Tech Podcast: Blogger may face death penalty in Iran

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At right is Hossein Derakhshan, also known by his online name, Hoder. According to sources inside Iran, Hoder might very well be facing the death penalty. He was arrested in Tehran back in November of 2008. The charges, according to Iranian radio, were “cooperation with enemy states, propaganda against the Islamic regime, promoting anti-Revolutionary groups, insulting sanctities, launching and managing vulgar and obscene sites.”

Hoder’s trial finished over the summer. We’ve gotten reports this week that the prosecutor has asked for the death penalty. Here at WTP, we’ve followed Hoder’s story from just about the beginning. He’s widely credited with being the person who created that tools that make it possible to blog in the Persian language. When I first talked to him, he was living in Canada and was convinced that blogging could help undermine the Iranian regime. He became a Canadian citizen. At some point, though, the tone of his writing changed, and he actually became a supporter of Iran. Then, he decided to return to the country. Curt Hopkins at Read Write Web has a good write-up on Hoder’s back-story. Learn more in this week’s podcast.

Also in this episode, we have an update on Google’s woes with Street View in Germany, and we’ll also hear about some whales that are getting high-tech help in the Mediterranean.

We’ll also talk about a Belgian start-up called United Pepper that’s trying to create a line of greener, fairer electronics products, things like webcams made from recycled materials, and put together in Vietnamese factories that reportedly adhere to fair trade guidelines. In the course of the discussion, we hear from Traidcraft, a group that evaluates supply chains based on fair trade principles. We’ll also talk to Greenpeace, who regularly creates a Guide to Greener Electronics.

We’ll also move the discussion of “green electronics” over to the United States, and have a chat with Sarah O’Brien, of the Green Electronics Council. Sarah’s answering your questions over in our World Science Forum for the next couple of weeks, so be sure to stop by and leave your questions or comments!

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(Photo: Hessam M. Armandehi)