Communication Rights: Use Them or Lose Them
Free Speech, Democracy and You
Do you care about peace, environment, or social issues? What sources do you depend on in both your personal and community life to inform, connect and empower? And what would happen if those sources disappeared or were taken over by self-serving corporate or government interests?
"The last few months have seen numerous attacks on independent media by the US Federal Government."
Last Thursday, the FBI seized two Indymedia-UK computers. According to the Independent Media Centre, commonly known as Indymedia, the result was the shutdown of twenty independent news websites across Europe and elsewhere.
The seizure came only days before the European Social Forum, Europe's major civil society gathering, in which Indymedia has a significant role. Ironically, Indymedia is also scheduled to participate in the European Forum on Communications Rights, concerning issues of electronic civil liberties and independent media.
"It is unclear to Indymedia how and why a server that is outside the US jurisdiction can be seized by US authorities."*
Power corrupts. In these times of govenment clampdowns on civil rights, and the ongoing struggle between popular and corporate control of the Internet, can we take free speech or even democracy itself for granted?
What can one do? There are many fun, inspiring and important ways you can help big or small. As little as a few minutes a day can help lead to a more communicative, less violent, more sustainable world... here.
posted by Netwoman @ 8:15 PM
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