Post date: Feb 26, 2011 10:35:17 PM
Two Libyan activists construct a live streaming station to feed video material via a satellite dish, enabling media channels to overcome the withdrawal by the authorities of internet services.
BENGHAZI, LIBYA (FEBRUARY 25, 2011) REUTERS - Inspired by the uprising of thousands of Libyan youths against the rule of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, two young activists in Benghazi have set up an innovative live streaming station to feed video material via a satellite dish.
The temporary streaming station has enabled many media channels to overcome the regime's deliberate
cutting of internet services across the country, which has hampered the international media's reporting efforts.Zoheer al-Barasy had filmed various protests in recent weeks in Benghazi, Libya's second city, using both still and moving cameras. But the activist said he faced obstacles in uploading the material and sending it to media organisations.
During an anti-Gaddafi protest outside Benghazi courthouse on February 19, al-Barasy spotted a large satellite dish on the roof of the courthouse. Hurrying on to the court roof he called his friend Mohamed Ahmed to help him set up a live streaming station.
They then installed four camera angles nearby that would allow free 24-hour-a-day coverage of the protests for any TV channel that wished to use the footage.
On Friday (February 25) al-Barasy revealed his reasons for setting up the streaming. "The story is not only a live stream station. We want to let the world know that people are being killed, people are being slaughtered here and there is excessive use of weapons," he said.
The station has also been hit by the regime's cutting of internet services, but al-Barasy says he is proud of the actions of he and Ahmed in bringing their concerns to a world-wide audience.