I have been closely following the events in Iran for the last week and a half. Unless you have been living in a cave you will know that the mainstream media is unable to report what's going on due to severe government restrictions. All the real news that is filtering out is coming from mostly young Iranians who are risking at best their freedom and at worst their lives to break through the government's information embargo and counteract the propaganda that official government news sources are spreading. They are passing information about events and developments on the ground, planned demonstrations and requests for assistance primarily through Twitter and Facebook. And they are secretly filming and photographing what's happening and uploading this material to Youtube and other websites.
The Twitter reports of those close to the action are unlike anything that we are used to from mainstream media. They are often eye-witness accounts or accounts from people they call trusted sources. Their entries often come in real or near real time and are packed with all the emotions that the person is feeling as they write. It is high human drama, often raw and more often than not since a few days ago full of fear and anxiety.
If you want to know what's really going on from a human perspective then forget the mainstream media and go right to the source. After all, that's what the mainstream media is doing at the moment.
Here is what one of the more authoritative Twitters reported yesterday, June 23, 2009. I am reprinting this person's Twitter activity for those who are not following Twitter or who do not follow this one particular source. Although it is not difficult to trace who this is from, since Twitter is open to all, I am not printing his or her's Twitter name. The time period covered is from 2.30 AM on June 24 back to about 4 AM on June 23:
1.
Larijani pressing for Mousavi to be given airtime on IRIB to discuss elections #Iranelection RT RT RT - tahlilerooz.irabout 1 hour ago from web
2.
MOUSAVi - on his wesite - Wed Sea of Green is 100% confirmed - no cancellation will be made #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 1 hour ago from web
3.
Wednesday 4pm Baharestan Sq, Tehran - Sea of Green - #Iranelection RT RT RT - Mir Hossein Mousaviabout 1 hour ago from web
4.
Mousavi has stated 'If I am arrested or killed - strike until the Gov falls' - #Iranelection about 1 hour ago from web
5.
Kayhan - Iranian Gov newspaper - has tonight called forthe arrest of Mousavi - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 1 hour ago from web
6.
all hospitals is surrounded by militia to check why ppl going in - if gun or baton injury - they arrest and beat u #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web
7.
all foreign embassys surrounded by militia to stop ppl going in - #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web
8.
The parks in north of city are closed at night and militia attacking any ppl in park or walking in streets - #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web
9.
we have report of large street battles in east & west of Tehran now - #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web
10.
there is militia controlling movement from downtown to north of Tehran to stop ppl joining Sea of Green - #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web
11.
tomorrow Mousavi annouce start of a new type of protests - peaceful and silent - soon there will be strikes #Iranelection about 4 hours ago from web
12.
the only question now is how will the end happen - peacefully or with civil war - #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
13.
the ppl have lost all faith in this Gov - Iran can never be same as b4 again - #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
14.
all normal life in Iran has stopped - now everybody only talk about Sea of Green and rumours of how Khamenei will go - #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
15.
We can hear ppl shouting from balcony right now 'Allah Akbar - death to Khamenei' - #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
16.
Guardian Council has extended time for considering election fraud claims 5 days more from tomorrow deadline #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
17.
everywhere is road blocks and fires and sometime u hear guns shooting - #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
18.
It is just like living under martial law - u cannot go anywhere without being stoped or beaten by militia - #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
19.
the city is full of Baseej and Revolutionary Guards and plain closthes militia carrying baton and tear gas - #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
20.
We have just returned and outside the city sky is full of teh sounds of 'Allah Akbar' from ppls on balconys - #Iranelectionabout 4 hours ago from web
21.
we must log off for a few hours - going to streets to see what is happening - #Iranelection thank uabout 7 hours ago from web
22.
confirmed IRIB - Iran expels 2 UK diplomats - #Iranelectionabout 7 hours ago from web
23.
CONFIRMED - Musavi facebbok - Wed march Baharestan Sq 4pm Mousavi will attend too #Iranelectionabout 7 hours ago from web
24.
yesterday we saw a 10 years old child die from teargas in his face - #Iranelection - could not film becos militia everywhereabout 8 hours ago from web
25.
travelling thru Tehran now is worse than Bagdad - any moment u can be beaten or arrested - #Iranelectionabout 8 hours ago from web
26.
some embassys provided protection b4 but now they are all surrounded by militia - also if u are injured then they arrest u - #Iranelectionabout 8 hours ago from web
27.
also one of us is badly injured and we cannot take to hospital - treating with trusted doctor contacts but needs hosp - #Iranelectionabout 8 hours ago from web
28.
We are having difficulty getting updates to u as so many of our contacts been arrested - life here is v/v/dangerous now #Iranelection RT RTabout 8 hours ago from web
29.
Shirin Ebadi - Nobel Peace Laureat - calls for International Political sanctions against Iran Gov - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 9 hours ago from web
30.
Maryam Zolfeghar - journalist IRNA - arrested today - #Iranelectionabout 9 hours ago from web
31.
Mousavi - http://bit.ly/fmvIZ - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 9 hours ago from web
32.
Mousavi - no matter what the reaction of the Gov - the Bazaar will close or be at standstill - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 9 hours ago from web
33.
Mousavi - There is nothing to fear - if asked - YOU ARE ONLY GOING SHOPPING - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 9 hours ago from web
34.
Mousavi - the objective is to bring Tehran to standstill - millions of people go shopping but NOBODY SHOPPING - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 9 hours ago from web
35.
Mousavi - do NOT wear green - dress normally - bring your children - if stopped u are ONLY going shopping - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 9 hours ago from web
36.
Mousavi - stop all work and travel with friends & family toward Tehran Bazaar every day at 9am - #Iranelection breaking newsabout 9 hours ago from web
37.
Mousavi - From Today every morning at 9am WE ALL travel to Tehran Bazaar - whatever reaction from Gov - Bazaar will close #Iranelection RTabout 9 hours ago from web
38.
Mousavi - We will not expend any more energy talking to the Gov in the streets - we must change course #Iranelection breaking news RT RT RTabout 9 hours ago from web
39.
reports that Bazaars throughout main Iranian cities were mostly closed today for unofficial strike - #Iranelectionabout 9 hours ago from web
40.
تجمع در مقابل مجلس شورای اسلامی – چهارشنبه سوم تیر #Iranelection آقای موسوس ساعت 5 سخنرانی خواهند داشت.about 10 hours ago from web
41.
والسلام علي من التبع الهدي #Iranelection #Iran #Neda #Tehranabout 10 hours ago from web
42.
اسلام دین صلح است دین دوستی برادری نه برادر کشی #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 10 hours ago from web
43.
آیا همه دروغ می گویند اما صدا و سیما راست می گوید ! #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
44.
آیا صحنه های کتک زدن مردم عادی دروغ است ؟ #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
45.
چرا میترسید ؟ شماها وجدان دارید؟ شماها خدا می شناسید ؟ #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
46.
چرا سیستمهای ارتباطی را قطع کرده اید ؟؟ موبایل ,SMS , یاهو مسنجر اینترنت , پارازیت #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
47.
آیا چند میلیون انسان که همه از مردم هستند ارازل و اوباش می باشند ؟؟ #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
48.
کدام را باور کنند آنچه را که با چشمان خود دیده اند یا آنچه را که شما ها در صدا و سیما وارونه نشان میدهید #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 10 hours ago from web
49.
بیایید و ببینید در تهران چه میگذرد آیا چند میلیون انسان که همه از مردم هستند ارازل و اوباش می باشند ؟؟ #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 10 hours ago from web
50.
آیا شماها انسانید تا کی باید سکوت کرد آنهایی که در خانه نشسته اید و یا به خیابانها نمی آیید آیا شما ایرانی نیستید ؟ #Iranelection RTabout 10 hours ago from web
51.
چشمان ما دید که چگونه مردم را به حد کشت کتک میزدند چرا ؟ آیا اینجا ایران است ؟؟ #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
52.
چشمان همه دیروز در امیر آباد تهران شاهد بود که چطور یک کودک 10 ساله را با گاز اشک آور کشتند #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 10 hours ago from web
53.
ما آرام نخواهیم نشست هر شب در تمام میادین تهران دست به اعتراض خواهیم زد #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 10 hours ago from web
54.
از خون شهدا بترسید که آه آنها گریبان شما را خواهد گرفت #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 10 hours ago from web
55.
اسلام دین صلح است دین دوستی برادری نه برادر کشی #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
56.
امام حسین برای چه قیام کرد و کشته شد ؟؟؟ #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 10 hours ago from web
57.
چرا ما نمی توانیم بگوییم رای ما چه شد ؟ چرا ما نمی توانیم بگوییم چرا مردم را می کشید ؟ #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 10 hours ago from web
58.
ما تا کی باید ساکت بنشینیم و نتوانیم اعتراض کنیم ؟ چرا اعتراض ما را به اسلام و خدا نسبت می دهند ؟ #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
59.
ما مخالف نظام و اسلام نیستیم . ما از خود شما هستیم , ما همه مسلمانیم , ایرانی هستیم #Iranelectionabout 10 hours ago from web
60.
reports of large pro-Gov Baseej militia in front of UK embassy Tehran - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
61.
ppl not sure if national strike today - many busineses closed - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
62.
political prisoners being tortured to deny support for Sea of Green - #Iranelection - prison sourceabout 12 hours ago from web
63.
all over Tehran on walls is written 'death to the dictator' - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
64.
The streets of all major citys in Iran is like war time - civil unrest EVERYWHERE - #Iranelection support for Sea of Green EVERYWHEREabout 12 hours ago from web
65.
journalist sources - any reports published in Iran are censored in full by Gov first - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
66.
This is militia and what they are doing in Iran to ppl - http://bit.ly/bAvTZ - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 12 hours ago from web
67.
Neda - http://bit.ly/WD9tC - #Iranelection RT RT RTabout 12 hours ago from web
68.
yesterday - hundreds of thousands of cars in Tehran streets with lights on to show support for Sea of Green - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
69.
Militia all over Tehran on motorbike beating pedestrians for no reason - #Iranelection - to frightened peopleabout 12 hours ago from web
70.
Gov demos outside UK embassy in Tehran today shouting 'death to England' - 'death to BBC' - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
71.
Khamenei to address the world at Friday prayers this week again - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
72.
players of IRI national football team banned from speaking to press after wearing green armbands in Korea game - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
73.
student of Ferdows Uni - Ashkan Zehabian in a coma for past 5 days after being beaten by Militia - #Iranelectionabout 12 hours ago from web
74.
news: all staff & journalists at Kalame Newspaper arrested last night - #Iranelectionabout 13 hours ago from web
75.
The process is slow - but certain - when Rafsanjani speaks - he will be heard - #Iranelection endabout 13 hours ago from web
76.
When all positions clear - Rafsanjani has the military, financial & clerical power to mobilise - #Iranelection cont...(12)about 13 hours ago from web
77.
Rafsanjani is allowing Revolutionary Guard commanders to choose their side - with ppl or against - #Iranelection cont...(11) trusted or notabout 13 hours ago from web
78.
Rafsanjani is standing back to see who is who - who support who - to see who is trusted - #Iranelection cont....(10)about 13 hours ago from web
79.
Rafsanjani is slowly eroding support for Khamenei from behind scene - #Iranelection cont....(9)about 13 hours ago from web
80.
Rafsanjani is also waiting for wave of support to grow both in & out of country - #Iranelection cont....(8)about 13 hours ago from web
81.
Rafsanjani is waiting 4 Gov to show world extent of their suppression of ppls - #Iranelection cont...(7)about 13 hours ago from web
82.
Until today Rafsanjani has remained silent about elections fraud in Iran - #Iranelection cont...(6) - this silence is v/importantabout 13 hours ago from web
83.
Ppl of Iran know that Rafsanjani opposes Khamenei and ANejad - #Iranelection cont...(5) - there is big division btween them for past 10yrsabout 13 hours ago from web
84.
Rafsanjani is possibly most powerful man in Iran - he has support of army and many of Revolutionary Guard - #Iranelection cont...(4)about 13 hours ago from web
85.
During elections ANejad attak reputation of Rafsanjani on behalf of Khamenei - #Iranelection cont...(3)about 13 hours ago from web
86.
Rafsanjani is head of Guardians who appointed Khamenei - He has power to remove him too - #Iranelection cont...(2)about 13 hours ago from web
87.
At Friday prayers last wk Khamenei named Rafsanjani - it is very unusual to name anyone at Friday prayers - #Iranelection cont... (1)about 13 hours ago from web
88.
Mousavi has called for largest March of Sea of Green on Thurs in Tehran in memory of the martyrs - #Iranelectionabout 13 hours ago from web
89.
ری/ تاج زاده، امین زاده،رمضان زاده، ابطحی و سایر بازداشت شدگان به شدت برای اعترافات ساختگی تلویزیونی تحت فشار هستند #iranelectionabout 22 hours ago from web
90.
please remember always - Sea of Green is voice of people of Iran - we will resist and defend with our life - #Iranelection Allah Akbarabout 22 hours ago from web
91.
one of our ppl is injured badly by Militia - this was unprovoked attack - #Iranelectionabout 22 hours ago from web
92.
Again we say thank you to our friends who are helping from outside - you know who you are - Sea of Green - #Iranelectionabout 22 hours ago from web
93.
now it is very late here and we must rest - tomorrow will another long day #Iranelectionabout 22 hours ago from web
94.
Tehran hospital caualty levels very high - hospital source - #Iranelectionabout 22 hours ago from web
95.
Tonight there was sound of guns in several parts of Tehran - #Iranelection - inc Shahrak Gharb, Tehran Pars and Gheytariehabout 22 hours ago from web
96.
In Tehran there is unofficial martial law at night - #Iranelection about 22 hours ago from web
97.
Rafsanjani controls much of the army - until now he is silent - after trigger event he will act #Iranelection about 22 hours ago from web
98.
2009 will be a long summer of suffering for Iran - but Sea of Green will change Iran forever - #Iranelection about 22 hours ago from web
99.
today Gov hackers broke into our profile - after several hours of hard work we hacked back into our own profile - #Iranelection about 22 hours ago from web
100.
واکنش های گسترده به حوادث ایران؛ درخواست بان کی مون: دبیر کل سازمان ملل خواستار توقف بازداشت ها، http://bit.ly/wT8ur #iranelection about 22 hours ago from web
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