Thursday, January 19, 2012

Stop SOPA and PIPA



Those of you who have gone on Wikipedia and Google in the past couple days have undoubtedly seen protests against the proposed SOPA and PIPA bills going through Congress. While I’m sure these bills were well intentioned they will prove detrimental to the Tech Industry in which I work and cripple many of the exiting sites and services we all cherish and use on the web by limiting what information can be displayed and shared online.

I have already written to my local representative in Congress and the Senate in an effort to join the groundswell of supporters petitioning for the removal of this bill or at the very least obtaining a vote of “Nay” when it comes onto the House and Senate floors in late January. Please join me and the thousands who have already made their voice heard by signing an online petition or writing an email to your local representatives. 

It’s easy to make your voice heard and only takes a few minutes of your time. Google has an easy to join online petition and Wikipedia will provide links to your representatives’ websites simply by inputting your zip code. Please choose to keep the internet the free and open community that we have come to love and enjoy. Thank you.  

16 comments:

  1. Hi Mark. That sounds like a good campaign, is there any way I can help from this side of the pond?

    BTW, I've nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. Check out my blog for the details! :)

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  2. The bills have been delayed for more revisions as a result of yesterday's protests. The masses were finally heard!

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  3. I'm so glad they stopped the bills for now. It feels good to know we can make a difference!

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  4. We had to Congressmen here drop their support for both bills after the outcry.

    I understand wanting to reduce piracy. But we do need to keep the internet's information free-flowing. Otherwise, we just become another China or North Korea.

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  5. Somehow I didn't know about this until yesterday and saw the impact in the evening when my son wanted to research timelines during which people of different races came to Jamaica. I hope that the protest had the desired effect.

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  6. Hi Mark..this campaign sounds like a good one. Will help in whatever way we can.

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  7. SOPA is ridiculous. I get why they're doing it, but the cure is worse than the disease.

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  8. I'm so glad the bills were called off--for now, anyway.

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  9. It's a relief to hear about the revision of the bills.

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  10. I was away from the internet for a few days and did not know about this until my kids were trying to do their homework and couldn't access some of the sites they needed to. It makes me mad. I'll help in whatever way I can.

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  11. Done my part. I'm glad to hear SOPA has been pulled completely. Yep. Freedom of the internet is something all sides seem to agree on. :)

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  12. I've heard so much about these - a lot of people are very passionate about this!

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  13. Nick – Thanks for the support…and the nomination:)

    Alex – Thanks for the update, that’s good news!

    Emily – Definitely, it’s amazing how people’s voices can be heard through the internet.

    LittleJeans – Thanks!

    Jay – Agreed, glad things went in the right direction this time.

    J.L. – I think it did have the desired effect:)

    Rachna – Thanks for the support and kudos:)

    Melissa – Good to know:)

    McKenzie – It is screwy indeed.

    Eagle – Definitely. Now we just need to make sure they don’t try the same thing by a different name.

    Lynda – Very relieved over here:)

    Susan – That’s how most of us discovered it I think. And what better way?

    David – Thanks, every bit makes a difference!

    Sheri – Thanks for reading my blog:)

    Susan – They are and I think it surprised Congress, especially when the President sided with the protesters.

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