I am promoting two distinct, though concurrent worldwide events, for April 20th, 2012.

 

The Internet Whiteout is to promote the open source movement. International Action Day is to encourage people to become politically active, and to speak up for what matters to THEM.

 

Both are scheduled for April 20th, though you can do this on any day. If you know any languages besides English and would like to translate this to a language you are fluent in, and share that with people, that would be appreciated. There is no specific website, and no specific group that this is tied to - the goal is to spread the idea, not for me to promote specific individuals, groups, or websites. You are free to take this for your own purposes, to promote your own interests, and/or your groups' interests.

 

For International Action Day, I ask you to tell local and national politicians, businesses, family, friends, and others what matters to YOU. Create the world you want to live in. Send mail, make phone calls, post on the internet, and speak face to face - use every means available to get your message heard. No matter where you are. No matter who you are. On April 20th, 2012 - TAKE ACTION.

 

If you want to speak up about more than one thing, that's great! You can promote multiple interests at once. Write your letters ahead of time. Gather up phone numbers. Draft your emails. And then, on April 20th, send it out, make your calls, and speak to those around you. This is not tied to any specific location, there is no one place you have to be. Wherever you are, or wherever you decide to go to speak with people is fair game.

 

For the Internet Whiteout, I'm promoting the open source and free culture movement. On January 18th we told the world what we didn't want during the Internet Blackout, which was in opposition to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA). It's time to demonstrate what we do want. Many writers, musicians, software programmers, and others put their work under Creative Commons, the GNU Public License, or similar licensing - making it free and legal to copy and give away. Burn material to CD or DVD, write down web addresses, and mail material to friends, family, and members of congress. Sending copious amounts of materials which can be legally duplicated, material which creators *want* shared, will show that draconian copyright restrictions are unnecessary for "the promotion of the arts and sciences". And sending such material will promote the awareness of, enjoyment of, support for, and participation in the open source and free culture movement.

 

In addition to promoting the open source movement, I would like to promote reasoned discussion on copyright law. While I am not alone in stating that SOPA and PIPA go too far, there is a broad range of views on copyrights, and I would like, not large companies or government bureaucrats, but individuals - those who create and those who enjoy creations, to share their opinions on copyright law, copyright infringement, and what they feel the best approach is.