Senate please say NO!!!

Until today, I like some of you I suspect, had heard some grumblings about Internet censorship, but hadn't really paid too much attention. I thought (wrongly) that the government censoring the net surely would never get "wings", and I didn't really know how it would effect me.

I have just got off the phone to a friend on the gold coast, who spent last year looking after her mother in the last stages of asbestosis related illness, and now is doing the same for her dad. She is averaging 3 hours sleep a night. What does this have to do with Internet censorship you might ask? She doesn't leave the house much, in fact leaving the house to do even the shopping requires massive organisation on scale with military operations (As anyone who has ever looked after someone in their final days would know). My friend has discovered this site called second life, and it is just that, it has shopping malls, bars, clubs, resorts, you can own property or rent a house, head down to the cafe for a coffee with your mates (who are actually real people somewhere in the world ... this is just their 2nd life, their form of escape).

Sounds a little odd? That's what I thought at first, then upon research I discovered sites such as Second Life are being used by the World Health Organisation to help reintroduce people who have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, rape victims etc back into the world, its like entering the world without actually leaving the house. My friend tells me she has friends in similar situation to her own careering for people, she has a friend with advanced MS, she has a mate who lost both his legs in Vietnam, all for whatever reason have difficulty leaving the house.

As Australia does not have a rating higher than 15+ sites like Second Life and even facebook can be shut down. There is also the question of talking about things such as abortion, euthanasia etc on the Internet as this falls into a grey area.

This is dangerous legislation which will have real impacts on everyday Australians. The Bill put forward by Senator Conroy, known as the Communications Bill is before the Senate this sitting (this week). Please make your opinions known.

Below are someways you can help.

Voice your opinion.

By letting policymakers know just what we think of the "clean feed" Internet filter, we can bring about a policy change. You can help by contacting your representatives and spreading the word about this campaign.

Contact Senator Conroy.
Contacting the Minister will let him know that his constituents, the Australian public, are not on board with his impractical plan.

Call the Minister.
There's nothing like a personal phone call to get the message across. Call the minister's office on (03) 9650 1188 and let them know your objections.

Write to the Minister.
A personalised letter to the Minister sends a powerful message: We don't like the policy, and we care. Letters can be sent to the Ministerial office:
Senator Stephen ConroyMinister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Level 4, 4 Treasury Place Melbourne Vic 3002

If you're not sure what to say, you might wish to use the following as a template:

Dear Minister,

As an Australian and an internet user, I have serious concerns about your mandatory Internet filtering initiative.

Given the importance your Government has attached to modernising Australia's broadband network, pursuing a policy that can only slow down and increase the costs of home internet access seems misguided at best. Australian households are diverse, and most do not have young children, so mandating a one-size-fits-all clean feed approach will not serve the public well. I don't think it is the Government's role to decide what's appropriate for me or my children, and neither do most Australians.

Given the amount of Internet content available, the Government will never be able to classify it all and filters will always result in an unacceptable level of over-blocking. I feel that the time and money could be spent in better ways both to protect children and improve Australia's digital infrastructure. Australian parents need better education about the risks their children face online. Trying to rid the Internet of adult content is futile, and can only distract from that mission.

Sincerely,
Internet User
City, State