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I'm going to share a few important things I've seen on tumblr, considering ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement).

Artwork explaining the main facts about ACTA: [link]

Original post: [link] Please reblog these if you have a tumblr, or share the links anywhere you can.


I've read a lot of people who are 'tired' after the fight with SOPA, but remember: the fight for civil liberties NEVER really ends. It's tireless, and yes, it might seem unfair, but at least we live in a time when you can wage battle with a keyboard and not with a musket.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT ACTA.

Find the right petitions, spread the information. It's better than nothing. Here's five things you CAN do if you can't find a good petition or cannot contact the proper representatives:

1. Spread information. Find data online, and share it with others.

2. Make sure to tag things properly. The information is only good if it can be found.

3. Cross platforms. Spread information through different mediums. Check for twitter hashtags and USE them.

4. Look for the strongest petitions online. Direct all possible attention to the ones which are: (a) official or directed at government bodies, or (b) have the largest amount of signatures. SHARE these petitions. Make posts listing the strongest ones.

5. Research, research, research! Just google the latest news on ACTA and make a post about it on all the networks you can.

6. Talk about it. Talk about it in your workplace, on the way to work, with friends, with family. Every person you inform is one potential head in a network that will further spread the word of discontent.

7. Give it at LEAST 10 minutes of your every day to find out the latest about ACTA, and sign new petitions if they come up.


Remember these THREE BASIC ARGUMENTS against ACTA:

1. It was discussed in secret.

2. ACTA will affect BASIC liberties and civil rights, such as privacy and freedom of speech. There is NO economic benefit or tradeoff from ANY law that can compensate this. Ever.

3. ACTA is practically GLOBAL. And if you feel safe because your country didn't sign an agreement, remember, countries can always jump on board with them later.


WAYS TO HELP FOR ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE:

Are you or do you know a DESIGNER? Make information about ACTA easier to divulge and assimilate. Present it properly so that the message is communicated BETTER.

Are you or do you know a LAWYER? Help others understand the contents of ACTA by putting it in layman's terms.

Are you or do you know a BLOGGER? Put information about ACTA on your blog.

Are you or do you know a JOURNALIST? Get the information off the net and onto regular channels, such as television or radio. There's still plenty of ground to cover.

Are you anything else? An engineer? An animator? A musician? A doctor? ACTA CONCERNS YOU and the liberty you have to research material for your workplace or distribute your artistic creations.


MORE INFORMATION:

Say NO to ACTA [link]
Stopacta.info [link]
LA Quadrature 3 core reasons for rejecting ACTA [link]
LA Quadrature [link]
ACTA common resolution [link]


HERE'S HOW TO CONTACT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: [link]

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What is ACTA?

ACTA is one more offensive against the sharing of culture on the Internet. ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement) is an agreement secretly negotiated by a small "club" of like-minded countries (39 countries, including the 27 of the European Union, the United States, Japan, etc).

Negotiated instead of being democratically debated, ACTA bypasses parliaments and international organizations to dictate a repressive logic dictated by the entertainment industries. ACTA would impose new criminal sanctions forcing Internet actors to monitor and censor online communications.

It is thus a major threat to freedom of expression online and creates legal uncertainty for Internet companies. In the name of trademarks and patents, it would also hamper access to generic medicines in poor countries. The European Parliament now has an ultimate opportunity to reject ACTA.

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Please spread any information about this. We already know about SOPA and PIPA in the U.S., but ACTA is even worse and it will not only affect Europe, but other continents too.