacks
[...] lor: #FFED55;} Google-bombing action for Alaa 9 May 2006 Egypt (source: Sabbah's blog) Entry posted by Xikita No Comment [...]
Digital activism
Egypt Google bombing for Alaa
[...] have changed some words to include the word - Egypt. For more information on this action, bonyeza hapa. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ as the Egyptian mo [...]
[...] have changed some words to include the word - Egypt. For more information on this action, bonyeza hapa. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ as the Egyptian mo [...]
[...] of this whole issue as well as the updates and what is being done.Second, take part in the digital activism and help create a google bomb.THEN, go tell your friend [...]
[...] If you have a blog of your own then try 'walking like an egyptian' or a little Google bombing or whatever you have to do to help spread the word. You c [...]
[...] ed, so do something that counts!Get more information here:Help us Free Alaa - by SandmonkeyGoogle Bombing Action for Alaa - by Sabbah
[...]
[...] tand up bloggers; stand up for Egypt's scribes Tell old Pharaoh, Let our people go A Google bomb dropped on Egypt's land Let our people go To make old [...]
[...] for+Alaa 10 May, Wed, 11:47:05 http://sabbah.biz/mt/archives/2006/05/09/google-bombing-action-for-alaa/ [...]
[...] for Poems About the 'Realities' of Black Women, I join fellow bloggers in the google-bombing for Alaa campaign. Of Course When They Ask for Poems Abou [...]
[...] friends. So far, he seems unharmed. For a full explanation of google bombing for Alaa read this. Or better yet, please click on the above links or make a similar p [...]
[...] Please digg this post. Let us campaign for Egypt And Alaa. As a contribution for the Google Bombina for Alaa, The Egyptian blogger, Activist and One of the E [...]
[...] t", and the Google-bomb itself might draw more MSM attention to Alaa's detention. read more | digg story Posted by ceridwen F [...]
[...] le bombing - Although this technique is becoming discredited, it is important to note that [...]
[...] p a separate blog Free Alaa! to campaign for his release.! guys there are doing great job, google-bombing for Alaa [...]
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Read the AP story, a statement of condemnation from APC.org, visit Alaa's blog (Manal and Alaa's bit bucket), their Weblog Award, and a very interesting attempt to "Google-bomb" for Alaa. Last Updated ( Monday, 19 June 2006 ) The Kids are Alright Written by Administrator Sunday, 18 June 2006
And it's also fascinating to note that, Egypt were recently the center of a Google Bombing campaign initiated by the Eqyptian blogosphere and supported by many editors andauthors at Global Voices Online in a move to free a detained Egyptian Blogger — Alaa Ahmed Seif al-Islam, Alaa was released from prison late last night after being held for 46 days by Egyptian Authorities for taking part in a protest.
And it's also fascinating to note that, Egypt were recently the center of a Google Bombing campaign initiated by the Eqyptian blogosphere and supported by many editors and authors at Global Voices Online in a move to free a detained Egyptian Blogger — Alaa Ahmed Seif al-Islam, Alaa was released from prison late last night after being held for 46 days by Egyptian Authorities for taking part in a protest.
And it?s also fascinating to note that, Egypt were recently the center of a Google Bombing campaign initiated by the Eqyptian blogosphere and supported by many editors andauthors at Global Voices Online in a move to free a detained Egyptian Blogger ? Alaa Ahmed Seif al-Islam, Alaa was released from prison late last night after being held for 46 days by Egyptian Authorities for taking part in a protest.
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