Action Alert: Save the Internet!

Most of the time I concentrate on the message: torture is wrong, telecom immunity is wrong, an attack on Iran is wrong, global warming is wrong, etc.

However, for me the time has come to focus on the medium, i.e., the way I get information on the issues I care about and how I spread the word about these issues. That medium is the Internet.

If, you, too, value access to the Net, please do the following:

1. Go to The Fight for Internet Freedom Comes to Stanford. If you need to know more about Net Neutrality, watch the four-minute video clip. Then follow blogger Chris Borland’s recommendations.

2. If you live in the Bay Area, are you willing to take a day to help save the Net? Join me at Stanford University on April 17th, where the Federal Communications Commission will be holding its West Coast hearing on Net Neutrality. If you’re concerned about your carbon footprint and want to use public transportation, go to Transit 511 Trip Planner to help you figure out what you need to do. For me, it will involve taking the bus from Healdsburg to San Francisco and the train to Palo Alto, an eight hour round trip.

3. Only have time to sign one online petition? Go here and let your Congressional representative know you support H.R. 5353, the “Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2008.”

(banner: Fantastic Realties)

Tomorrow is the big day - telecom amnesty and warrantless eavesdropping will be voted on by the Senate

The Senate is voting tomorrow on the controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). On January 26th, Glenn Greenwald, who blogs for Salon.com, posted about the upcoming vote, "More disruptions to the Cheney/Rockefeller plan" (an ad will pop up, wait a few seconds, then go the link at the right top of the ad, “Enter Salon.” to read Greenwald’s post).

Today I worked with my friend, Chris Borland, who blogs at The Democratic Activist, to alert citizens to tell their senators to vote NO to telecom amnesty and warrantless eavesdropping.

Chris I are also concerned about Net Neutrality, so Chris’s action alert also includes how to take action to protect our access to the Net.

I included the following information in my e-mail:

1. Tell the Senate: NO IMMUNITY for Bush and His Telecom Buddies

2. Net Neutrality Ninjas Needed NOW!

I believe that our ability to communicate with one another via the Internet (e-mails, blogs, alerts from organizations like Democrats.com will be severely compromised if:

1. Congress gives the telecom giants immunity for illegally providing our private communications to the Bush Administration (how free will we feel to take positions in opposition to what your government is doing?); and

2. The Internet becomes privatized, with those who can pay given preferential treatment over those of us who have limited incomes and rely on a free Internet. Citizens’ interests will be sacrificed to corporate interests, which already control the mainstream media.

As you know, I count on the Net to be involved in election integrity, impeachment, saving state parks, you name it. I feel so strongly about being able to continue doing this that I’m asking for your help.

Please go to Tell the Senate: NO IMMUNITY for Bush and His Telecom Buddies and Net Neutrality Ninjas Needed NOW!, get up to speed on what’s going on, and take action now. The Senate is voting on telecom immunity this Monday, the 26th. The deadline to file comments with the FCC regarding Net Neutrality is February 13th.

(Cartoon: Scranton Times)