Down But Not Out/internet

Freedom of Information

In this, The Age of Information, it is essential that everyone gain unrestricted access to the internet. It is worrisome that a huge proportion of Canadian and American citizens do not have access to a broadband internet connection. This phenomenon is called the Digital Divide since it essentially divides those who do not have access from effectively being able to participate fully in today’s society.

The current battle which threatens to eliminate all effective activism really has me terrified. All the major ISP's are doing their worst to eliminate net neutrality. If they succeed, the internet will become like all mainstream media, a source of propaganda for the elite that ignores everything that the people have to say. I'm working on a new page for my website that will deal exclusively with the internet and how it must be protected as the ONLY means for the common people to voice their concerns.

The recent proposals by British and French governments to curtail access to the internet arbitrarily and without due process of law to people who they deem unworthy is a first step towards widespread censorship of the internet.

All peoples, particularly activists should be concerned about the expanding threats to our ability to communicate broadly, for if these measures are allowed to proceed, civilization will be set back to the Twentieth Century where the only means of communicating ideas broadly was held by the elite and all ordinary citizens were virtually silenced. We must oppose our RIGHT to free, open and unrestricted access to the internet. Censorship in any form must not be allowed.

Digital photoArt by Ronzig and comments on how to use the internet to take back our planet from the fat cats. Up until the internet, all the power was in the hands of the rich and powerful. Now everyone can be heard. You can comment on content seen on this page by going to the bottom of the page. Every page on the site will have a comment section at the bottom.

Create your own free website

Yola is a free, easy to use website creation and hosting service, featuring wyswyg technology and simple widgets for applying special functions to your site. Their support service is the best I’ve seen on the web. They always reply to my questions within 24 hours with simple, easy to follow instructions to guide me through some of the advanced features on my site. I highly recommend this service to anyone wishing to create a highly functional website to broadcast their message to the world.

Don't rely on internet based file storage services

Given the current drive to convince people and companies to store their information files on a remote server to be accessed via the internet and given the additional drive to discourage them from purchasing software and opt for internet based software usage contracts, The se people should be extremely worried about the threat to web neutrality. If you have both your files and your software hosted remotely for access via the internet and net neutrality is eliminated, you could be held for ransom when the ISP decides to support a competitor to your hosting service and prevent access to your service. You could lose all access to both your files and your ability to use your software without warning.

For more information about how this will affect your internet use go to… 

http://saveournet.ca

http://netneutrality.ca/

www.coanews.org/netfreedom

http://www.savetheinternet.com/

www.wearetheweb.org

http://www.internetforeveryone.org/

www.google.com/help/netneutrality.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_neutrality

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The Death of The Internet? | COA News

Neutrality

SaveOurNet.ca | Protecting your Internet level playing field

Public Knowledge | Fighting for your digital rights in Washington. 

The Internet Is Free For Everyone

Three years ago, I was internet illiterate. I didn’t even know how to set up an email account, let alone understand what a wonderful means of one on one communication it is. Today I have numerous websites with thousands of visitors, friends who share my ideals all around the world and dozens of people who check in daily to see what I have to say and it’s all free.

There is no faster, easier, less costly way possible to reach out and share your ideas with thousands of new friends.

If you care about an issue, you owe it to yourself and to the world to get involved on the internet. Get a free email account, set up a free website, find other websites that share your concerns and link them to yours.

You don’t even need a computer. Most libraries, community centres and drop in centres have computers you can use and there are plenty of free computers available from individuals and organizations to help you get started. People who update to a newer computer often throw their older, still useful computers in the garbage. Every year I salvage several of these and give them to people who need them. You can contact me at ronzig@rogers.com if you would like one from me, or if you need advise on getting started.

Most libraries and community centres also hold free workshops to help you learn the basics you will need to get going.

When you are getting started there is a large selection of free software a, called freeware or shareware available to download.

You can find sources for pirate ware if you look. If the large software companies such as Microsoft had any social conscience what so ever, they would make free versions of their products available to everyone on a limited income. It would be a good business move because the people who receive these free compact versions would become paying customers when they could afford to upgrade to the full commercial versions.

There is nothing to fear and everything to gain. There is virtually no mistake you can make that can cause irreparable damage if you remember to back up your files. Most people know someone who will help fix a problem for free and free advice is available on the internet for any eventuality. The myth of clicking the wrong button and destroying your computer is just that, A Myth. Sure, you can make a few mistakes now and then, but they aren’t as horrible as you might think. Any time I find something I don’t understand, I try it. If it causes a problem, I figure out how to fix it or ask someone on the internet or in person. Now there is very little I can’t fix myself and I spend a good deal of time helping others who are learning, just as I received help when I was learning.

So get involved. Let others know what you care about and you will be amazed how many people share your concerns. You will even introduce your ideas to people who never thought like you before, but become persuaded to support your cause.

If you want to make a difference, this is the best way to do it. Give it a try.

Govt threatens to cut Internet

My concern with this news is that if we allow government to deny access to the internet for ANY reason whatsoever, we are taking a giant leap in the direction of countries like China where freedom of speech is censored routinely. I don’t defend piracy, but there are better ways to deal with the phenomenon than censorship. Once government opens that door the temptation to use denial of service as an easy tool to curtail other more valid uses of the Internet that may be objectionable to the people in power such as open criticism or opposition to policies or actions of government would be the next step. It is a historically proven fact that once government obtains a power, for whatever reason, they soon find ways to utilize that power in ways that were never intended at the outset. There are ways that are within reach to battle piracy without resorting to draconian measures that open the door to censorship. Let the government if it is so concerned about piracy deal with it in a fashion that does not threaten freedom of information. The proposed action is based on laziness. It’s the easy way out and is not acceptable.  What happened to the concept of presumed innocence until proven guilty in a court of law? Citizens must never allow government to act arbitrarily, without due process. That is the action of dictatorship and must be prevented at all costs.

Govt threatens to cut Internet

LONDON (AFP) - The government said hardcore online pirates who illegally swap and download copyrighted films and music could have their Internet connection cut off, in proposals announced on Tuesday.

The threatened measure, which would go beyond previous proposals and has strong similarities to a proposed French law, could be brought in soon to tackle illegal downloaders file-sharing en masse.

The government is "considering adding account suspension to the list of technical measures that could be used only as a last resort against the hard core of copyright pirates," said a spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Internet service providers (ISPs) could be forced to take action against individual repeat offenders, the spokesman added, while access to download sites could be blocked.

The previous proposals being considered by the government only went as far as restricting Internet users' broadband access speed.

Stephen Timms, the minister for the Digital Britain project, which aims to put the country at the forefront of digital innovation, said the new plans would allow "swifter and more flexible measures" to tackle illegal file-sharing.

"Technology and consumer behaviour is fast-changing and it's important that Ofcom (the communications industry regulator) has the flexibility to respond quickly to deal with unlawful file-sharing," said Timms.

The British Phonographic Industry recorded music trade body said the plans were a helpful move in the battle against online pirates.

"Digital piracy is a serious problem and a real threat to the UK's creative industries," said BPI chief executive Geoff Taylor.

"We welcome the government's recognition that this problem needs to be addressed urgently, so today is a step forward that should help the legal digital market to grow for consumers."

But Jim Killock, head of civil liberties campaigners Open Rights Group, said the measures would "restrict people's fundamental right to freedom of expression.

"This is the wrong moment to go in this direction. Online music revenues are going up, illicit filesharing is going down.

"Instead of letting the market solve the problems, the government seems intent on heavy-handed intervention."

The threat to cut off Internet access follows similar moves in France, where President Nicolas Sarkozy has been struggling to get such a measure past constitutional experts and hostile lawmakers.

France's Constitutional Council, its highest legal body, struck down a key provision of the law forcing the government to table a new bill which will now be put to a vote by parliament next month.

My concern with this news is that if we allow government to deny access to the internet for ANY reason whatsoever, we are taking a giant leap in the direction of countries like China where freedom of speech is censored routinely. I don’t defend piracy, but there are better ways to deal with the phenomenon than censorship. Once government opens that door the temptation to use denial of service as an easy tool to curtail other more valid uses of the Internet that may be objectionable to the people in power such as open criticism or opposition to policies or actions of government would be the next step. It is a historically proven fact that once government obtains a power, for whatever reason, they soon find ways to utilize that power in ways that were never intended at the outset. There are ways that are within reach to battle piracy without resorting to draconian measures that open the door to censorship. Let the government if it is so concerned about piracy deal with it in a fashion that does not threaten freedom of information. The proposed action is based on laziness. It’s the easy way out and is not acceptable.

About Viruses

 Most viruses spread by attaching themselves to files you install on your computer from the internet such as email messages from unknown sources (NEVER OPEN ONE, just send it to your spam folder and empty that regularly), or from file sharing services (you shouldn’t use them at all), or from porn sites (not only are they a poor alternative to the real thing, but they are a major source of viruses), or from forwarded messages with large numbers of recipients (discourage your friends from forwarding any of these to you).

If you use caution in these areas, the odds are that you will never be plagued with a virus infection.

Beware, Big Brother Is Here

There is a trend today towards web based computing and storage of information. Experts predict that soon all data will be stored on the web and all processing will be done over the web. They say that we won’t need computers any more and will only use dumb terminals to access our information and link to online computers to do our computations. This sounds like a good idea at first. No more expense of purchasing software and only minimal expense for the necessary hardware. No more difficult learning curves and technical problems to frustrate and thwart our efforts. Sounds too good to be true, you say. Well you’re right. There’s a major and obvious downside. He who controls information rules. The experts predict that in only a few years ALL INFORMATION AND PROCESSING WILL BE WEB BASED. The danger here is that people don’t really understand what the web is. Basically the web is Google and Yahoo and a few others. For instance, Google is not just a search engine. Primarily Google is an information and data storage facility. You got it yet? EVERYTHING AND I MEAN EVERYTHING ON THE INTERNET IS STORED ON A GIANT COMPUTER OWNED BY GOOGLE. Google and others like it ARE THE INTERNET. Now if everyone stops storing his own data and just uploads it to the internet and if we all give up owning our computing in favour of web based data processing, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A FEW OF THE LARGEST OF THESE INTERNET COMPANIES CAME UNDER CONTROL OF OR BECAME AN AUTHORITARIAN POWER? The answer is simple. THEY WOULD RULE THE WORLD.

One Web Day 2009     One Web Day Videos     TakingITGlobal - Inspire. Inform. Involve.

Start Date & Time
September 22, 2009
All day event.

OneWebDay is an Earth Day for the internet. The idea behind OneWebDay is to focus attention on a key internet value (this year, online participation in democracy), focus attention on local internet concerns (connectivity, censorship, individual skills), and create a global constituency that cares about protecting and defending the internet. So, think of OneWebDay as an environmental movement for the Internet ecosystem. It’s a platform for people to educate and activate others about issues that are important for the Internet’s future.

We need to get organized. The Internet is under enormous pressure in this country, as it is around the world. Here are some examples:

Access providers want to track what everyone is doing online and use it for their commercial advantage. They’re developing prioritization technology that will be like a cellphone layer on the internet – able to bill differently for different uses. They’re working closely with law enforcement and Hollywood in ways that will make internet use unpredictable and heavily-surveilled. The greatest engine of free speech and democratic outreach the world has ever seen is being co-opted by telephone companies. This isn’t good for our future.

At the same time, we’re suffering from enormous digital divides. Lower-income and rural communities don’t have adequate connectivity. Senior citizens and minorities are often left out. Skills are inadequate, and there is a lot of fear of the Internet.

In 2008, OneWebDay mobilized more people in more cities than ever before. To get things rolling, one hundred “OneWebDay Ambassadors” let their networks know about OneWebDay during the 100 days leading up to OneWebDay, and 100 OneWebDay stories were selected. Last year, we truly went global. There were events run by the City of Melbourne and in London, Paris, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Singapore, Tunisia, and elsewhere.