REVOLUTIONS IN COMPUTING
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Nov 15 2004
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Welcome back! This site is currently under re-construction
and not fully functional yet. This site is now hosted on BIMC's own server! Our new mailing lists are here. In particular we could really use some more tech help at the moment, so join our tech list if you'd like to help get this site up and running again. ______________________________________________________________ Revolutions in Computing
The advent of the internet has enabled the linking up of
millions of computers worldwide, which, although currently exclusive of the
worlds vast majority and although most people just use it to download porn, the internet's
potential to help us to organise and co-operate appears to be promising not
only for corporations and governments, but for the global movement of activists
opposed to corporate-style globalisation. There is also a "free
software" or "open source" movement which recognises
that intellectual property rights are at odds with the scientific principle of sharing one's knowlege in order to allow
for the fastest technological advancement.
The Open Source Initiative
is the other main player in terms of open
source philosophy. They don't like the restrictions of the gpl,
and think that propriatry software developers should be allowed to
use open source software components even thought the rest
of their code is their secret. So open source and Gpl aren't exactly
the same thing. Confused?
There are two main approaches to
software develpoment. The capitalist version is
modelled on property and property rights. Programmers are split
up into teams(companies) which then compete for market share using
obvious techniques for gaining competitive advantage like keeping their
project developments(code) secret.
The GPL/open source approach is
where all those interested in development of a particular type of
software co-operate, usually through a web site, on the development of that
software, and this co-operation undermines any concept of loyalty to one's
company or country.
decentralised networks:
analagous to decentralisation of government i.e.anarchy,
encryption : internet
security, whose cracking codes and why? how fast are their
computers?
freenet : uncensored content delivered
worldwide, can't be easily shut down, virtual web server version of file
sharing
filetopia : secure communications
tool, activists can organise online with privacy
camera shy : browser which doesn' t
leave tracks. can also hide web pages in
pictures(steganography) .
[ Debian Linux, fully GNU
| Newswire Discussion
] |
OPEN DAY
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Oct 7 2004
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Indymedia Open Day
517 Brunswick St in the Valley
Sat 23rd October, noon to midnight
Donate for indymedia resources. Buy from our Garage Sale, dinner and indy t-shirts.
Bizarre Bazaar noon to 5pm
Stairwell Gallery opening
Library of Radical Thought
coffee, zines and loans
1pm workshops including audio post production
3pm BIMC orientation and networking
5pm Resurrecting Babylon - some open mic'.
6pm Car Park After Dark - bands and acts
8pm Local and radical screenings
9pm Spring Riot - continuous jam session
11pm Political Veejay
Come for the garage sale and stay for the workshops. Have dinner, perform, check out the scene.
Are you a muso? Do you enjoy jamming?
Check out the Spring Riot, Participation is the attraction
PA and a variety of instruments available.
[ Comments?
] |
:::SUPPORT COMMUNITY MEDIA:::
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Aug 10 2004
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4ZzZ Radiothon to Sunday 15 August
Community Radio 4ZzZ 102.1fm has been with Brisbane since 1975. During that time Zed has brought us alternative music, news and views often not accessible in mainstream media. Zed's agitation has often attracted the attention of the police, especially during the Joh era, and continues to support radical politics in the community through it's diverse programming. Zed remains the foremost supporter of Brisbane's local music scene. [a Zed history here ]
"The station's motto is AGITATE, EDUCATE, ORGANISE and to that end we don't shy away from challenging the status quo. We aim to do this by providing access for the community to radio, supporting local bands, artists and events, providing training for our volunteers, and through dissemination of alternative news and current affairs.
The involvement of subscribers in running the station is vital. Decision making at 4ZzZ is made through the collective, which meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:00pm at the station (291 St Paul's Tce, Fortitude Valley). The collective is open to all current subscribers so come along if you are interested in being involved."
Zed survives on the generosity of it's subscribers. So support 4zZz, your local community radio station, by subscribing during radiothon. Because there's "No other radio like it"!
Discuss
[ 4ZzZ102.1fm
| Community Broadcasting Association
| Community Radio Code of Practice
] |
:::: STOP US BASES ::::
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Aug 6 2004
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Brisbane group vows to fight US base in Queensland
from the newswire
On July 7th this year Federal Defence Minister Robert Hill and PM John Howard signed a 25 year agreement to host 3 US military traiing and storage areas in Australia at the same time as committing us to the insane brain-child of Ronald Reagan, the "Star Wars" missile defence program.
The Queensland Government also played a part in getting US forces on Queensland soil: lobbying Washington to host a joint Australia-US defence training facility. QLD Premier Peter Beattie says he does not think the US presence would make Queensland "more of a terrorist target."
IN addition to showing the Australian governments willingness to follow George W Bush into a military takeover of the world, US Bases worldwide have contributed to social and environmental problems: increased rapes and assaults in the local population, noise problems causing hearing damage to locals, explosions, and millions of tonnes of toxic wastes from equipment, maintenance procedures and ammunition including the use of depleted uranium.
Brisbane activists are organising: Join Denis Doherty from the Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition (Sydney) and local peace campaigners will discuss the proposed base/military exercises at Shoalwater Bay, national anti-bases strategy and action, and the formation of a Queensland anti-bases network plus afternoon tea. Kids welcome.
Campaign Meeting
Saturday August 7, 2004 @ 2pm
279 Boundary Street (cnr Whynot St, one block up from 'Justice Products')
West End, Qld. Contact (07) 3855 9497 or 0411 118 737
Supported by Rally for Peace, Everyone for a Nuclear Free Future, Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition
Read the Full Story
[ Nuclear Information Centre
| America's Empire of Bases
| Read more and Discuss
] |
:::PEACE RALLY:::
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Aug 5 2004
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HIROSHIMA DAY Rally: August 6th
August 6th is Hiroshima Day, the anniversary of the first use of a bomb so powerful that it would come to threaten the existence of the human race. The United States is the only nation to have actually used nuclear weapons in war, or on civilian populations, having in 1945 dropped two of them on cities in Japan =96 one on Hiroshima and another on Nagasaki (Sept 9th).
Today, the US continues to use nuclear weapons in the form of "Depleted Uranium" tank missiles, deployed in both Gulf War I and II and in Iraq and stored or tested in US bases all around the world. Iraqis still suffer the effects of radiation contamination from DU shot at them by the US . The US has today amassed a stockpile of over 10 thousand nuclear weapons [source here] , although they recently released a statement saying they would reduce the number of "operationally deployed nuclear weapons" to 1,700-2,200 by 2012.
[here]
BRISBANE PEACE RALLY
Rally & Candlelight Procession
5pm Friday 6 August
King George Square
Organised by Rally for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament. Phone 3855 9497 or email jshears@powerup.com.au.
[ Rally for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament org
| The Nuclear Weapon Archive
| Global Association for Banning Depleted Uranium Weapons
] |
:::GET INVOLVED:::
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Aug 2 2004
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Public Forum: Australia at the Crossroads: Time for Change
at City Hall next Tuesday
August 3, from 6.45pm.
Do you have concerns about the direction this country is going? Are you interested in hearing about alternatives to the current selfish, uncaring trends in Australian politics?
This public meeting will cover pressing issues such as:
- The War in Iraq - following the US blinding into more non-UN sanctioned wars, or help build positive relations with other nations?
- Medicare - health care for the rich, or a fair and equitable health care system?
- Education - divert much-needed public funds to wealthy schools or value a quality education for all?
- Refugees - treat people fleeing persecution and war badly, or policies that are in line with UN conventions on human rights?
- Free Trade Agreement - sell out our hard-working conditions and way of life in the interests of big business, or look after workers' rights and values of our culture?
- Environment - policies that are primarily in the interests of business, or policies that balance the need for environmental protection with those of development?
- Indigenous Issues- continue to ignore the injustices of the past, or enhance self-determination for indigenous peoples?
Keynote speakers at the forum include refugee advocate Julian Burnside, QC
Michael Raper from the Welfare Rights Centre
Indigenous elder Mary Graham
Environmental advocate Professor Ian Lowe
Australian Services Union Queensland Branch Secretary Julie Bignell
and Oxfam Community Aid Abroad Community Campaigner Ann Matson, speaking on the
agency's "Blueprint for a more Secure World". [read it here]
Compere for the night will be Jim Soorley. Singer songwriter Kev Carmody also will perform.
The forum is an initiative of Just Peace and sponsored by a broad coalition of community organisations and individuals. For more details, email: contactus@justpeace.qld.org or phone Annette Brownlie on 3324 8459
[ Just Peace
| 10 things you ca do to make a difference now
] |
::: CIVIL LIBERTIES / PRIVACY :::
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Jul 29 2004
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Interception Law Changes: Will you be under surveillance?
from the newswire
Electronic Frontiers Austraia has
sent a submission to the Commonwealth Attorney General's Department
regarding proposed criminal offences which, among many other things,
criminalise accessing or making available "offensive" material and also
seek to threaten and menace ISPs into becoming the nation's censors and
conduct police.
It also makes illegal the possession or distribution of 'interception
devices' ie. any device or apparatus that can be used to intercept a
communication passing over a telecommunications system, irrespective of
whether the interception is legal or illegal. This will criminalise the
sale or use of "modems, mobile phones, telephone handsets and other
devices and apparatus by persons accessing their own email and stored
voice mail messages, that can also be used by other persons to engage
in illegal interception." "proposed amendments to the Telecommunications Iinterception Act extend the
definition of interception to reading and viewing." - eg. looking at
websites. [Full story]
[ Full story and discuss |
EFA
Briefing Paper ]
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DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS
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Jul 26 2004
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An open feature to the Brisbane activist community:
Dear Brisbane Indymedia users,
For the past several months, the Brisbane Indymedia administrative
collective has been unable to achieve consensus on editorial process.
The Oceania Indymedia
collective met
recently in Melbourne and agreed a process to help the Brisbane
community form a working collective again.
For the next 6 weeks, surrogate administrators from around the Oceania
network will be editing the newswire and taking submissions for
features. Feature proposals can be sent to: imc-brisbane-admins [at] lists.cat.org.au
In that 6 weeks, the Oceania network wants to help the Brisbane activist
community reconstruct a working collective. The collective should be able to reach consensus on editorial
rules, decision-making procedures, and responsibility for technical and
editorial passwords.
The Oceania network is made up of dozens of individuals with a wide
variety of skills from the highly technical to management, conflict
resolution, writing, editing and publishing. Many of
these people have offered their time and skills to help in the process of
forming a working collective.
So if you are interested in helping this site overcome its current
difficulties, now is the time to get involved!
We look forward to working with you, and to the resolution of this conflict.
In solidarity,
The Oceania Indymedia Collectives
[ IMC Oceania
| Brisbane Conflict Resolution pages
| Comment and discuss further...
] |
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LATEST NEWS!
A letter to the person posting the tubgirl pictures
N17 11:01pm
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