[Advisors] FW: [ciresearchers] Fwd: [liberationtech] Wikipedia Black Out
michael gurstein
gurstein at gmail.com
Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:52:40 -0800
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_0022_01CCD4F5.66D9FD60
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
=20
-----Original Message-----
From: ciresearchers-owner@vancouvercommunity.net
[mailto:ciresearchers-owner@vancouvercommunity.net] On Behalf Of Douglas
Schuler
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 8:25 AM
To: Ciresearchers
Subject: [ciresearchers] Fwd: [liberationtech] Wikipedia Black Out
Begin forwarded message:
http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/English_Wikipedia_anti-SOPA_blackout =
=
<http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/English_Wikipedia_anti-SOPA_blackout=
>=20
To: English Wikipedia Readers and Community=20
From: Sue Gardner, Wikimedia Foundation Executive Director=20
Date: January 16, 2012=20
Today, the Wikipedia community announced
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Wikipedia:SOPA_initiative/Action> its
decision to black out the English-language Wikipedia for 24 hours,
worldwide, beginning at 05:00 UTC on Wednesday, January 18 (you can read =
the
statement
<http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Press_releases/English_Wikipedia_to_=
go_
dark> from the Wikimedia Foundation here). The blackout is a protest =
against
proposed legislation in the United States-the Stop Online
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Stop_Online_Piracy_Act> Piracy Act =
(SOPA)
in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the PROTECT IP Act
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:PROTECT_IP_Act> (PIPA) in the U.S.
Senate-that, if passed, would seriously damage the free and open =
Internet,
including Wikipedia.
This will be the first time the English Wikipedia has ever staged a =
public
protest of this nature, and it's a decision that wasn't lightly made. =
Here's
how it's been described by the three Wikipedia administrators who =
formally
facilitated the community's discussion. From the public
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Wikipedia:SOPA#Summary_and_conclusion>
statement, signed by User:NuclearWarfare, User:Risker and =
User:Billinghurst:
It is the opinion of the English Wikipedia community that both of these
bills, if passed, would be devastating to the free and open web.
Over the course of the past 72 hours, over 1800 Wikipedians have joined
together to discuss proposed actions that the community might wish to =
take
against SOPA and PIPA. This is by far the largest level of participation =
in
a community discussion ever seen on Wikipedia, which illustrates the =
level
of concern that Wikipedians feel about this proposed legislation. The
overwhelming majority of participants support community action to =
encourage
greater public action in response to these two bills. Of the proposals
considered by Wikipedians, those that would result in a "blackout" of =
the
English Wikipedia, in concert with similar blackouts on other websites
opposed to SOPA and PIPA, received the strongest support.
On careful review of this discussion, the closing administrators note =
the
broad-based support for action from Wikipedians around the world, not =
just
from within the United States. The primary objection to a global =
blackout
came from those who preferred that the blackout be limited to readers =
from
the United States, with the rest of the world seeing a simple banner =
notice
instead. We also noted that roughly 55% of those supporting a blackout
preferred that it be a global one, with many pointing to concerns about
similar legislation in other nations.
In making this decision, Wikipedians will be criticized for seeming to
abandon neutrality to take a political position. That's a real, =
legitimate
issue. We want people to trust Wikipedia, not worry that it is trying to
propagandize them.
But although Wikipedia's articles are neutral, its existence is not. As
Wikimedia Foundation board member Kat Walsh wrote on one of our mailing
lists recently,
We depend on a legal infrastructure that makes it possible for us to
operate. And we depend on a legal infrastructure that also allows other
sites to host user-contributed material, both information and =
expression.
For the most part, Wikimedia projects are organizing and summarizing and
collecting the world's knowledge. We're putting it in context, and =
showing
people how to make to sense of it.
But that knowledge has to be published somewhere for anyone to find and =
use
it. Where it can be censored without due process, it hurts the speaker, =
the
public, and Wikimedia. Where you can only speak if you have sufficient
resources to fight legal challenges, or, if your views are pre-approved =
by
someone who does, the same narrow set of ideas already popular will =
continue
to be all anyone has meaningful access to.
The decision to shut down the English Wikipedia wasn't made by me; it =
was
made by editors, through a consensus decision-making process. But I =
support
it.
Like Kat and the rest of the Wikimedia Foundation Board, I have =
increasingly
begun to think of Wikipedia's public voice, and the goodwill people have =
for
Wikipedia, as a resource that wants to be used for the benefit of the
public. Readers trust Wikipedia because they know that despite its =
faults,
Wikipedia's heart is in the right place. It's not aiming to monetize =
their
eyeballs or make them believe some particular thing, or sell them a =
product.
Wikipedia has no hidden agenda: it just wants to be helpful.
That's less true of other sites. Most are commercially motivated: their
purpose is to make money. That doesn't mean they don't have a desire to =
make
the world a better place-many do!-but it does mean that their positions =
and
actions need to be understood in the context of conflicting interests.
My hope is that when Wikipedia shuts down on January 18, people will
understand that we're doing it for our readers. We support everyone's =
right
to freedom of thought and freedom of expression. We think everyone =
should
have access to educational material on a wide range of subjects, even if
they can't pay for it. We believe in a free and open Internet where
information can be shared without impediment. We believe that new =
proposed
laws like SOPA-and PIPA, and other similar laws under discussion inside =
and
outside the United States-don't advance the interests of the general =
public.
You can read a very
<https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/01/how-pipa-and-sopa-violate-white-ho=
use
-principles-supporting-free-speech> good list of reasons to oppose SOPA =
and
PIPA here, from the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Why is this a global action, rather than US-only? And why now, if some
American legislators appear to be in tactical retreat on SOPA?
The reality is that we don't think SOPA is going away, and PIPA is still
quite active. Moreover, SOPA and PIPA are just indicators of a much =
broader
problem. All around the world, we're seeing the development of =
legislation
intended to fight online piracy, and regulate the Internet in other =
ways,
that hurt online freedoms. Our concern extends beyond SOPA and PIPA: =
they
are just part of the problem. We want the Internet to remain free and =
open,
everywhere, for everyone.
On January 18, we hope you'll agree with us, and will do what you can to
make your own voice heard.
Sue Gardner,
Executive Director, Wikimedia Foundation=20
___________________________
Anjney Midha
Stanford University | Undergaduate
_______________________________________________
liberationtech mailing list
liberationtech@lists.stanford.edu
Should you need to change your subscription options, please go to:
https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/liberationtech
If you would like to receive a daily digest, click "yes" (once you click
above) next to "would you like to receive list mail batched in a daily
digest?"
You will need the user name and password you receive from the list =
moderator
in monthly reminders.
Should you need immediate assistance, please contact the list moderator.
Please don't forget to follow us on http://twitter.com/#!/Liberationtech
Douglas Schuler
douglas@publicsphereproject.org
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
---
--
What Kind of an Activist Are YOU? Play Activist Mirror and find out!
http://apps.facebook.com/activist-mirror/
=20
Public Sphere Project
http://www.publicsphereproject.org/
Liberating Voices! A Pattern Language for Communication Revolution
(project)=20
http://www.publicsphereproject.org/patterns/
Liberating Voices! A Pattern Language for Communication Revolution =
(book)
http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=3D2
<http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=3D2&tid=3D11601>
&tid=3D11601
!DSPAM:2676,4f15a14e223771690199548!=20
------=_NextPart_000_0022_01CCD4F5.66D9FD60
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Dus-ascii">
<TITLE>Message</TITLE>
<META name=3DGENERATOR content=3D"MSHTML 9.00.8112.16440"></HEAD>
<BODY=20
style=3D"WORD-WRAP: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space">
<DIV><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2 face=3DArial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DTahoma>-----Original =
Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>=20
ciresearchers-owner@vancouvercommunity.net=20
[mailto:ciresearchers-owner@vancouvercommunity.net] <B>On Behalf Of =
</B>Douglas=20
Schuler<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, January 17, 2012 8:25 AM<BR><B>To:</B>=20
Ciresearchers<BR><B>Subject:</B> [ciresearchers] Fwd: [liberationtech] =
Wikipedia=20
Black Out<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><BR>
<DIV><BR>
<DIV>Begin forwarded message:</DIV><BR =
class=3DApple-interchange-newline>
<BLOCKQUOTE type=3D"cite">
<DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN: 0px"><FONT class=3DApple-style-span=20
color=3D#000000><B><BR></B></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px"><BR></DIV></DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"WORD-WRAP: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space"><A=20
=
href=3D"http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/English_Wikipedia_anti-SOPA_b=
lackout">http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/English_Wikipedia_anti-SOPA_=
blackout</A>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><A=20
=
href=3D"http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/English_Wikipedia_anti-SOPA_b=
lackout"></A>
<DIV=20
style=3D"WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: =
rgb(250,249,242); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; MARGIN: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; =
LETTER-SPACING: normal; FONT: 15px/1.5em sans-serif; WHITE-SPACE: =
normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; =
-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><B>To:=20
English Wikipedia Readers and Community <BR></B><B>From: Sue =
Gardner,=20
Wikimedia Foundation Executive Director <BR></B><B>Date: January =
16,=20
2012 <BR><BR></B></DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: =
rgb(250,249,242); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; MARGIN: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; =
LETTER-SPACING: normal; FONT: 15px/1.5em sans-serif; WHITE-SPACE: =
normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; =
-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">Today,=20
the Wikipedia community <A=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND-IMAGE: none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: =
0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: rgb(51,102,187); TEXT-DECORATION: none; =
PADDING-TOP: 0px; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial"=20
class=3Dextiw title=3D"w:en:Wikipedia:SOPA initiative/Action"=20
=
href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Wikipedia:SOPA_initiative/Action"=
>announced=20
its decision</A> to black out the English-language Wikipedia for =
24=20
hours, worldwide, beginning at 05:00 UTC on Wednesday, January 18 (you =
can=20
read the <A=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND-IMAGE: none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px !important; =
PADDING-LEFT: 0px !important; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px !important; COLOR: =
rgb(6,69,173); TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0px !important; =
background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial"=20
title=3D"Press releases/English Wikipedia to go dark"=20
=
href=3D"http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Press_releases/English_Wikipe=
dia_to_go_dark">statement=20
from the Wikimedia Foundation here</A>). The blackout is a protest =
against=20
proposed legislation in the United States—the <A=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND-IMAGE: none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: =
0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: rgb(51,102,187); TEXT-DECORATION: none; =
PADDING-TOP: 0px; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial"=20
class=3Dextiw title=3D"w:en:Stop Online Piracy Act"=20
href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Stop_Online_Piracy_Act">Stop =
Online=20
Piracy Act (SOPA)</A> in the U.S. House of Representatives, and=20
the <A=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND-IMAGE: none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: =
0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: rgb(51,102,187); TEXT-DECORATION: none; =
PADDING-TOP: 0px; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial"=20
class=3Dextiw title=3D"w:en:PROTECT IP Act"=20
href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:PROTECT_IP_Act">PROTECT IP Act =
(PIPA)</A> in the U.S. Senate—that, if passed, would =
seriously damage the=20
free and open Internet, including Wikipedia.</DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: =
rgb(250,249,242); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; MARGIN: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; =
LETTER-SPACING: normal; FONT: 15px/1.5em sans-serif; WHITE-SPACE: =
normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; =
-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">This=20
will be the first time the English Wikipedia has ever staged a public =
protest=20
of this nature, and it’s a decision that wasn’t lightly =
made. Here’s how it’s=20
been described by the three Wikipedia administrators who formally =
facilitated=20
the community’s discussion. From the <A=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND-IMAGE: none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: =
0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: rgb(51,102,187); TEXT-DECORATION: none; =
PADDING-TOP: 0px; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial"=20
class=3Dextiw title=3Dw:en:Wikipedia:SOPA=20
=
href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Wikipedia:SOPA#Summary_and_conclu=
sion">public=20
statement</A>, signed by User:NuclearWarfare, User:Risker and=20
User:Billinghurst:<I></I></DIV><I=20
style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px; WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; =
BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(250,249,242); FONT-VARIANT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: =
0px; LETTER-SPACING: normal; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; WHITE-SPACE: =
normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-SIZE: 15px; FONT-WEIGHT: =
normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; =
-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">
<DL style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: 0.2em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em">
<DD style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.1em; MARGIN-LEFT: =
2em">
<DL style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: 0.2em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em">
<DD style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.1em; =
MARGIN-LEFT: 2em">It=20
is the opinion of the English Wikipedia community that both of =
these=20
bills, if passed, would be devastating to the free and open=20
web.</DD></DL></DD></DL>
<DL style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: 0.2em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em">
<DD style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.1em; MARGIN-LEFT: =
2em">
<DL style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: 0.2em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em">
<DD=20
style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.1em; MARGIN-LEFT: =
2em">Over=20
the course of the past 72 hours, over 1800 Wikipedians have joined =
together to discuss proposed actions that the community might wish =
to take=20
against SOPA and PIPA. This is by far the largest level of =
participation=20
in a community discussion ever seen on Wikipedia, which =
illustrates the=20
level of concern that Wikipedians feel about this proposed =
legislation.=20
The overwhelming majority of participants support community action =
to=20
encourage greater public action in response to these two bills. Of =
the=20
proposals considered by Wikipedians, those that would result in a=20
“blackout” of the English Wikipedia, in concert with =
similar blackouts on=20
other websites opposed to SOPA and PIPA, received the strongest=20
support.</DD></DL></DD></DL>
<DL style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: 0.2em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em">
<DD style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.1em; MARGIN-LEFT: =
2em">
<DL style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: 0.2em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em">
<DD style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.1em; =
MARGIN-LEFT: 2em">On=20
careful review of this discussion, the closing administrators note =
the=20
broad-based support for action from Wikipedians around the world, =
not just=20
from within the United States. The primary objection to a global =
blackout=20
came from those who preferred that the blackout be limited to =
readers from=20
the United States, with the rest of the world seeing a simple =
banner=20
notice instead. We also noted that roughly 55% of those supporting =
a=20
blackout preferred that it be a global one, with many pointing to =
concerns=20
about similar legislation in other =
nations.</DD></DL></DD></DL></I>
<DIV=20
style=3D"WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: =
rgb(250,249,242); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; MARGIN: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; =
LETTER-SPACING: normal; FONT: 15px/1.5em sans-serif; WHITE-SPACE: =
normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; =
-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: =
0px"><I></I>In=20
making this decision, Wikipedians will be criticized for seeming to =
abandon=20
neutrality to take a political position. That’s a real, =
legitimate issue. We=20
want people to trust Wikipedia, not worry that it is trying to =
propagandize=20
them.</DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: =
rgb(250,249,242); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; MARGIN: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; =
LETTER-SPACING: normal; FONT: 15px/1.5em sans-serif; WHITE-SPACE: =
normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; =
-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">But=20
although Wikipedia’s articles are neutral, its existence is not. =
As Wikimedia=20
Foundation board member Kat Walsh wrote on one of our mailing lists=20
recently,<I></I></DIV><I=20
style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 19px; WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; =
BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(250,249,242); FONT-VARIANT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: =
0px; LETTER-SPACING: normal; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; WHITE-SPACE: =
normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-SIZE: 15px; FONT-WEIGHT: =
normal; WORD-SPACING: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; =
-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">
<DL style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: 0.2em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em">
<DD style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.1em; MARGIN-LEFT: =
2em">
<DL style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: 0.2em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em">
<DD style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.1em; =
MARGIN-LEFT: 2em">We=20
depend on a legal infrastructure that makes it possible for us to =
operate.=20
And we depend on a legal infrastructure that also allows other =
sites to=20
host user-contributed material, both information and expression. =
For the=20
most part, Wikimedia projects are organizing and summarizing and=20
collecting the world’s knowledge. We’re putting it in =
context, and showing=20
people how to make to sense of it.</DD></DL></DD></DL>
<DL style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: 0.2em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em">
<DD style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.1em; MARGIN-LEFT: =
2em">
<DL style=3D"MARGIN-TOP: 0.2em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.5em">
<DD style=3D"LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5em; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.1em; =
MARGIN-LEFT: 2em">But=20
that knowledge has to be published somewhere for anyone to find =
and use=20
it. Where it can be censored without due process, it hurts the =
speaker,=20
the public, and Wikimedia. Where you can only speak if you have =
sufficient=20
resources to fight legal challenges, or, if your views are =
pre-approved by=20
someone who does, the same narrow set of ideas already popular =
will=20
continue to be all anyone has meaningful access =
to.</DD></DL></DD></DL></I>
<DIV=20
style=3D"WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: =
rgb(250,249,242); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; MARGIN: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; =
LETTER-SPACING: normal; FONT: 15px/1.5em sans-serif; WHITE-SPACE: =
normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; =
-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: =
0px"><I></I>The=20
decision to shut down the English Wikipedia wasn’t made by me; =
it was made by=20
editors, through a consensus decision-making process. But I support =
it.</DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: =
rgb(250,249,242); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; MARGIN: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; =
LETTER-SPACING: normal; FONT: 15px/1.5em sans-serif; WHITE-SPACE: =
normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; =
-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">Like=20
Kat and the rest of the Wikimedia Foundation Board, I have =
increasingly begun=20
to think of Wikipedia’s public voice, and the goodwill people =
have for=20
Wikipedia, as a resource that wants to be used for the benefit of the =
public.=20
Readers trust Wikipedia because they know that despite its faults, =
Wikipedia’s=20
heart is in the right place. It’s not aiming to monetize their =
eyeballs or=20
make them believe some particular thing, or sell them a product. =
Wikipedia has=20
no hidden agenda: it just wants to be helpful.</DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: =
rgb(250,249,242); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; MARGIN: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; =
LETTER-SPACING: normal; FONT: 15px/1.5em sans-serif; WHITE-SPACE: =
normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; =
-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: =
0px">That’s=20
less true of other sites. Most are commercially motivated: their =
purpose is to=20
make money. That doesn’t mean they don’t have a desire to =
make the world a=20
better place—many do!—but it does mean that their =
positions and actions need=20
to be understood in the context of conflicting interests.</DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: =
rgb(250,249,242); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; MARGIN: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; =
LETTER-SPACING: normal; FONT: 15px/1.5em sans-serif; WHITE-SPACE: =
normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; =
-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">My=20
hope is that when Wikipedia shuts down on January 18, people will =
understand=20
that we’re doing it for our readers. We support everyone’s =
right to freedom of=20
thought and freedom of expression. We think everyone should have =
access to=20
educational material on a wide range of subjects, even if they =
can’t pay for=20
it. We believe in a free and open Internet where information can be =
shared=20
without impediment. We believe that new proposed laws like =
SOPA—and PIPA, and=20
other similar laws under discussion inside and outside the United =
States—don’t=20
advance the interests of the general public. You can read a <A=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND-IMAGE: =
url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAA=
AGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAIVJREFUeF6tjzsKg0AQhi09=
mimsFJLCzpNYCGKbK3gAtfUIljaCoKCCZIs8MMV2v+yCg8siWlh8zOtjhjEAEFmeIopDQtTrT=
JNEZIxhWysiNfULJFJjDzGnba/aBt4+wAuBzD+tg6a8SVkXf4GET96xmDxNzP39IvE/PPDtXI=
yVpYinv14A5F0laJ8oYFgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=3D); PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px =
!important; PADDING-LEFT: 0px !important; PADDING-RIGHT: 13px; =
BACKGROUND-POSITION: 0% 0%; COLOR: rgb(51,102,187); TEXT-DECORATION: =
none; PADDING-TOP: 0px !important; background-origin: initial; =
background-clip: initial"=20
class=3D"external text"=20
=
href=3D"https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/01/how-pipa-and-sopa-violate-w=
hite-house-principles-supporting-free-speech">very=20
good list</A> of reasons to oppose SOPA and PIPA here, from the=20
Electronic Frontier Foundation.</DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: =
rgb(250,249,242); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; MARGIN: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; =
LETTER-SPACING: normal; FONT: 15px/1.5em sans-serif; WHITE-SPACE: =
normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; =
-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">Why=20
is this a global action, rather than US-only? And why now, if some =
American=20
legislators appear to be in tactical retreat on SOPA?</DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: =
rgb(250,249,242); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; MARGIN: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; =
LETTER-SPACING: normal; FONT: 15px/1.5em sans-serif; WHITE-SPACE: =
normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; =
-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">The=20
reality is that we don’t think SOPA is going away, and PIPA is =
still quite=20
active. Moreover, SOPA and PIPA are just indicators of a much broader =
problem.=20
All around the world, we're seeing the development of legislation =
intended to=20
fight online piracy, and regulate the Internet in other ways, that =
hurt online=20
freedoms. Our concern extends beyond SOPA and PIPA: they are just part =
of the=20
problem. We want the Internet to remain free and open, everywhere, for =
everyone.</DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"Z-INDEX: auto; POSITION: static; WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: =
none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(250,249,242); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; MARGIN: =
0.4em 0px 0.5em; LETTER-SPACING: normal; FONT: 15px/1.5em sans-serif; =
WHITE-SPACE: normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; =
-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">On=20
January 18, we hope you’ll agree with us, and will do what you =
can to make=20
your own voice heard.</DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"Z-INDEX: auto; POSITION: static; WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: =
none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(250,249,242); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; MARGIN: =
0.4em 0px 0.5em; LETTER-SPACING: normal; FONT: 15px/1.5em sans-serif; =
WHITE-SPACE: normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; =
-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><B>Sue=20
Gardner,</B><BR>Executive Director, Wikimedia =
Foundation <BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"WORD-WRAP: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space">
<DIV=20
style=3D"WORD-WRAP: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space">
<DIV>___________________________</DIV>
<DIV>Anjney Midha</DIV>
<DIV>Stanford University | Undergaduate</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV></DIV><BR class=3DApple-interchange-newline></DIV><BR=20
class=3DApple-interchange-newline><BR=20
=
class=3DApple-interchange-newline></DIV><BR></DIV></DIV>_________________=
______________________________<BR>liberationtech=20
mailing list<BR><A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:liberationtech@lists.stanford.edu">liberationtech@lists.st=
anford.edu</A><BR><BR>Should=20
you need to change your subscription options, please go=20
=
to:<BR><BR>https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/liberationtech<B=
R><BR>If=20
you would like to receive a daily digest, click "yes" (once you click =
above)=20
next to "would you like to receive list mail batched in a daily=20
digest?"<BR><BR>You will need the user name and password you receive =
from the=20
list moderator in monthly reminders.<BR><BR>Should you need immediate=20
assistance, please contact the list moderator.<BR><BR>Please don't =
forget to=20
follow us on =
http://twitter.com/#!/Liberationtech</BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR>
<DIV apple-content-edited=3D"true"><SPAN=20
style=3D"WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; =
LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; FONT: medium =
Helvetica; WHITE-SPACE: normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); =
WORD-SPACING: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; =
-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; =
-webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; =
-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none"=20
class=3DApple-style-span>
<DIV=20
style=3D"WORD-WRAP: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space"><SPAN=20
style=3D"WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; =
LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; FONT: medium =
Helvetica; WHITE-SPACE: normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); =
WORD-SPACING: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; =
-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; =
-webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; =
-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none"=20
class=3DApple-style-span>
<DIV=20
style=3D"WORD-WRAP: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space"><SPAN=20
style=3D"WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; =
LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; FONT: 12px Helvetica; =
WHITE-SPACE: normal; ORPHANS: 2; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; =
-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; =
-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: =
0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none"=20
class=3DApple-style-span>
<DIV=20
style=3D"WORD-WRAP: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space">
<DIV>Douglas Schuler</DIV>
<DIV><A=20
href=3D"mailto:douglas@publicsphereproject.org">douglas@publicsphereproje=
ct.org</A></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>--------------------------------------------------------------------=
----------</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">What Kind of an Activist Are YOU?=20
Play Activist Mirror and find out!</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN: 0px"> <A=20
href=3D"http://apps.facebook.com/activist-mirror/">http://apps.facebook.c=
om/activist-mirror/</A></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN: 0px"> </DIV>
<DIV>Public Sphere Project</DIV>
<DIV> <A=20
href=3D"http://www.publicsphereproject.org/">http://www.publicsphereproje=
ct.org/</A></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Liberating Voices! A Pattern Language for Communication=20
Revolution (project) </DIV>
<DIV> <A=20
href=3D"http://www.publicsphereproject.org/patterns/">http://www.publicsp=
hereproject.org/patterns/</A></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>Liberating Voices! A Pattern Language for Communication=20
Revolution (book)</DIV>
<DIV> <A=20
href=3D"http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=3D2&ti=
d=3D11601">http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=3D2&=
;tid=3D11601</A></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DI=
V></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV></DIV></SPAN><BR =
class=3DApple-interchange-newline></DIV></SPAN><BR=20
class=3DApple-interchange-newline></DIV></SPAN><BR=20
class=3DApple-interchange-newline></DIV><BR>!DSPAM:2676,4f15a14e223771690=
199548!=20
</BODY></HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_0022_01CCD4F5.66D9FD60--