A weblog launched yesterday is encouraging web users to print t-shirts with a parody of the Google logo that reads Goolag. A higher resolution verion of the logo can be found here, or in vector format here. Such a juxtaposition of words will be seen as extreme to some, but to others will point out some of the many human rights atrocities that have occured in the People’s Republic. It is just one of the many ways people across the internet are making their voice heard over Google’s decision to it’s search services to enable the search engine to formerly launch in China with Google.cn.

Google’s official response to the protests against their launch can be read on the Google blog. However this paragraph neatly summarises their approach:

For several years, we’ve debated whether entering the Chinese market at this point in history could be consistent with our mission and values. Our executives have spent a lot of time in recent months talking with many people, ranging from those who applaud the Chinese government for its embrace of a market economy and its lifting of 400 million people out of poverty to those who disagree with many of the Chinese government’s policies, but who wish the best for China and its people. We ultimately reached our decision by asking ourselves which course would most effectively further Google’s mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally useful and accessible. Or, put simply: how can we provide the greatest access to information to the greatest number of people?

UPDATE FROM ELENA: Last week Boeing announced that Air China will be introducing an in-flight internet service. Oh the irony.