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Digital Rights Ireland is looking for your support
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10-02-2006 4:15pmOn the 6th December, Digital Rights Ireland formally launched. Our stated mission is to protect civil, legal and human rights in a digital age.
Now we're asking people who share that aim to help us out by pledging their money to DRI. If you're in a hurry and don't need to know more, here's where you can sign up:
www.digitalrights.ie/support
Since our launch, and without funding, we've managed to do the following:
We've focused attention on data retention, by lobbying, use of parliamentary questions and encouraging media scrutiny of the European Parliament's vote to bring in a Data Retention Directive.
We've established ourselves as a point of contact for the media on digital rights issues. This is important, as editors are much more likely to run a story where they are able to present two competing views to their audiences. We've raised the profile of these issues across the entire range of media, including the Pat Kenny show, Newstalk FM, the Irish Times, Six One News, 2FM, Metro Ireland, the Star on Sunday, various local stations and (of course) internet news outlets such as The Register.
We have intervened in the filesharing debate to speak up for the privacy rights of innocent parties. We have also attempted, with some limited success, to inform the courts of relevant precedent.
We've started producing reliable, readable, guides to users' rights. So far, we have pamphlets on SMS Spam and Online Libel completed. More are in the works.
We have begun to introduce DRI to the other players involved in rights protection. We've met with the Data Protection Commissioner and with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, and have been in contact with the Human Rights Commission. We've made a formal submission to the European Commission on Irish privacy laws.
We've also established DRI as Ireland's point of contact internationally in the digital rights sphere. We've joined EDRI, and have close relations with the Open Rights Group in the UK. We have also established informal links with other groups, such as the EFF, Liberty and Privacy International.
At the same time, we're working away behind the scenes on researching some of the issues which we expect to have to tackle in the months to come, such as the planned DNA Database and the proposals to introduce ID cards in Ireland.
Not a bad record for a three month old voluntary organisation working on a shoestring.
However, we're now reaching the limits of what we can do with no euro and no cent behind us. With your support, we could launch a flotilla of Freedom of Information requests, seeking information in targeted areas. We could raise awareness of digital rights issues in the professional spheres with a public conference. We could ship a representative to Brussels for crucial votes, to lobby our MEPs face to face. We could even pay for tea and coffee at our press conferences.
And, if needs be, we would be in a position to consider the possibility of seeking to block unconstitutional measures through the high-stakes gambles of the courts, as other advocacy groups regularly do.
Our suggested subscription rate is €10 per month. That is the cost of 2 pints. If we get 100 members willing to pledge that much to us, we will have a solid income base to work from.
We also have a concession membership of €5 a month. We aren't going to be checking IDs or anything like that - if you don't think you can afford to forgo both pints every month, then we'll happily spare you the effort of drinking one of them.
We have a Paypal subscription option. Or if you like, you can bung us your full year's subscription in a single lump sum. And if you're not sure where you'll be for the next year, but know you'd like to send us something, we'd be most grateful.
Mechanics: Where does the money go? Money pledged to DRI will go to a bank account owned by Digital Rights Ireland Limited, a company limited by guarantee, registered with the Companies Registration Office in Dublin. As such, annual accounts will be filed for the company, which will be publicly available.
Who are Digital Rights Ireland Limited? Our Directors are listed here with links to their personal sites. Full details can be inspected via the Companies Registration Office.
[cross-posted from digitalrights.ie]0
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Done. The Thank You page (/join/thank-sub/?) doesn't work though, and you might want to get that PayPal account Verified asap. "Non-U.S. Unverified Business Member (new)" looks a bit dodgy.
adam0 -
Thanks for pointing out that problem. Our more technical members will sort it out pronto.0
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Can we have a option to pay the full 60 or 120 euro yearly amount in one go without having to email and say it's a subscription?0
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robfitz - Request noted! I'll ask Colm to set up that option.0
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RSS feeds on the website don't work and neither does the link to the wiki.
Agree with above, I'd probably donate 60 Eur in one go but couldn't be bothered emailing in to say I did it to become a member. Why not just have a pay for a year subscription option?
If your looking for things to give members, given the demographic (mostly IT/office wokers I imagine), I'd suggest mugs or glasses or USB Memory Sticks.
I googled it and personally I just loved this one :P
http://www.products.connectpro.ie/products/name/usb-cup-warmer-with-hub/product_id/00333472
Don't know if thats the kind of thing you are looking for but some suggestions anyway.0 -
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Good idea that. We didn't actively pursue donations for a while as much of what we did could be done on a shoestring. Now, though, things are getting more expensive. The last FOI request to Justice was over €400 - reduced to €200ish by the deciding officer as a gesture of goodwill due to some delays at their end. There are plenty of other topics that also require FOIs and cost shouldn't really act as the deciding factor. Annual accounts, audits, etc. also add up.
I'll check the RSS situation and the wiki.0 -
Good idea that. We didn't actively pursue donations for a while as much of what we did could be done on a shoestring. Now, though, things are getting more expensive. The last FOI request to Justice was over €400 - reduced to €200ish by the deciding officer as a gesture of goodwill due to some delays at their end. There are plenty of other topics that also require FOIs and cost shouldn't really act as the deciding factor. Annual accounts, audits, etc. also add up.
I'll check the RSS situation and the wiki.
Well best thing about office merchandise is people love to talk and not work so if they see a digital rights Ireland mug, they'll probably ask what its about too.
Power behind the brand and all that jazz I hate :P
Yeah FOI requests are expensive. kind of flies in the face of FOI. The price will only go one way if the government keeps getting shown up by them too.0 -
Aside from donating money is there anything else people can do to get involved and help out?0
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pretty*monster wrote: »Aside from donating money is there anything else people can do to get involved and help out?0
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In general a good start on any issue is to:
* Ensure you're registered to vote;
* Find out who your local TDs are;
* Let them know that these issues are important to you and will affect how you'll vote at the next election.
Marriage Equality have a good resource here which helps in getting the contact details for your constituency TDs:
http://www.marriagequality.ie/getinvolved/tdcampaign.html
Internet filtering is a developing issue at the moment - a good start would be to write/email each local TD expressing concern that the Department of Justice appears to be promoting internet filtering without any public consultation or legislative basis and asking what they propose to do about it.
Three strikes is of course also a problem. Here you might want to:
* Move to UPC / suggest that others move to UPC. (They're the only ISP so far to resist IRMA's demands to the point of going to court - consequently you might want to support them. Alternatively you could suggest that Eircom, Vodafone and other ISPs who have caved in should be let know that they will be losing your business as a result.)
* Write to the national media / your local paper setting out the civil rights problems with three strikes.
Hopefully on these issues you'll find plenty at http://www.digitalrights.ie/ to get you started.
We (DRI) will try to get more campaigns up and running for public involvement soon - at the moment the data retention litigation has tended to take up a lot of time - but with successful results!0 -
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Lately I see some groups becoming ... militant... about DIgital Rights. Launching DDoS, etc. Example? Operation: Payback. Right now they are targeting infact.ie BTW, just as a note of information.
Not sure how productive it is though... Any opinions?0 -
Personally, I take the view that protest should be within the law and the democratic process. DDOS and the like can certainly be effective but strikes me as likely to invite a backlash and to ultimately undermine the cause.0
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http://stopsopaireland.com/news/
the email addresses of all irish TD's
cut and paste the following into the bcc: field in you email client
gerry.adams@oireachtas.ie,
james.bannon@oireachtas.ie,
sean.barrett@oireachtas.ie,
ceann.comhairle@oireachtas.ie,
tom.barry@oireachtas.ie,
richard.boydbarrett@oireachtas.ie,
pat.breen@oireachtas.ie,
tommy.broughan@oireachtas.ie,
john.browne@oireachtas.ie,
richard.bruton@oireachtas.ie,
joan.burton@oireachtas.ie,
ray.butler@oireachtas.ie,
jerry.buttimer@oireachtas.ie,
catherine.byrne@oireachtas.ie,
eric.byrne@oireachtas.ie,
dara.calleary@oireachtas.ie,
ciaran.cannon@oireachtas.ie,
joe.carey@oireachtas.ie,
paudie.coffey@oireachtas.ie,
aine.collins@oireachtas.ie,
joan.collins@oireachtas.ie,
niall.collins@oireachtas.ie,
michael.colreavy@oireachtas.ie,
michael.conaghan@oireachtas.ie,
sean.conlan@oireachtas.ie,
paulj.connaughton@oireachtas.ie,
ciara.conway@oireachtas.ie,
noel.coonan@oireachtas.ie,
marcella.corcorankennedy@oireachtas.ie,
joe.costello@oireachtas.ie,
simon.coveney@oireachtas.ie,
barry.cowen@oireachtas.ie,
michael.creed@oireachtas.ie,
lucinda.creighton@oireachtas.ie,
sean.crowe@oireachtas.ie,
clare.daly@oireachtas.ie,
jim.daly@oireachtas.ie,
john.deasy@oireachtas.ie,
jimmy.deenihan@oireachtas.ie,
pat.deering@oireachtas.ie,
pearse.doherty@oireachtas.ie,
regina.doherty@oireachtas.ie,
stephen.donnelly@oireachtas.ie,
paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie,
timmy.dooley@oireachtas.ie,
robert.dowds@oireachtas.ie,
andrew.doyle@oireachtas.ie,
bernard.durkan@oireachtas.ie,
dessie.ellis@oireachtas.ie,
damien.english@oireachtas.ie,
alan.farrell@oireachtas.ie,
frank.feighan@oireachtas.ie,
anne.ferris@oireachtas.ie,
martin.ferris@oireachtas.ie,
frances.fitzgerald@oireachtas.ie,
peterm.fitzpatrick@oireachtas.ie,
charles.flanagan@oireachtas.ie,
lukeming.flanagan@oireachtas.ie,
terence.flanagan@oireachtas.ie,
sean.fleming@oireachtas.ie,
tom.fleming@oireachtas.ie,
eamon.gilmore@oireachtas.ie,
noel.grealish@oireachtas.ie,
brendan.griffin@oireachtas.ie,
john.halligan@oireachtas.ie,
dominic.hannigan@oireachtas.ie,
noel.harrington@oireachtas.ie,
simon.harris@oireachtas.ie,
brian.hayes@oireachtas.ie,
tom.hayes@oireachtas.ie,
seamus.healy@oireachtas.ie,
michael.healy-rae@oireachtas.ie,
martin.heyden@oireachtas.ie,
joe.higgins@oireachtas.ie,
phil.hogan@oireachtas.ie,
brendan.howlin@oireachtas.ie,
heather.humphreys@oireachtas.ie,
kevin.humphreys@oireachtas.ie,
derek.keating@oireachtas.ie,
colm.keaveney@oireachtas.ie,
paul.kehoe@oireachtas.ie,
bily.kelleher@oireachtas.ie,
alan.kelly@oireachtas.ie,
enda.kenny@oireachtas.ie,
taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie,
sean.kenny@oireachtas.ie,
seamus.kirk@oireachtas.ie,
michael.kitt@oireachtas.ie,
sean.kyne@oireachtas.ie,
anthony.lawlor@oireachtas.ie,
michael.lowry@oireachtas.ie,
ciaran.lynch@oireachtas.ie,
kathleen.lynch@oireachtas.ie,
john.lyons@oireachtas.ie,
padraig.maclochlainn@oireachtas.ie,
eamonn.maloney@oireachtas.ie,
micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie,
peter.mathews@oireachtas.ie,
michael.mccarthy@oireachtas.ie,
charlie.mcconalogue@oireachtas.ie,
marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie,
shane.mcentee@oireachtas.ie,
nicky.mcfadden@oireachtas.ie,
dinny.mcginley@oireachtas.ie,
finian.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie,
mattie.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie,
michael.mcgrath@oireachtas.ie,
john.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie,
joe.mchugh@oireachtas.ie,
sandra.mclellan@oireachtas.ie,
tony.mcloughlin@oireachtas.ie,
michael.mcnamara@oireachtas.ie,
olivia.mitchell@oireachtas.ie,
mary.mitchelloconnor@oireachtas.ie,
michael.moynihan@oireachtas.ie,
michelle.mulherin@oireachtas.ie,
catherine.murphy@oireachtas.ie,
dara.murphy@oireachtas.ie,
eoghan.murphy@oireachtas.ie,
gerald.nash@oireachtas.ie,
denis.naughten@oireachtas.ie,
dan.neville@oireachtas.ie,
derek.nolan@oireachtas.ie,
michael.noonan@oireachtas.ie,
patrick.nulty@oireachtas.ie,
caoimhghin.ocaolain@oireachtas.ie,
eamon.ocuiv@oireachtas.ie,
sean.ofearghail@oireachtas.ie,
aodhan.oriordain@oireachtas.ie,
aengus.osnodaigh@oireachtas.ie,
jonathan.obrien@oireachtas.ie,
willie.odea@oireachtas.ie,
kieran.odonnell@oireachtas.ie,
patrick.odonovan@oireachtas.ie,
fergus.odowd@oireachtas.ie,
john.omahony@oireachtas.ie,
joe.oreilly@oireachtas.ie,
jan.osullivan@oireachtas.ie,
maureen.osullivan@oireachtas.ie,
willie.penrose@oireachtas.ie,
john.perry@oireachtas.ie,
ann.phelan@oireachtas.ie,
johnpaul.phelan@oireachtas.ie,
thomas.pringle@oireachtas.ie,
ruairi.quinn@oireachtas.ie,
pat.rabbitte@oireachtas.ie,
james.reilly@oireachtas.ie,
michael.ring@oireachtas.ie,
shane.ross@oireachtas.ie,
brendan.ryan@oireachtas.ie,
alan.shatter@oireachtas.ie,
sean.sherlock@oireachtas.ie,
roisin.shorthall@oireachtas.ie,
brendan.smith@oireachtas.ie,
arthur.spring@oireachtas.ie,
emmet.stagg@oireachtas.ie,
brian.stanley@oireachtas.ie,
david.stanton@oireachtas.ie,
billy.timmis@oireachtas.ie,
peadar.toibin@oireachtas.ie,
robert.troy@oireachtas.ie,
joanna.tuffy@oireachtas.ie,
liam.twomey@oireachtas.ie,
leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie,
jack.wall@oireachtas.ie,
mick.wallace@oireachtas.ie,
brian.walsh@oireachtas.ie,
alex.white@oireachtas.ie
Here is a template email that can be sent
Quote:
Dear duly elected representative of the peoples of Ireland,
I write to you today to call your attention to a matter of great importance and urgency to our nation. Before the months end, Minister of State for Enterprise Seán Sherlock is to publish an “order” which is understood to allow copyright holders to demand the censorship of Irish citizens access an open and democratic Internet.
The Internet represents the single most important economic, social, and cultural communications tool since mankind spoke his first words. The Internet’s ability to promote the free exchange of artistic expression and encourage the discussion of revolutionary ideas such as democracy makes it to the modern world, what roads were to the Romans. The Internet is the road upon which we and our children and our children’s children will prosper. Any attempt at limiting its efficacy, at censoring the free exchange of ideas and expression should be considered an attack on our liberties and our future prosperity, I hope you’ll agree. Whether you recognise it or not, your constituents certainly do and I am in no doubt that they will make you aware of this fact in the coming days.
The Internet, spurred on by the incredible wealth of human talent on the Island of Ireland, promotes and takes an active role in the development of technologies of global significance. Its potential positive impact on our Island has yet to be fully realised; we are only now beginning to reap the rewards of our earlier labours of investing in resilient and wide spread broadband to the nation and other investments.
Yahoo!, Twitter, Facebook, Google, AOL, FourSquare, LinkedIn, PayPal, Zynga, and many more US based companies came out to protest against similar legislation in their country (SOPA/PIPA) which aimed at addressing copyright holders concerns, by censoring the Internet. These companies and those much like them are the future lifeblood of Ireland’s knowledge economy. To believe we can summarily enact legislation that will censor the Internet and not severely detriment our economy and our democratic rights is foolhardy to say the least.
The means by which this legislation is proposed to work will not achieve its intended result of protecting the rights of copyright holders. Infringing sites will still be accessible by even the most minimally technologically literate persons. This legislation serves only to erode our rights and discourage international investment.
If we continue to let our rights be eroded at the whims of corporations, which place pressure on our leaders to create legislation that chips away at our ability to freely express ourselves, we will fade into insignificance on the world stage and we will have squandered the enormous potential that we, as a nation striving for a knowledge economy, have worked so hard to achieve.
On the 11th of January, The European Commission recognised that the Internet “has enormous potential for boosting growth and creating jobs.” and that 20-25% of new jobs could come from growth in this area. Growth which will not be possible if the policies in place are more harmful than they are productive.
I ask, with all due respect, please do not let this legislation pass.
Yours sincerely,
A technologically literate voter
From
http://www.scribd.com/sean_nicholls_...net-Censorship0
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