Politics makes for strange bedfellows. I fully expect to have some time in the future where I will be out supporting campaigns like Make Poverty History along with currently rich-and-famous musicians such as Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy and Tom Cochrane. I will then be working in other campaigns such as trying to make trade in cultural goods (copyright law) and software more fair and I will be on the opposite side of the table from these same musicians who lobby to protect their special economic interests alongside Bill Gates and others.I'm not suggesting that Gates, Cuddy and Cochrane don't do some "good works" through foundations and other works. I am just suggesting that there is another side to these stories that people need to become more aware of when they are trying to help the majority of the worlds population.
I sent a letter to the Prime Minister in support of the Make Poverty History campaign which tried to make these connections in more detail.
Further copyright policy suggestions on how to Make Poverty History.
http://www.digital-copyright.ca/node/view/960
It is interesting that the article didn't talk about the BSA and their inflated claims about the number of illegal copies of "software manufacturing" software. The most effective way to stop illegal copying of software is to switch away from "software manufacturing" to production, development and funding models for software that do not involve counting copies or charging royalties. Linux and other Free/Libre and Open Source Software is not only cheaper, but also eradicates so-called "software theft".
Funny how the BSA or Canada's self-called "Canadian Alliance Against Software Theft" never talk about the fact that it is their members that promote the economic conditions that cause this so-called "theft", and that they are the largest international obsticle to solving that problem.
“Make it legal: don't litigate, use creative licensing” campaign
http://www.flora.ca/makelegal200403.shtml
[ 01 July 2005: Message edited by: Russell McOrmond ]