China, Cuba Censor News From Iran

Authoritarian regimes around the world, including Burma, China, and Cuba, have been censoring some or all news coverage from Iran, afraid the rebellious sentiment may spread, the Washington Post reports. But news is trickling through anyway, inspiring small acts of defiance. In China, political bloggers have compared it to the Tiananmen Square protests, coloring their pages green in solidarity.

Hardline regimes fear a pro-democracy wave, much like the one that hit between 1988 and 1990, during a similar economic slump. Many of their people are hoping for just that. One Cuban blogger, who e-mails her writing to friends in other countries to get it posted, has called it a “lesson” for Cuba dissenters on how to use technology. “Today it’s you,” she told Iranian protesters. “Tomorrow it could well be us.” (More Cuba stories.)