[HacktionLab] Richard Stallman speaking tour of England next week

[John Hodge]

Richard Stallman is doing 5 talks at various locations around the country in 
early March. It seems his main current activity is around raising awareness 
against anti-downloading legislation, corporations imposing Digital Rights 
Management and cracking down on copyright infringements - so it's not the 
standard rant from him about free software. For this tour I attempted to set up 
some dates where he could speak in social centres and attract the sorts who 
might engage in activism around these topics - which is what he wants - but the 
people organising/paying for the tour didn't see it that way, and have kept it 
to campus lecture theatres. As it is I think they are tense because 
pre-registration numbers are lowish. All events are free (obviously) and you're 
absolutely forbidden from networking these dates through Facebook!
JH   
  
For details of the rest of the tour see 
www.theiet.org/local/emea/europe/richard-stallman.cfm

CAMBRIDGE - 1st March, 6pm – starting 6.30pm
Free software and your freedom
The Free Software Movement campaigns for computer users' freedom to cooperate 
and control their own computing. The Free Software Movement developed the GNU 
operating system, typically used together with the kernel Linux, specifically to 
make these freedoms possible.
Cambridge University Computer Laboratory (CUCL)
William Gates Building, 15 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0FD
(Directions here www.cl.cam.ac.uk/directions)
Please pre-register here http://localevents.theiet.org/register.php?event=a22620

PRESTON - 2nd March – reception 5.30pm, lecture 6.30pm
A free digital society
Activities directed at "including" more people in the use of digital technology 
are predicated on the assumption that such inclusion is invariably a good 
thing.  It appears so, when judged solely by immediate practical convenience. 
However, if we also judge in terms of human rights, whether digital inclusion is 
good or bad depends on what kind of digital world we are to be included in.  If 
we wish to work towards digital inclusion as a goal, it behooves us to make sure 
it is the good kind. The lecture will also cover hot topics, such as the impact 
of recent projects such as Wikileaks, on the global digital world and wider 
audiences.
Darwin Lecture Theatre, UCLan, Preston (Directions here 
www.uclan.ac.uk/information/uclan/how_to_find_us/files/3dmap.pdf)
Registration is mandatory – see here 
http://localevents.theiet.org/register.php?event=1e1b58

SHEFFIELD - 5th March 9.45am-1pm
Copyright vs Community in the Age of Computer Networks
Copyright developed in the age of the printing press and was designed to fit 
with the system of centralized copying imposed by this technology. But, the 
copyright system does not fit well with computer networks, and only Draconian 
punishments can enforce it. The global corporations that profit from copyright 
are lobbying for Draconian punishments, and to increase their copyright powers, 
while suppressing public access to technology. But if we seriously hope to serve 
the only legitimate purpose of copyright, to promote progress for the benefit of 
the public, then we must make changes in the other direction.
University of Sheffield Auditorium, Sheffield University Union of Students, 
Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN. 


LONDON - March 7th 5.30pm-9.30pm
A Free Digital Society
Activities directed at “including” more people in the use of digital technology 
are predicated on the assumption that such inclusion is invariably a good 
thing.  It appears so, when judged solely by immediate practical convenience. 
However, if we also judge in terms of human rights, whether digital inclusion is 
good or bad depends on what kind of digital world we are to be included in.  If 
we wish to work towards digital inclusion as a goal, it behooves us to make sure 
it is the good kind.
Savoy Place
London (Directions here www.theiet.org/about/locations/savoy_location.cfm)
Register online here http://localevents.theiet.org/register.php?event=bc7fd2

BRIGHTON - March 8th 7pm
Copyright vs Community in the Age of Computer Networks
Copyright developed in the age of the printing press, and was designed to fit 
with the system of centralized copying imposed by the printing press.  But the 
copyright system does not fit well with computer networks, and only draconian 
punishments can enforce it.
The global corporations that profit from copyright are lobbying for draconian 
punishments, and to increase their copyright powers, while suppressing public 
access to technology.  But if we seriously hope to serve the only legitimate 
purpose of copyright--to promote progress, for the benefit of the public--then 
we must make changes in the other direction. This talk will also cover the 
unjust goals of the Digital Economy Act and what the UK ought to do instead.
Chichester Lecture Theatre, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RH



      
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.psand.net/cgi-bin/mailman/private/hacktionlab/attachments/20110227/e981b2d0/attachment.htm>