Acting Up

I was going to post on some random internet funs but got the fever for some activism instead.

It looks like Gizmodo is trying to stand up to the monster that is the RIAA. Info here and much more eloquently stated than I could. It is about time that someone tries in whatever way possible to take this stand and hopefully have people realize that they do not have to put up with such a bullying organization.

Here are some quotes from the manifesto that caught my attention:

The goal of the RIAA's lawsuits is to make people so afraid of being sued that they will stop downloading music. However, in their lawsuits they circumvent the law and extort money from people who haven't been given the benefit of a legal trial...

it's worth noting that issues such as the underpayment of artists and album price-fixing are quite serious and should be considered as good a reason as any to keep your money from going to their pockets. Two articles worth reading to study up on how major labels screw over the artists they claim to represent are Courtney Love's speech to the Digital Hollywood online entertainment conference and The Problem with Music by Steve Albini.

The first step Gizmodo wants people to take is to boycott all music that comes from an RIAA label. [Website that will tell you if a piece of music is money in the RIAA's pocket or not]. A lot of my favorite groups are on an RIAA label and it is going to be hard not to buy any music from one of those labels but hopefully it will make the message more powerful.

The second message I got today was from the showbox and I thought it was good timing as the issue had come up at lunch today. We missed the meeting but an email to a council member can still help:

As you know, many of Seattle's neighborhoods are thriving and attracting more residents, businesses and bars, nightlife. This growth is a welcome indication of Seattle's economic vitality and cultural vibrancy. Some might argue that nightlife is what drives new residents and businesses to many of Seattle's neighborhoods, and is necessary to keep attracting a vital young workforce to the City. We definitely know that neighborhoods with lots of bars and clubs have seen corresponding dramatic increases in condo prices.

Unfortunately, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has tried to divide residents and the nightlife community, and has proposed an oppressive new ordinance that threatens to kill nightlife in Seattle. This ordinance won't solve the issues that come with increased nightlife and residential housing, it won't address the lack of Police and other services the City provides at night, it won't decrease street crime, it won't help solve the issues of drug gangs selling crack on the street, it won't decrease noise coming from people on the street at night. It WILL kill healthy clubs. It will keep new investment from opening new bars and clubs in Seattle. It will ultimately harm the nightlife scene and especially the live music community.

We need you to speak out against this ordinance now.

The City Council's Economic Development and Neighborhoods Committee will have a public hearing on this legislation on Thursday, March 1st at 9:30 a.m. The hearing takes place at City Hall in the Council Chambers (600 4th Ave, 2nd floor). If you're interested in making sure Seattle has a safe, vibrant nightlife and music scene, this is an opportunity to voice your opposition to The Mayor and this horrible legislation.

If you can't make the meeting, be sure to write the Council to let them know how you feel about this ordinance and the need for nightlife and music in Seattle. The more personal emails you write the better - let them know your positive experiences, how music and nightlife benefit you, and solutions you think could happen differently than the Mayor's ordinance. Check out more info on nightlife and music issues at www.seattlenma.org.

Please email the following people as soon as possible:

Michael Gilmore (michael.gilmore@seattle.gov); Jan Drago (jan.drago@seattle.gov); Richard Conlin (Richard.Conlin@seattle.gov); Richard McIver (richard.mciver@seattle.gov); Peter Steinbrueck (peter.steinbrueck@seattle.gov); Nick Licata (Nick.Licata@Seattle.gov); David Della (David.Della@Seattle.gov); Tom Rasmussen (tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov); Jean Godden (Jean.Godden@Seattle.gov); Sally Clark (sally.clark@seattle.gov); James Keblas (james.keblas@seattle.gov)

Do what you feel is right.