From joanne at gn.apc.org  Fri Jan 10 11:31:59 2003
From: joanne at gn.apc.org (Joanne Doyle)
Date: Wed Feb  1 23:43:29 2006
Subject: [alternet-l] The Alternet News - ISSUE # 85
Message-ID: <5.0.2.1.0.20030110110153.009f77a0@pop.gn.apc.org>


THE ALTERNET NEWS - ISSUE # 85

This issue:

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR/
HOT SITES/
ENTITLEMENT CARDS/
EVENTS IN VENEZEULA/
FRENCH ACTIVIST SENTENCED/
RETRIAL OF "MIAMI FIVE"/
EGYPT'S DIGITAL LIBRARY/
EARTH FIRST TECHNOLOGIES?/
VIDEO ACTIVISM PROMOTED/
WAR ON WANT PETITION/
ACTIVIST NETWORK CLOSED/
PLOT OF LAND/
QUOTE/UNQUOTE/
JOBS/
FUNDING/
DIARY/

*****************************************************************
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Happy New Year 2003 to all Alternet subscribers. In difficult times, it is
great to see all the wonderful events, campaigns and activities that are
being organised by some of you, the GreenNet community and wider civil
society. This edition includes many exciting events for the upcoming
months, so the future looks good! I hope you'll continue to find this a
useful e-zine in the year ahead.
If you would like to send in your news and events for inclusion in the next
edition, or interesting quotes you have come across, as usual, please send
(including a web link if possible) to actnow@gn.apc.org.
Please don't send news to the AlterNet address. Items may need to be
edited. Plain text e-mail is preferred.

Back issues are on-line at:
---> http://www.gn.apc.org/news/alternet/index.asp

*****************************************************************

HOT SITES

Two new online voluntary sector resources:

--> www.voluntarysectorskills.org.uk and

--> www.askncvo.org.uk

Conciliation Resources has just published the 13th issue in their Accord
series: 'OWNING THE PROCESS: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN PEACEMAKING.'
Full text is available free online at:
--> www.c-r.org/accord/peace/accord13

*****************************************************************

ENTITLEMENT CARDS

As the Government appear set on introducing Britain's first universal 
identity card system in 50 years, Privacy International (PI) is calling for 
support to get the government to engage the public in a wider debate about 
the issue and extend the consultation period until June 2003:

"We believe the consultation document on Entitlement Cards breaches the 
Code of Practice on consultations in several key respects, including lack 
of necessary detail and a complete absence of either an impact assessment 
or counter argument. The document has failed to deliver a concrete proposal 
for public debate and has therefore failed to engage the public's interest."

You can read the full text to this letter to the Prime Minister, and sign here:

--> www.gn.apc.org/action/pi/openletter.shtml

PI has produced an FAQ on the National ID card along with historical 
overviews of the ID card controversy, which you can read about here:

--> www.privacyinternational.org/issues/idcard/uk/

Related site:
--> www.undercurrents.org/bigbrother2.htm

*****************************************************************

EVENTS IN VENEZEULA - A PERSONAL ACCOUNT

Events in Venezuela are reaching crisis point, but the headline news cannot
express the personal realities of everyday life there. This is the story
from the inside written by a man who has lived and worked in Venezuela for
many years.

The web link takes you to the unedited letters to his daughter, who
introduces the first message. The story starts on 2 Oct 2002, as marchers
on both sides of the Atlantic march for peace, and continues to date:

More:
--> www.greendirect.co.uk/reports.htm

Sign an open Letter to Bush on Venezuela through this website:
--> www.narconews.com/Issue26/article562.html

*****************************************************************

FRENCH ACTIVIST SENTENCED

In January 1998 activists of the French Conf?d?ration Paysanne entered a
storehouse belonging to the agribusiness firm Novartis and mixed
genetically modified corn seed with conventional seed. This non-violent
action alerted public opinion to the dangers of genetically modified food
with respect to the environment, health, and farmers' independence. Jos?
Bov?, who was then spokesman of the Conf?d?ration Paysanne of the Aveyron,
was given an 8 month suspended prison sentence.

In June 1999 activists of the Conf?d?ration Paysanne and Indian farmers who
had travelled from the subcontinent occupied a greenhouse belonging to the
CIRAD (International Centre for Research in Agriculture and Development in
Montpellier) and uprooted genetically modified rice plants before they
could be replanted in the Camargue nature reserve in Southern France. Jos?
Bov? was sentenced to six months in prison. This verdict revoked the
suspension of the previous eight-month sentence, which means that he will
spend 14 months behind bars for actions that endangered no life and caused
only minor material damage.

Support FoE in their online campaign to pardon Jos? Bov? and Ren? Riesel,
who was sentenced with him, here:

--> www.foei.org/cyberaction/bove.php

For more information:
--> confederationpaysanne.ouvaton.org/


*****************************************************************

RETRIAL OF "MIAMI FIVE"

A number of British MPs have expressed serious concerns over the trial,
incarceration and treatment of the "Miami Five" - the five Cuban nationals
currently imprisoned in the U.S on various charges including espionage. To
date, 55 members have signed an "Early Day Motion" tabled by Labour MP
Michael Connarty, which calls for the U.S Government to support the motion
for a retrial. The motion was filed on 12th November 2002, including
overwhelming new evidence that a fair trial was not possible in Miami-Dade
in the year 2000 when the Five were tried and that in the interests of
justice a new trial be ordered.

For more information contact:
Cuba Solidarity Campaign
c/o Red Rose Club, 129 Seven Sisters Rd, London N7 7QG
Tel. 020 7263 6452 Fax. 020 7561 0191
Email: office@cuba-solidarity.org.uk

You can join the campaign online at:
--> www.freethefive.org

*****************************************************************

EGYPT'S DIGITAL LIBRARY

Egypt's famed library in Alexandria is taking 21st-century form, with
digital copies of nearly every public Web page posted since 1996. The
library has two hundred Hewlett-Packard PCs, and has incorporated a copy of
the Internet Archive developed by Brewster Kahle in San Francisco, donated
to the Egyptians because Kahle was so impressed with their efforts to
reinstate their leadership role in the creation, storage, and retrieval of
knowledge. The Egyptian government has obtained support from a number of
corporate giants, including Microsoft, Oracle, Ericsson and Alcatel, all of
whom will be tenants on a new 300-acre high-tech oasis near the Giza Pyramids.

More here:
--> www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/4641662.htm

*****************************************************************

EARTH FIRST TECHNOLOGIES?

A SUPERCOMPUTER TO SAVE EARTH?
The Earth Simulator handles more computations per second than there
are stars in the galaxy. And it could help scientists do a better job
protecting the little blue planet.

More:
--> http://go.hotwired.com/news/technology/0,1282,56893,00.html/wn_ascii

THE BEST COMPUTER FOR THE PLANET
It's small, powerful, environmentally conscious, and quiet. It's built
with a lead-free motherboard, NEC's patented recyclable plastic, a
processor that minimizes power usage, and a boron-free flat-screen display.

Further details:
-->http://click.topica.com/maaaLtIaaVfUpa4j9L2c/

OIL THIRSTY TECHNOLOGY
A German firm has devised a new technology that could help contain
environmental nightmares, like the recent oil spill off the coast of Spain.
The small German company has devised oil-thirsty pads that can help quickly
clean up huge tanker spills like the recent one off the Spanish coast.

Find out more here:
-->www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,56659,00.html?tw=wn_ascii

*****************************************************************

VIDEO ACTIVISM PROMOTED

In a bizzare turn of events, the Tories are now promoting the work of
Undercurrents. Since 1993, Undercurrents alternative news has promoted
direct action against the Conservative Governments road building and its
draconian Criminal Justice Act.

Now it appears the Tories are reading their Video Activist Handbook. The
hand book details the protests against the Tories as well as a step by step
guide on how to use video to bring about social change.

A spokesperson for Undercurrents said-
"We find it hilarious that the Conservatives are now promoting our Video
activist handbook and we look forward to seeing Michael Howard MP dangling
from the trees with camcorder in hand"

For more details:
--> http://shop.conservatives.com/item.jsp?ID=1705

Related Site:
--> www.undercurrents.org/contact.htm

*****************************************************************

WAR ON WANT PETITION

With unemployment among Palestinians at over 41 per cent, the need for jobs
and workers' rights is higher than ever. Thousands of Palestinians are
being prevented from returning to their workplaces by Israeli checkpoints
and border closures, with few receiving the unemployment benefits they are
entitled to. War on Want's partner, the Democracy and Workers' Rights
Centre has launched an online petition to respect the rights of Palestinian
workers.

For more information and to sign the petition, visit:
--> www.waronwant.org/?lid=3328

*****************************************************************

ACTIVIST NETWORK CLOSED

Bowing to pressure from the Dow Chemical Corporation, the Internet
company Verio has booted the NY based activist-oriented Thing.net from the
Web. Internet Service Provider Thing.net has been the primary service
provider for activist and artist organizations in the New York area for 10
years.

On December 3, activists used a server housed by Thing.net to post a
parody Dow press release on the eighteenth anniversary of the disaster
(Union Carbide is now owned by Dow). Dow was not amused, and sent a Digital
Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) complaint to Verio, which immediately cut
Thing.net off the internet for fifteen hours. A few days later, Verio
announced that Thing.net had 60 days to move to another provider.

"Verio's actions are nothing short of outrageous," said Wolfgang
Staehle, Thing.net Executive Director. "They could have resolved the
matter with the Dow parodists directly; instead they chose to shut
down our entire network. This self-appointed enforcement of the DMCA
could have a serious chilling effect on free speech, and has already
damaged our business."

Visit their website for information about how to help:
--> https://secure.thing.net/backbone/

*****************************************************************

PLOT OF LAND (For Rent or to Let)

Plot of land, 1/2 to 6 acres, with use of buildings at Sascombe Vineyards
near Newmarket, Suffolk/Cambs border. Wind and solar powered. Hopefully a
350 sq.ft cabin will be available to live in, or your own caravan.

Price depending on requirements. Purchase possible in the long term. Lots
of projects to join in with; yours should be compatible. References will be
required.

Write/phone to Adriana at:
Sascombe Vineyards
The Thrift,
Nr Newmarket,
Suffolk CB8 9JB
Tel: 01440 783100


*****************************************************************

QUOTE/UNQUOTE

"Stand ye calm and resolute
Like a forest close and mute
With folded arms, and looks which are
Weapons of an unvanquished war."

Anarchy speaking from 'The Masque of Anarchy' - Percy Bysshe Shelley

*****************************************************************

JOBS

RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT (7 Month Fixed Term Contract) is
sought by BRIDGE, the gender information unit of the Institute of
Development Studies, UK.

The role primarily involves: research and writing support to team members;
writing of accessible summaries that draw out key lessons for policy-makers
and practitioners; ensuring their web databases are up-to-date; and
information dissemination and publicity-related tasks. The candidate will
be an experienced and creative researcher, trained to postgraduate level,
and familiar with gender concepts and information sources.
Salary: ?18,265 (notional)
Closing Date: 30 January (12 noon), Interview Date: 6 February

Application forms and further details are available from the Personnel
Office, Room 104, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex,
Brighton BN1 9RE. Confidential fax: 44 (0)1273 674553 and answerphone 44
(0)1273 678682. Email: personnel@ids.ac.uk
Further details:
-->www.ids.ac.uk/ids/news/recruit/index

HEAD OF CAMPAIGN SECTION - CAFOD
?31,895 to ?34,895 p.a.

CAFOD needs a dynamic and visionary manager to head their campaign
work in England and Wales. With a track record of campaigning, a
passionate interest in global poverty and justice issues plus sound
communication skills, you will lead the strategic planning processes
for the current campaign on Trade Justice and subsequent campaigns.
Closes 13 January.

CAFOD are also looking for a SCHOOLS COORDINATOR ? MIDLANDS
?22,399 to ?25,049 p.a.

This new post, based in the Midlands, covers the dioceses of Leeds,
Hallam, Shrewsbury, Birmingham, Northampton and Nottingham. It has
been created to enhance the recruitment and training of volunteers,
to build relationships with Catholic schools and to develop outreach
work by the volunteers. You will need a degree (or equivalent) in a
relevant field, knowledge of the UK schools curriculum and teaching
methods, experience of working with young people and a thorough
understanding of the Catholic constituency.
Closes 29 January.

Full details for both positions:
--> www.cafod.org.uk/jobs/

*****************************************************************

FUNDING

BT Community Connections Award (UK)

Applications are now being accepted for the third round of BT Community
Connections, the nationwide community award scheme designed to help
communities get connected to the Internet.

More information:
--> www.access-funds.co.uk/archive/2002/dec/Community_Connections.htm

*****************************************************************

DIARY DATES

JANUARY:

WEEKEND OF NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION AT BRITISH MILITARY HQ
As The British military mobilises to meet George Bush's order to head for
the Gulf, anti-war activists are mobilising for a weekend of non-violent
protest and civil disobedience against the war on Iraq at the Permanent
Joint Headquarters of the British Armed Forces at Northwood, North West
London. The weekend of action January 18th -19th coincides with the
anniversary of the 1991 Gulf bombing and a protest  march expected to
number near 500,000 in Washington DC.

The weekend of action, called by direct action groups Voices in the
Wilderness UK, ARROW (Active Resistance to the Roots of War) and the
d-10 group, will include a tour of the base, a mass blockade, a mass
breaching of the Official Secrets Act, non-violence trainings and
autonomous affinity group actions.

The main events are:
Friday  January 17th 7.30pm,  Conway Hall, Holborn , London.  Public
meeting and sanctions breaking auction.

OPERATION INTERNAL LOOK- (OIL)
Saturday January 18th 12 noon. Inspecting the war machine. Activists will
bring giant binoculars, telescopes and cameras and inspect and record the
workings of the base, breaching the Official Secrets Act. Assembling
Northwood main gate 12pm.

MASS BLOCKADE and PROTEST
Sunday January 19th  11 am.
Assembling Northwood Tube (Met Line) and walking up to the base where the
gates will be blocked.

Related sites:
details of US events:
--> www.internationalanswer.org/
details of UK events:
-->www.voicesuk.org
More info on role of Northwood:
--> http://people.freenet.de/ask/e_northwood.html
Sign the pledge of resistance to the "war on terrorism"
--> www.j-n-v.org

INSPIRING CHANGE is a three-day course in active citizenship for people who
want to make a difference in the world. It is being run in partnership with
the Scarman Trust.
10am-8pm, 15, 16 and 23 January 2003, with preparation and follow-up

This 3-day course will enable you to:
1. increase your abilities to bring about change, in little ways or large;
2. clarify goals in relation to your life, work and social issues;
3. develop a project and action plan for something you want to achieve -
and begin to build support for the change you want!

Venue: Euston Square Hotel, Euston Rd/North Gower St, London
Cost: ?75 unwaged, ?95 volunteers, ?123 for staff, including tea, coffee
and biscuits
For whom? Community activists ; Staff, volunteers & members of community
organisations;
To book or get further details email: info@inspiringchange.org,
or ring Titus on 020 8521 6977

INSTITUTE FOR RACE RELATIONS

In the wake of September 11, the Institute of Race Relations began a series
of seminars to discuss pressing issues - relating to civil liberties,
racism, globalism, etc. The first two seminars in the New Year are listed
below:

Monday 13 January 2003, 1-2.15pm*
Showing of the film 'After Jenin'
A rare chance to see the acclaimed documentary on Palestine, and talk to
its director Jenny Morgan.
(* starting promptly as the film is 50 mins long.)

Monday 20 January, 1-2pm
John Hutnyk and Liz Fekete will lead a discussion on
The role of Malaysia in the War Against Terrorism
John Hutnyk lectures at the Department of Anthropology at Goldsmiths
University and is a member of the Anti-ISA Movement UK (AIM-UK) and Liz
Fekete works at the IRR and is also a member of AIM-UK.

All seminars are held at IRR's offices at 2-6 Leeke Street (off King's
Cross Road), London WC1X 9HS.

Please let them know by phone or email if you are able to attend the seminars.
Email: info@irr.org.uk, or phone: 020 7837 0041 / 020 7833 2010

--> www.irr.org.uk

ECONOMY, CONFLICT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR
A one day seminar organised by the Committee for Conflict Transformation
Support
Wednesday 15th January 2003, 10.30 -16.30
(10.00 coffee + registration)

Venue: St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace
78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG
(nearest stations Liverpool Street, Bank & Monument)

The purpose of this seminar is to examine the interaction of the
economy, the private sector and violent conflict, in order to help
inform the work of conflict resolution practitioners.  The day of
reflection and discussion will be introduced by presentations from Dr
David Keen and Phil Champain.
The cost for participants will be ?15.00, including buffet lunch,
coffee and tea (to be paid on arrival).

To register for the workshop, please visit the CCTS website:
-->www.c-r.org/ccts
or email: ccts@c-r.org

PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE
18 Jan - 1 Feb 2003
Venue: Monkton Wyld Court, Dorset

Two week residential course with practical and theoretical sessions
covering all aspects of permaculture design - ethics, gardening, local
economy, food, water, housing etc...

Cost: ?625, with big reductions for low income households
For futher information contact: Louise
Tel: 01461 30141
E-mail: loumacnamara@hotmail.com

FAITH IN THE EARTH
A Christian, Druid, Muslim Conference
Saturday 25th January 2003
10.00am - 5pm
Venue: Loughborough University

What insights can we as people of faith offer,
and share together, to help safeguard the future of our planet.
Principal Speakers:
Timothy Stevens, Bishop of Leicester
Fazlun Khalid, Founder Director, Islamic Foundation for Ecology and
Environmental Sciences
Emma Restall-Orr, Chief of the Druid Network

Workshops
Faith and Bio-diversity
Faith and Resources
Faith and Pollution

Cost ?7.00 including vegetarian lunch
For more information, or to book a place, contact Patricia Pinder
01509 261222, or email phpinder@fish.co.uk

CENTREPOINT CONFERENCE: Towards A National Framework For
Young Runaways: prevention, immediate care and long-term strategies,
Venue: the New Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden.

For further information, contact Neil Stewart Associates, who are
organising the conference, on 020 7689 8808 or
info@neilstewartassociates.co.uk

More Diary Dates on GreenNet:

--> webboard.gn.apc.org:8086/default/

*****************************************************************

The AlterNet News is edited by Joanne Doyle for GreenNet:
---> www.gn.apc.org

Please note that opinions expressed in AlterNet are those of the
contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the GreenNet
Collective.
To subscribe or unsubscribe see:

http://news.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/alternet-l
For more information on this service and how to use it, contact
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****************************************************

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Alternet-l@gn.apc.org

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From joanne at gn.apc.org  Fri Jan 24 16:38:27 2003
From: joanne at gn.apc.org (Joanne Doyle)
Date: Wed Feb  1 23:43:29 2006
Subject: [alternet-l] The Alternet News #86
Message-ID: <5.0.2.1.0.20030124112646.009ffa60@pop.gn.apc.org>

THE ALTERNET NEWS - ISSUE # 86

This issue:

HOT SITES/
JUSTICE IN GUJARAT/
MUSIC LICENSING BILL/
DIARY FROM PALESTINE/
INTERNET LEGISLATION/
WSIS ASIA MEETING/
BRIDGE NEWSLETTER/
INDIGENOUS LEADER KILLED/
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES TRACKED/
WSF, PORTO ALEGRE/
QUOTE/UNQUOTE/
DIARY/

*****************************************************************
Please don't send news to the AlterNet address. Send items for inclusion,
including a web link if possible, to actnow@gn.apc.org. Items may need to
be edited. Plain text e-mail is preferred.
Back issues are on-line at:
---> http://www.gn.apc.org/news/alternet/index.asp

*****************************************************************
HOT SITES

The Baku Ceyhan Campaign is working to raise public awareness of the social
problems, human rights abuses and environmental damage that may be caused
by the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which is planned to run through
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. In particular, the campaign argues that
public money should not be used to subsidise social and environmental
problems purely in the interests of the private sector, but must be
conditional on a positive contribution to the economic and social
development of people in the region.

--> www.bakuceyhan.org.uk/

*****************************************************************
JUSTICE IN GUJARAT

The International Initiative for Justice in Gujarat is a response by
national and international women's groups to the horrific violence
unleashed against the Muslim community of Gujarat since February 27, 2002,
in which women were a central target.

As part of this initiative, members of women's groups from India
accompanied nine women from Sri Lanka, Algeria/France, India, Israel/UK,
Germany and the USA who visited areas in and around Ahmedabad, Vadodara and
Panchmahals between 14 and 17 December 2002. During these visits, they met
with survivors of the violence as well as with members of women's groups,
human rights groups, and other citizens' groups from Gujarat.

The Panel's Interim Report on the situation in Gujarat voiced strong
concern that 'in spite of the totally inadequate legal and other responses
to the violence in Gujarat, the government has continued to deny permission
for international scrutiny of the situation. In a pluralist society such
as India, ensuring the equal representation and participation of all
communities and guaranteeing the rights of women and of minorities are
among the most important tests of a genuine democracy. The propagation of
fear and hatred among communities is anathema to these principles and is
inconsistent with both national and international law.'

The Report also addressed the similarities and uniqueness of the ways in
which sexual violence has been used in cases of religious, ethnic or
communal violence in other parts of the world, and stated: 'this violence,
which reflects a longer and larger genocidal project, in our view
constitutes a crime against humanity and satisfies the legal definition of
genocide, both of which are crimes of the most serious dimension under
international law.'

The complete report and urgent actions to be taken are at:
--> www.onlinevolunteers.org/gujarat/reports/iijg/

*****************************************************************
MUSIC LICENSING BILL
The Government are proposing new music licensing laws that could require
performances of live music to get a license for any performance in pubs
and clubs, in places where alcohol is served, in churches, synagogues, 
mosques and
other places of worship, in schools and colleges, in community centres and
village and parish halls, and in private homes and gardens where private
parties and weddings may be held...

Full story and online petition (to be submitted to Downing St on 31st March):
--> www.musiclovers.ukart.com/

Related site:
--> www.pianos.co.uk/news/lbill.php3

*****************************************************************
DIARY IN PALESTINE

Tony Davies, a British Quaker, writes as he travels with the Christian
Peacemaker Team in Hebron.

Find out more:
--> www.greendirect.co.uk/palestine/index.htm

In the last edition of The Alternet News (#85), we also included a piece on
diary writings, this time from Venezuela. We received a couple of emails in
response, concerned about the stand these entries took. Although, in the
last issue, an alternative link highlighting a different viewpoint was
included, I thought it was worthwhile to include more links that you might
find useful:

--> www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2003/02/ma_208_01.html
--> www.abs-cbnnews.com/abs_news_body.asp?section=Opinion&oid=13433
--> www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/01/03/world/main535151.shtml
--> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2533403.stm

The Green Direct website, where the diary postings are, has also been
updated with various links from the mainstream press:
--> www.greendirect.co.uk/reports.htm#news

Related page on the Green Direct site:
--> www.greendirect.co.uk/reports.htm

*****************************************************************
INTERNET LEGISLATION

Thing.net, a US artists network is to be forced offline:
NTT/Verio intends to terminate thing.net's contract after Dow Chemical
Corporation threatened legal action against one site's 'Yes Men' parody.
Thing.net is an artists network (10 years old).This unresolved complaint
about one site will lead to the shutting down of a whole network and sets a
worrying precedent for corporate control on the Internet.

Although the Yes Men parody site now bounces to the real Dow Chemical
site, many mirror sites have sprung up, including:
--> www.dowethics.com
--> www.dowindia.com
and --> www.mad-dow-disease.com

More here:
--> www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,57011,00.html

Legislation appears to be making it possible to intimidate an Internet service
provider both to the point where the existence of challenging content on the
Internet, and the privacy of its users, could be in jeopardy.

Recently in the States, Verizon (an ISP) were ordered to give the identity
of one of their users to an outside party - The New York Times reports:
'Smoothing the way for the entertainment industry to pursue people who
trade music and movies online, a federal judge ordered Verizon
Communications yesterday to give a record industry trade group the identity
of an Internet subscriber suspected of making available unauthorized copies
of several hundred songs.'

In the closely watched case, the Recording Industry Association of America
argued that it had the right to invoke a legal shortcut compelling Internet
service providers to turn over subscriber information without requiring a
copyright holder to file a lawsuit.

One problem is that most people don't have the resources to fight big
record industry labels, as Jessica Litman, author of 'Digital Copyright',
says:
'I'm concerned about the number of enforcement actions that don't ever get
to court. It's one thing to say I want this person's identity so I can file 
suit.
It's another thing to say I want this person's identity so I can interfere
with their connectivity to the Internet.'

Full report here (although you do have to register to access it):
-->
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/22/technology/22MUSI.html?ex=1044255150&ei=1&
en=5903c7ef9efc55a8

Related links:
Amendments to the Copyright Act 1988:Implications for the public's use of 
information
-->www.fraw.org.uk/mobbsey/files/users_report.html

Law Commission's Report (recommendations of reform for ISP's liability for
content):
--> www.lawcom.gov.uk/files/defamation2.pdf

You can also find information about UK legislation on the GreenNet Internet
Rights site:
--> www.internetrights.org.uk

*****************************************************************
WSIS ASIA MEETING

Participants of the Communication Rights Workshop held in conjunction with
the ongoing Asian Regional Conference for the World Summit on the
Information Society (WSIS) criticised the Japanese government for its
decision not to invite delegates from the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (North Korea) to this Tokyo meeting.

Led by JCA-Net, a Tokyo-based organisation that provides IT support to
Japanese NGOs and other members of civil society; and Jinbonet, a South
Korean network that advocates for the use of Information and Communication
Technologies (ICT) for social transformation, the participants demanded
that the Japanese Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and
Telecommunications (MPHPT) apologise to North Korea and the conference
participants.

The Communication Rights Workshop participants asserted that all WSIS
processes including the Asian Regional Meeting should be spaces where all
ICT stakeholders will be able to participate freely. They invoked the
United Nations statement that 'The World Summit on the Information Society
will provide a unique opportunity for all key stakeholders to assemble at a
high-level gathering and to develop a better understanding of this
revolution and its impact on the international community. It aims to bring
together Heads of State, Executive Heads of United Nations agencies,
industry leaders, non-governmental organizations, media representatives and
civil society in a single high-level event.'

-->www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=9105

*****************************************************************
BRIDGE NEWSLETTER

BRIDGE supports gender mainstreaming efforts by bridging the gaps between
theory, policy and practice with accessible gender information.
The next BRIDGE newsletter will be producing French and Spanish language
versions, 'In Brief', both in printed form as well as via email. They are
hoping to build their mailing lists for this new format, so if you know of
any colleagues, partners or contacts who you think would like to receive
'In Brief' in French or Spanish paper copy, please forward their contact
details to C.Sever@ids.ac.uk, or ask them to get in touch with BRIDGE directly.

More:
--> www.ids.ac.uk/bridge

Related links - Internet gateway to resources on gender and development at:
--> www.siyanda.org

*****************************************************************
CO2 STORAGE POSSIBILITIES

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is carrying out a
feasibility study into the capture (from power stations) and storage
of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) under the seabed around the UK. The
capture and storage process, also known as sequestration, is being
investigated as a means of reducing emissions from coal-fired power
generation. The results of the study will inform the UK Energy White
Paper team.

A team of 6 from The Environment Council facilitated a one-day
workshop for the DTI, as part of the study, to understand from
stakeholders' perspectives, the potential benefits of CO2
sequestration, and to clarify any areas of concern. 55 delegates
participated in the workshop, with cross-sector representation
including industry, government and NGOs.

At the end of the day some delegates still had conflicting views
about the capture and disposal of CO2: was it a viable alternative
to renewables as an answer to reducing emissions? Would current
legal positions prevent technology development?
The DTI feasibility study report isn't expected until spring
2003, but the full transcript of the workshop mentioned above is currently
on the DTI website:

--> www.dti.gov.uk/energy/coal/cct/co2capture.shtml

*****************************************************************
INDIGENOUS LEADER KILLED

Marcos Veron, one of the most important leaders of the Guarani-Kaiow? tribe
in Brazil, has been killed by gunmen. Veron, aged approximately 70, is the
third Brazilian Indian to be murdered since the New Year. He was the head
of a community who had been trying for fifty years to recover their land
after it was seized by cattle ranchers.

In recent months the community had been living by the side of a highway,
having tried to re-occupy some of their land and been forced out by armed
police and soldiers.

In 2000 Veron toured Europe to publicise Survival's report on the history
of Brazilian Indians, 'Disinherited'. He said then, 'The ranchers shoot at
us, burn our houses and kill our children. They are trying to get rid of
us...so now we have to come all the way here to look for our rights.' The
loss of almost all their land to cattle ranchers has precipitated a crisis
in Guarani-Kaiow? society: they now have one of the highest suicide rates
in the world.

During his brief re-occupation of his ancestral land, Veron said, 'This
here is my life, my soul. If you take me away from this land, you take my
life.'

Full story:
--> www.survival-international.org/guaraninews030115.htm

*****************************************************************
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES TRACKED

The Benetech Initiative, a Silicon Valley nonprofit, today announced the
release of The Martus Human Rights Bulletin System, an open source
technology tool designed to assist human rights organizations in
collecting, safeguarding, organizing and disseminating information about
human rights abuses.

Through a partnership with The Asia Foundation, a U.S.-based
nonprofit working on the ground in Asia, Martus will first be
implemented in the Philippines to provide better resources to groups
combating hundreds of human rights violations per year.

Currently, much of the violation and abuse information gathered by
grassroots human rights groups is lost to confiscation, destruction,
or neglect, making it difficult or impossible for prosecutors, truth
commissions and others to use the information as evidence to hold the
perpetrators of human rights abuses accountable for many of their
crimes. The Martus software enables grassroots NGOs to store
their records securely on off-site servers with easy-to-use software,
preserving crucial evidence for research, investigation and
prosecutions.

'Grassroots NGOs told us it was essential that the software be easy
to use, so we modelled it after the simple interface of email', said
Jim Fruchterman, CEO of Benetech.

The software and its source code are available for download:
-->www.martus.org

Related links:
Benetech --> www.benetech.org
The Asia Foundation --> www.asiafoundation.org

*****************************************************************
WSF, PORTO ALEGRE

The third World Social Forum started on the 23rd of January in Porto Alegre.
The forum is organized around 5 axes: 'Democratic Sustainable Development
- Principles and values, human rights, diversity and equality - Media,
culture and counter-hegemony - Political power, civil society and
democracy - Democratic world order, fight against militarism and
promoting peace'. Tens of thousands of participants will join the 
conferences, seminars and workshops, to exchange ideas and proposals.

Attac report every day live from the Forum:
--> www.attac.info/poa2003/?NAVI=0-14en

APC (Association for Progressive Communications) will be one of almost
5,000 organisations from 121 countries present in the Southern Brazilian
city of Porto Alegre for the third annual gathering of social movements,
NGOs, and progressive groups. APC will be represented in the third area 
'Media, culture and counter-hegemony'. The panel discussions for 'New 
technologies and strategies for digital inclusion and social change are 
taking place on Saturday 25th January.

More information here:
--> http://rights.apc.org

The Association for Progressive Communications website:
--> www.apc.org

Related site:
--> www.wsis.org

*****************************************************************
QUOTE/UNQUOTE

'We are each individually responsible for our own inactions'

Noam Chomsky speaking in conjunction with the Kurdish Human Rights Project
and The Bar of Human Rights Committee, December 2002

*****************************************************************
DIARY DATES

FEBRUARY:

POLITICS OF CODE - CONFERENCE AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY
Thursday, February 6th
The Programme in Comparative Media Law and Policy is convening the
Conference 'Politics of Code - Shaping the Future of the Next Internet'
to be held in Oxford
High profile speakers - among them Prof. Larry Lessig, renowned thinker
on Cyberlaw, and Esther Dyson, celebrated digerati and founding chairman
of ICANN - will discuss the key choices that need to be made on privacy,
security, access, openness and control in the design of Internet technology
and Internet Governance.

To register and find more information visit their website:
-->http://pcmlp.socleg.ox.ac.uk/code/

TREATIES DAY SCHOOL
Friday, 8th February
Venue: University of London Union, Malet Street, London WC1
Following last year's success, Abolition 2000 UK and Christian Campaign for
Nuclear Disarmament are organising another.
Purpose: To educate and inform peace workers, students of government,
defence and politics, and particularly those planning on lobbying at the
Conference on Disarmament and the Non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory
Committee (PrepCom).
Further information from Claire Poyner
tel: 020 7700 4200, fax: 020 77002357 (shared fax; mark clearly FAO: CCND),
or email: ccnd@gn.apc.org

Visit their website at:
-->http://ccnd.gn.apc.org/

NATIONAL DEMO
Saturday 15th February 2003, London
Assemble 12 noon at Embankment, London (nearest tube Embankment) to march
at 12:30pm.
If the UK goes to war we will call a national demonstration IMMEDIATELY;
demonstrate at 6pm in your town centre (London: Trafalgar Square).

Resources and further information:
--> www.stopwar.org.uk/

NEWCASTLE PEACE LECTURE: Alternatives to international conflict
Tuesday 11 February 2003, 5.30 pm
Prof Paul Rogers
Venue: Curtis Auditorium, Herschel Building, University of Newcastle upon
Tyne (opposite Haymarket Metro)

Further details:
-->www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/lectures/

I LOVE CUBA cabaret
Saturday 15th February 2003
8.30pm-2am
The Camden Centre, Bidborough St, Kings Cross
Join the party with the very best in comedy, music and entertainment,
including:
Mark Thomas, Merengada, Harold Pinter, John Hegley, Ivor Dembina, Steve Gribben
Organised by the Cuba Solidarity Campaign
020 7263 6452 for advanced credit card bookings ?16 waged, ?12 unwaged

UNED-UK Conference
Wednesday, 19th February, London
'From Johannesburg to a Sustainable Development Strategy for the UK'
The day considers the outcomes of the Summit, and how these can most
effectively be carried forward in a sustainable development strategy for
the UK. Bringing together Ministers, representatives of the United
Nations, European Commission, national, regional and local government, and
a range of stakeholder groups.
A detailed program & booking form will be available early 2003.

Please contact info@earthsummit2002.org

SKILL SHARE on involving the community in your local project
Tuesday 25 February, 6.00 pm
A free event of the London 21 Sustainability Network
The evening will be an opportunity to learn about participatory methods,
hear about other community projects working on local sustainability, share
experiences and keep up-to-date with resources and opportunities in London.

--> www.london21.org

MARCH:

ASIAN WOMEN'S MOVEMENT CONFERENCE
Friday 7th March/Saturday 8th March/Sunday 9th March
Dreams, Questions and Struggles, Sapne Sawal aur Larai, - 25 years of
the Asian Womens Movement, a conference by and about Asian women On:
What is our history?
Where do we stand today?
What does feminism mean to us?
What kind of a future do we want?

and, or on Saturday 8th March
Celebrate International Women's Day with poetry, songs and music from
Razia Aziz, Kulwinder, Seni, DJ Ritu and many others.
For more details (eg Transport, Cr?che, Stalls, Programme) on both events,
phone: 0207 424 9535, or email:londec@hotmail.com
DESIGN FOR LIFE: PERMACULTURE, BIOMIMICRY AND SUSTAINABLE LIVING
March 9-28 2003, at Schumacher College, Devon, UK
With Max Lindegger, Morag Gamble & Janine Benyus. Drawing on their
experiences working at Crystal Waters Permaculture Village, Max and Morag
will discuss how we can, in a participatory and holistic way, design
human-scale settlements and food systems based on permaculture principles
that promote a healthy environment and create opportunities for meaningful
work.

For more information, please contact the Administrator, Schumacher College,
The Old Postern, Dartington, Devon TQ9 6EA, Tel: 01803 865 934
Email: admin@schumachercollege.org.uk

-->www.schumachercollege.org.uk/ShortCourses/Diary.html#DESIGN

QUESTIONING SECURITY TERRORISM IN A GLOBALISED WORLD
Thursday March 6, 6pm for 6.30pm
Venue: Demos, The Mezzanine, Elizabeth House, 39 York Road, London SE1 7YY
(Elizabeth House is adjacent to Waterloo Station and buses 76, 77, 211,
341, 381 and 507 pass the door).
Resurgence & Demos jointly invite you to an evening of conversation with
John Gray, Professor of European Thought at the LSE, author of 'Straw Dogs
Thoughts on Humans & Other Animals' &
Caroline Lucas, Green Party Member of the European Parliament
With Satish Kumar, Editor of Resurgence & Director of Programmes at the
Schumacher College
Admission: ?5.00 with wine

Enquires and bookings on: 01237 441293, or email: peterlang@resurgence.org
--> www.resurgence.org

Capitalwoman 2003 conference, the London conference for women
Saturday 8th March
Venue: the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre in SW1
It is hosted by Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron and Diane Abbott MP. For details
or to register, contact 020 7983 4302 or

email: capitalwoman@london.gov.uk.

DESIGNED BY NATURE
Friday March 28, 6.15pm for 6.45pm
Venue: The Princes Foundation, 19 22 Charlotte Road, Old Street, London
EC2A 3SG (Exit 3 from Old Street Station, wheelchair accessible)
Resurgence Magazine & The Temenos Academy jointly present
With: Janine Benyus, Life sciences writer and author of 'Biomimicry
Innovation Inspired by Nature',
Rupert Sheldrake, Author of 'Dogs that know when their owners are coming
home - and other unexplained powers of animals',
and Satish Kumar, Editor of Resurgence & Director of Programmes at the
Schumacher College.
Admission: ?5.00 with wine

Enquires and bookings on: 01237 441293, or email: peterlang@resurgence.org

More Diary Dates on GreenNet's New Calendar:
--> www.gn.apc.org/calendar/calindex.shtml

Please add your events to the calendar here:
--> www.gn.apc.org/calendar/add.shtml

****************************************************************

The AlterNet News is edited by Joanne Doyle for GreenNet:
---> www.gn.apc.org

Please note that opinions expressed in AlterNet are those of the
contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the GreenNet
Collective.

To subscribe or unsubscribe see:
http://news.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/alternet-l

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