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We will never forget; we will forgive
Looking for the essay on Sept11? Give
a chance to world peace.
Looking for the archived 911
info page?
The 911 info page was first published Sept 11
around 10h30 am and updated round the clock until Sept 16 late pm
on our new media portal :: netdiver.net
:: what's new page, which reaches a worldwide audience.
As the time nears by, I am finally getting closure, my memory was
locked up on some details and now, as I remember some, I am sharing
these two moments with you. I do so, to encourage you to never give
up on a trial, an adversity, a tragedy happening in your life or
around you.
Change is possible - because there is always something that can
be done. These two little moments, will demonstrate this first hand.
Never, never, never give up.
As the communication network was shutting down, one of our friend
who lives in Long Island mentioned being out of news and not knowing
what was going on. I decided to use our e_list to start sharing
news and needs that were channelled back to us. I remember him asking
what could be done - and I said: *There has been a request for Gatorade
to be sent to the rescue teams, due to intense heat and smell, water
was not enough*. He said that he would go around and talk to shop
owners and see what could be done.
Don't underestimate the power of one people to help. All the efforts
were done by the decision of one individual at a time, to lend a
hand... no matter how small or symbolic the gesture.
One person on a list was actually in a plane, 9 in line to leave
Newark, when the first tower was hit. He actually used his wireless
to download his email, read what was going on and actually relayed
the news to the pilots in the plane. What he shared is in an incredible
tale of human encouter whereas he ended-up spending the night with
8 complete strangers in a hotel room, all sleeping in the same bed,
hugging each other, with the tv on all night.
The 911 info page was first published Sept 11 around 10h30 am and
updated round the clock until Sept 16 late pm on netdiver what's
new page, which reaches a worldwide audience.
For 5 days nonstop, we devoted all our time, often times through
tears and heavy emotional strain to DO something to help. Within
hours of the tragedy, the independent web content producers were
organizing around the world and relaying news. But mostly, we were
acknowledging and renewing a sacred bond: our humanity.
Having being involved in NYC for the past 7 years both on a professional
and personal basis - we had first hand contacts, testimonials and
news to relay and we are proud to have contributed in organizing
the first relief efforts. It was an atoning effort. Whereas, searching
for missing people and breaking news to family members that they
had lost loved ones, was the most horrendous task I have ever done.
Through our extensive network, as new information was received,
it was added to top of page in a priority order. When info became
obsolete (usually within hours) it was then moved to another page.
What remains
is the archived page which is kept both as a memorial statement
and a reference page.
Subsequently, we made a trip NYC on Sept 29/Oct 6. We did a photo
essay (unpublished) of which this memorial
picture is the first we show. It is one of an artist who draw
from morning to dusk. It depicts the power of our human spirit over
tragedy. We visited loved ones and friends, ground-zero, talked
with eye witnesses, firemen, policemen, soldiers, attended funerals,
received testimonials and saw first hand, the aftermath. Mostly,
we were privileged to give our compassion and love to a stricken
city.
There is much suffering in the world - I wish I could DO more to
alleviated it. Join me in praying for world peace.
References:
One
year later: September 11 and the Internet +
A study (.pdf) on the impact and ensuing actions/reactions from
internet users.
September
11.archive.org +
.......................................
Looking for past articles? Try the Essays
archive.
:: Copyleft and the independent content producer
by sabin densmore
Abstract
The independent content producer faced with not making a profit
and potential rip-off of his/her work via the internet has potential
in the GNU public-license arena.
Context
How do we distribute our work technologically, and still create
some kind of income for ourselves? How do we ensure that our rights
to that work will not be violated? Should we make money every time
someone reads/uses/listens to our product? Does it matter, really?
Organizations like BMG, RIAA, Sony and others have spent millions
of dollars to date (and counting) on ensuring that the artists under
their wings get proper recognition and kickback. At the same time,
there are the little people who write software and articles, create
designs and fan art that are also concerned with their rights and
their profits.
There are examples of groups (mp3.com
comes to mind) who are working out methods of ensuring that these
content producers get properly credited and -- in some cases --
rewarded for their efforts. No matter the place, though, it's always
a big discussion. Lots at stake, tons to talk about, no real answers.
One constant rings through all the arguments, though: the internet
has made copyright and intellectual property too difficult to manage,
and will limit our ability as content producers to make money from
our work. I don't believe that.
Content
First: the internet was designed to
distribute data with no consideration as to that data's origination.
Whether audio, video, graphic or text, created by the distributor
or not, it's all composed of bits and bytes and flows back and forth
as data.
Second: copyright
is pretty cut and dry. If you can prove that you were the first
person to create a work (audio, video, written or otherwise) or
idea, then it's yours. Whether that work has been published (distributed
to others) or not doesn't matter.
In my eyes, the two are not connected in such a way that one hampers
or disturbs the other. Also, neither of them is particularly concerned
with profitability of the work.
The internet has made it possible for the smalltime content producer
to distribute their works for less money and to more people than
was possible before. On the other side, it has also increased the
distribution channels of large-company creations, wresting control
from those companies. However, neither of the above changes the
fact that a work -- created by someone -- is being distributed.
Neither of the above changes the fact that the work is someone's
intellectual property.
Larger companies don't seem to grasp that, however, and smaller
content creators remain worried that someone will steal their ideas.
I can understand that. There is some hope, though, for solving the
copyright problem: copyleft.
Simply put, it's a licensing method for software that requires the
initial release to be free, and all subsequent releases to be free,
as well. Programs like emacs, languages like perl and php, and operating
systems (Linux, BSD) have all been released under this license.
Furthermore, the creators of those technologies have all remained
named in each subsequent release, ensuring that full credit is given.
If your product/work/text is so important, and people really need
it, then charge a download fee. The point, though, is to not worry
about what happens to it afterwards. How many of you have used the
paperback exchange at a local library? Does Danielle Steele get
commission for each book of hers you take out of the free box?
It's possible that at some point in time, all content will be released
under some kind of public use license (David
Bowie on copyright). All work could be altered in any way, as
long as the original author/creator remains known. For that matter,
all work can be altered now. It has always been possible to alter
someone else's work. We have a word for it: plagiarism.
Conclusion
In other words, don't be so worried about it. For years it has
been possible to rip off the independent content producer, the larger
corporations. Nothing's changed. Except for the fact that now the
independents can get their work out faster.
How to profit from that work is still up in the air, but the internet
has also changed nothing about supply, demand and the appreciation
that people have for quality ...
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