Reporters Without Borders builds the Uncensored Library, which includes censored articles and books in five countries.
World Anti-Censorship Day was celebrated on March 12, a date that Reporters Without Borders has taken advantage of to launch the Uncensored Library, a campaign through which they have introduced a virtual library on a Minecraft server, accessible to all world. He has done this in conjunction with BlockWorks, a design and consulting studio that has previously worked with the Mojang game.
According to the press release published on its website, the books "contain articles censored in their countries of origin", countries such as Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Russia or Vietnam. In doing so, these pieces "become available again in Minecraft, hidden for government surveillance technologies within a computer game."
Journalists from these five countries, some imprisoned, exiled or murdered, have the opportunity to have their voices heard again within the video game. Reporters Without Borders has also collaborated with the creative agency DDB Germany, as well as Media Monks. Reputed journalists like Nguyen Van Dai and Yulia Berezovskaia support the project, according to the organization.
A screenshot of the microsite.
How to access the library
According to the information, all server users will have the opportunity to access these books, even if their content cannot be modified. The library will continue to grow with the goal of ending censorship. It has taken three months to build and is created with more than 12.5 million blocks. “It has taken 24 builders from 16 different countries for more than 250 hours to design and create the library. The main dome is almost 300 meters wide, which would make it the second largest in the world ”, they underline on the website.
Designed in neoclassical forms and inspired by Roman and Greek architecture, BlockWorks resorted to this style because "it represents the freedom of knowledge and the power that truth has over oppressive authorities and government regimes." Anyone who wants to access can do so from this address.
The server launch is accompanied by a website introducing the launch movie, a 360º immersion experience, a 'how-to' document, and the full Minecraft map. Reporters Without Borders has offered a hashtag for social media, #TruthFindsAWay
Source | Reporters Without Borders
