On November 3rd Google celebrated the Breaking Borders event- a commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

To follow-on from the event, Google has now launched a YouTube Channel dedicated to promote and discuss freedom of expression on the internet. The address is www.youtube.de/googlefreeexpression. Internet users from around the world have been invited to upload their videos onto this channel and share stories about how the internet has changed the way we express ourselves.

Below: An interview with Ehsan Norouzi (Iranian Journalist) about Freedom of Expression on the internet. (Google Event “Breaking Borders, 03. November 2009. Berlin)

This channel will also serve as a central venue for the Breaking Borders Award which Google co-hosts with Global Voices*. The prize recognises outstanding webprojects by individuals or groups who have shown courage, energy and resourcefulness in using the internet to promote freedom of expression, making us aware of diverse political viewpoints and standing up to those who censor information.

The deadline for the awards has now been extended until the 15th February 2010. A committee of experts will analyse and announce winners of the prize together with Global Voices Advocacy at their conference in early 2010.

The prize will honour work in three categories each awarded with USD $10,000:

• Tools that promote Freedom of Expression
• Outstanding work on Policy
• Activism or Journalism that contributed an important voice or argument

Google sets out the campaign’s vision on the Breaking Borders website:

As part of Google’s mission to organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful, we want to commend online actors that are making the public aware of some of the social and political challenges we continue to face today.

As you go through the videos you realise quickly how far we have come as a society and indeed how much further we need to go to achieve true freedom of expression in  the world.To view the channel click on the logo below.

*Global Voices represent an excellent organisation of over 200 bloggers and citizen journalists worldwide