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Arundhati Roy Sydney Peace Prize Speech

Please take five minutes and read Arundhati Roy's acceptance speech for Sydney Peace Prize. Beyond her biting analysis of the new world order, there are three parts that seemed of particular relevance to nonprofits. (1) The role of human rights NGOs is problematic. "Many resistance movements in poor countries which are fighting huge injustice and questioning the underlying principles of what constitutes 'liberation' and 'development', view Human Rights NGOs as modern day missionaries who've come to take the ugly edge off Imperialism. To defuse political anger and to maintain the status quo." (2) Resistance must not be allowed to be equated with terrorism. "It falls to those of us living outside Iraq to create that mass-based, secular and non-violent resistance to the US occupation." (3) We need strategies that target the centers of power, rather than just make us feel good. "The bad news is that colorful demonstrations, weekend marches and annual trips to the World Social Forum are not enough. There have to be targeted acts of real civil disobedience with real consequences." Posted: 11/7/04; 12:10:46 PM #

Google Censors Abu Ghraib Images
	In a deeply disturbing bit of post election news, it's possible that Google is censoring Abu Ghraib images. If we want a world where those in power can be held accountable, we need access to information about their actions. I hope this is unfounded. It turns out that it is. I am grateful. Posted: 11/7/04; 12:05:35 PM #

Is Microsoft Ready to Assert IP Rights over the Internet?
	In eWeek, Steven Vaughan-Nichols asks Is Microsoft Ready to Assert IP Rights over the Internet?. It's sure starting to look like it. Some of the protocols over which the company seems to assert intellectual property control, such as the TCP/IP protocols and the Domain Name System, are fundamental elements of the Internet. Posted: 11/7/04; 12:02:59 PM #

Gov track

Although the U.S. Congress is out of session until January, if your organization is in any way involved in legislative issues, you might benefit from checking out GovTrack. Data about members of congress, bills, votes, and so forth are tracked in a variety of interesting ways, and all the data is available in open format XML, so you can easily integrate this into your activist tools. Posted: 11/7/04; 12:02:05 PM #

Technologies of Cooperation: Simple, General Principles
	Howard Rhinegold is looking for some general principles for technologies of cooperation and is looking for your help. He starts with saying that a powerful cooperation tool is: simple, linkable, open, a lever for self interest, and self-teaching through imitation. What would you add? Posted: 11/7/04; 12:00:33 PM #