from Dailyradical

In the Information Technology world, the Free Software Foundation is the organization that struggles against the drive to convert knowledge itself into a capitalist commodity known as Intellectual Property. The emergence of Linux, the fastest growing computer operating system (OS), has done much to validate the FSF work. Today, the FSF and the Linux movement have given rise to an increasing number of politically active programmers, including the Progressive Programmers League, based in the United States.

How It All Began...

Computer programmer Richard M. Stallman left MIT and launched the GNU Project in 1984. His goal was to develop a complete UNIX style operating system free of the restrictions associated with commercial software. UNIX is the industrial strength operating system (OS) that dominates servers on the Internet and in the corporate sector.

The Free Software Foundation (FSF), a non-profit charity that distributes the GNU Project’s software and accepts donations to keep the Project alive, was founded in 1985.

from Dailyradical

In recent months, has been word of mouth a name: "Facebook." Facebook is
the name of a Web site on the Internet that serves as a social tool to
connect people (www.facebook.com). In this type of page is what you call
Social Network Sites (SRS).

Facebook serves to endless uses. It serves to connect the Web fellow
class of the College, which serves to connect old friends physically
separated by distance and the passing of life; serves to contact
prostitut @ s (say that the governor of the state of New York contacted
a prostitute through a BSS is called MySpace); serves to play, and, also
serves to organize a way of doing politics. Facebook, for example, was
channel-organization worldwide-from demonstrations against the FARC that
took place on February 4, 2008. Currently serves as a space for
organizing demonstrations against President Hugo Chavez to be held on
April 11, 2008. It also has spaces for the help and support of the
candidacy of Leopoldo Lopez and to contact people who "hate Mario Silva."

What are many of us but artists, and what do we do but create? We can function in the world of suits and clocks, but to do so we have to press ourselves. We suffer and strain for the art, sure, but no more than any parent does so for their child – no more than is worthwhile for what we get to experience in return. A parent does not need to force upon themselves the task of being a guardian to their children, certainly not anyone intended to raise young in the first place – we who were born knowing there was naught to do but create, simply do so. It is the most basic function of our existence… the action we revert to when there is nothing else being imposed upon our will… it is our default application. This community, and the rare few like it - here we can breath or suffocate. Whichever we choose though, it is a gift, because, we got that choice.

http://www.dailyradical.org/knowledge/Venezuela_and_the_Hackers_Revoluti...

The Third International Forum on Free Knowledge was recently held in Maracaibo, Venezuela, bringing together many people interested in the development of free software worldwide. One reason Venezuela chose to host this event is that, in January 2006, their new free software law came into effect, which mandates that all government agencies migrate to free software over a two-year period. I was invited to speak about the use of free software in telecommunications. Many of the events and presentations at the event were, much like mine, of a rather technical nature. From the many technical people present I was able to draw my own understanding of how Venezuela’s economic revolution was being implemented.

The People’s Ministry of Economics

http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Scientology_threatens_Wikileaks_over_secret_cu...

The cult of Scientology has one again tried to censor one of their online critics, but it's not going to work this time. In the past, Scientology has abused the DMCA to force site owners to take down "copyrighted" internal information from their religious organization. They have also been known to use murder and some people have had to flee the country to escape their grasp. I have taken on Scientology before on a small scale, and they are no ordinary foe. But this attack on Wikileaks is unacceptable, and those who wish to stop the free flow of infomation must be held accountable for their actions and said information must be freed.

Internationally the word is spreading about the US Online censorship
on Youtube, Facebook and government like this article from theNewYork Times

The blacklist of sites associated with Cuba in OFAC

An opportunity to End Software Patents: ESP briefs Court in its historic rehearing of the Bilski case - [FSF.US]

Harald Welte and Groklaw announced as winners of the FSF's annual free software awards - [FSF.US]

Comrades, it has happen again!
DIGG this story HERE
this is truly dreadful, and a grim precedent!
They just tried this last week with Wikileaks --
probably the people that they are harrassing can
get their domain names registered overseas, but
you can see the path we're going down here...
You can find the original story from the NYTimesHERE
And another story HERE
I will like to make a call to action, spread the word and post this links on as many mailing list and sites as you can, for more information subscribe to our World Wide Digital Freedoms mailing list. Feel free to sent us your links and information about the case.

In solidarity
ReK2

Despite having their domain shut down, WikiLeaks is still continuing on with their work of insuring governmental transparency. Just today, they released a document detailing US plans to shoot down an earth-bound satellite. The document is a presentation given by FEMA.

While WikiLeaks pushes on, acting as a clearinghouse for leaked documents, we must continue to defend them here in the United States. If you haven't done so already, read my previous blog post on the WikiLeaks gag order. You'll be able to find mirrors, files, and ways to help WikiLeaks.

We must break the congressional silence on this issue. Despite being reported in almost every major news outlet, no members of our congress have stepped forward on this issue. It's time that our representatives show their support of WikiLeaks and whistleblowers everywhere.

Please take the time to call the offices of Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul. If anybody is going to do something about this in Congress, it's probably them.

Wikileaks, a wiki-based information clearinghouse for whistleblowers that TIME said "... could become as important a journalistic tool as the Freedom of Information Act.", has had their .org domain taken offline due to an illegal court order out of California. The court took them offline because they leaked files documenting many rich, powerful people in the United States, some of them running for president, using offshore banking to evade taxes.

We need to act swiftly to make sure these documents can get out and that wikileaks is put back online. We need to get these files out there. If you can't access wikileaks.org, use the alternate domain names at the end of this article.

1. Get Those Files, Spread Em
Go to one of the mirrors and start downloading. Start sharing, start uploading. Throw it in your Samba shares and put that shit on Limewire. Post it on your site. Feel free to share them! We are seeding both torrents.

The Full Archive:
http://thepiratebay.org/tor/4034919/WikileakS.org_mirror_archive_(Feb_10th_2008)
http://wikileaks.bluenorway.org/wikileaks-08-0210.zip

The BF Supplement to the Full Archive:

"Tell the FCC and Congress You Support Net Neutrality

We got the heads up from John Laesch, Democratic candidate in the
special election to replace Dennis Hastert in IL-14. The FCC has made
provision for comments from the public on net neutrality, and on
John's request we created a special action page that pipes your
personal comments into the FCC electronic filing system, AND sends
your messages to all your members of Congress at the same time.

Net Neutrality FCC Comments:
http://www.usalone.com/laesch/pnum786.php (anyone can use this link)

Facebook Version:
http://apps.facebook.com/fb_voices/action.php?qnum=pnum786 (to use
this you must be a member of Facebook and logged in)

We have already seen blatant moves towards making a two tier toll
road out of our wide open democratic internet, as when Comcast
started discriminating against particular users recently. And you
remember when the AT&T censored Pearl Jam's criticism of Bush, and
when Verizon censored NARAL's pro choice text messages. This is our
chance to speak out and make our voices heard to defend our free
internet.

John Laesch's special primary election is coming up in just 1 week on

"Yesterday, I wrote to all of you about the case of Derek Blackadder, the trade union organizer banned from Facebook for ... organizing.

You responded instantly and the word spread like wildfire. Within 8 hours, nearly 2,400 of you signed up to join the Facebook group protesting the ban on Derek.

Facebook has now removed the ban. We won.

Thank you!

Many of you also wrote to me expressing your views -- pro and con -- regarding Facebook.

I wanted to make clear that I was not endorsing Facebook as a tool trade unionists should use. To the contrary, I have published an article entitled "Bandwagons and Buzzwords: Facebook and the Unions" which takes an entirely critical view.

Others have different views. John Wood, who took the initiative to set up the Facebook group to protest the ban on Derek, has written a response to my article, which is worth reading in full. He too is not uncritical of Facebook.

A very large number of you wrote to me yesterday and of course that would be the moment that my email provider crashed. We're trying to recover all those emails now (and yes, I've changed providers since then). Your patience is appreciated.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: The Pen
Date: Jan 24, 2008 2:43 PM
Subject: FISA Action Page: It's Time For A Majority Leader Who Is More Than A Gutless Supplicant
To: 2600denver@gmail.com

Yesterday Harry Reid again brought forward the version of the FISA
bill containing a provision for telecom immunity for their criminal
complicity in illegal wiretaps of American citizens. Sure we need to
win another filibuster, but we also need a stronger message. Reid
must go.

What part of exercising power doesn't Harry Reid get? The Washington
Post reports him "pleading" with the White House. And yet, it is his
decision which version of the FISA bill to have the Senate consider,
and by choosing to bring forward the bad one, he is knowingly forcing
opponents of yet another "get out of jail free card" for Cheney
cronies to get 60 votes to strip it out of the bill. Or filibuster
yet again.

Step Down Harry Action Page:
http://www.usalone.com/step_down_harry.php (anyone can use this link)

Facebook Version:
http://apps.facebook.com/fb_voices/action.php?qnum=pnum784 (for this
link must be a member of Facebook and logged in)

* Action Alert: Your Photos and Videos Needed at
StopTheSpying.org!

Let's show our elected representatives that we the people
-- concerned Americans and voters from across the country
-- oppose telecom immunity. Visit StopTheSpying.org for
details on making photos and videos to drive the point
home: no immunity for lawbreaking telecoms!
http://www.stopthespying.org

The Senate has begun discussing telecom immunity and the
FISA Amendments Act on the Senate floor, and by many
indications a vote is imminent. Congress needs to hear from
citizens like you on this issue!

It is likely that there will be several rounds of
amendments and filibusters in the Senate. In addition, the
House version of the surveillance bill does not include
immunity for telecoms, setting the stage for an inevitable
reconciliation of differences in the House and Senate bills
if the Senate does pass retroactive immunity. Congressional
champions that have so far remained resolute in rejecting
telecom immunity to defend the rule of law and privacy
rights need your support now more than ever!

So visit StopTheSpying.org now to speak out against telecom
immunity!

Facebook is at it again, placing corporate interests of those of their users. Just like when they told other companies and our friends what we are buying online, Facebook has once again bowed down to corporate desires by banning union organizers.

"In a moment I'm going to ask you to support the most unusual campaign we have ever launched -- but first, some background.

Blackadder: Banned from Facebook

Facebook, the social networking website, is getting a lot of attention these days. In the trade union movement, there are differences of opinion about how useful Facebook actually is. Some of us are making a real effort to find out by using Facebook as an organizing tool.

One of them is senior LabourStart correspondent Derek Blackadder, from Canada. Derek's day job is as a staffer for the country's largest union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). He's one of the people who thinks Facebook is potentially quite useful for trade unionists.

Well, maybe not so much anymore.

You see, a few days ago, Derek was banned from Facebook.

I'll let John Wood from the U.K. tell the story in his own words:

GO TO http://act.credomobile.com/campaign/fisa2008

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael Kieschnick, CREDO Action/Working Assets
Date: Jan 23, 2008 5:08 PM
Subject: Tell your senators: Protect us, not AT&T.

CREDO Action: Tools for Change from Working Assets

Tell the Senate: Protect us, not AT&T

Dear Alex,
Broad New Wiretapping Powers for President Bush?
This may be our last chance to stop warrantless wiretapping and retroactive immunity. Please take action today.

This one is worth a call too
Please call Senator Allard at (202) 224-5941 and Senator Salazar at (202) 224-5852 to tell them: protect us, not AT&T. (If you're a CREDO customer, these calls are free as part of the free speech program. Not a customer? Click here for more info.)

Yesterday we wrote you and asked you to contact the three Senators currently running for President so they could return to Washington and defend our rights to privacy and the rule of law in the debate over wiretapping.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ben Kroetz, TrueMajorityAction
Date: Jan 23, 2008 12:03 PM
Subject: Don't let them get away with reading your emails
To: 2600denver@gmail.com

TrueMajorityACTION
Telecom companies should be held responsible for illegal spying

Tell the Senate: No immunity for giant telecom companies.

Take Action
Tomorrow, the Senate will begin debate -- again -- on whether or not to give immunity to giant telecom companies that helped the NSA illegally listen to your phone conversations and read your emails.1

The White House is fighting hard for their friends in the industry, but it's up to the Senate to do the right thing. We cannot allow our basic civil liberties to be ignored. Tell your Senators today that you expect them to hold the telecom companies responsible for their actions.

Tell the Senate: No immunity for giant telecom companies.

http://act.truemajorityaction.org/t/50/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1223

"Last November, EU regulators in the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education began looking at how culture affects the economy and recommended a 'balance between the opportunities for access to cultural events and content and intellectual property' saying that 'criminalizing consumers so as to combat digital piracy is not the right solution.' Industry lobbyists, of course, immediately sprang into action to try to turn that around, writing amendments that would set up mandatory ISP copyright filters and extend EU copyrights to match the USA's life-plus-70 term. Thankfully, the committee rejected all of those amendments: 'Clearly, they're not going to let the ITRE or the European recording industry push them around, which is great news for Europeans. Now if we could only get the US Congress to show as much spine as the French (ouch).'"

The full Senate is scheduled to begin debate Wednesday on legislation that allows the government to monitor telephone calls and emails in the United States. The administration is pressing the Congress to rubber stamp the president's warrantless spying program and grant blank immunity to phone companies that broke the law. FCNL is urging the Senate to restore court oversight to the government spying program and hold accountable the corporations that broke the law. Take action: http://action.fcnl.org/r/4511/61944/ .