Howdy all, The G8 will meet with its world corporation leaders to discuss the future of the internet. Apparently only governments and corporations will be represented. This campaign URL:https:/www.accessnow.org/G8-protect-the-net is to gather signatories on a letter to send to the French presidency, urging that they give priority to network neutrality and civil freedom. Should there be a response from Free Software Melbourne? What response? ===== For the first time, the leaders of the G8 developed countries are going to discuss internet policy. Instead of promoting net neutrality and user privacy and combating online censorship, the French government has locked civil society out of these conversations, while inviting CEOs -- some of whom paid $100,000 for their seat at the table -- who are pushing policies like strict intellectual property enforcement, which will line corporate pockets while curtailing our digital rights. Unless we speak out now, decisions about internet policy are going to be made at the highest levels without our voices represented. Please sign this urgent petition calling on the G8 to adopt citizen-centered internet policies, which we’ll deliver at a press conference to the world media on Monday in Paris. Dear President Sarkozy and other G8 Leaders, We urge you to publicly commit to citizen-centered policies like expanding internet access for all, combating digital censorship and surveillance, limiting online intermediary liability, and upholding principles of net neutrality. … ===== URL:https:/www.accessnow.org/G8-protect-the-net -- \ “Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it | `\ correct, not tried it.” —Donald Knuth, 1977-03-29 | _o__) | Ben Finney