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The CPSR Compiler - July 2005
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The CPSR Compiler - July 2005 - 4.1 < <
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COMPUTER PROFESSIONALS for SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Turning Thoughts to Actions
******
* ANNUAL MEETING, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29th
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
* BOARD OF DIRECTOR NEWS
* WEBSITE UPDATE
* CPSR SUPPORTS
* PUBLIC SPHERE PROJECT NEWS
* MEMBER RECOMMENDATIONS
******
SAVE THE DATE ! STAY TUNED !
CPSR MEMBERS' ANNUAL MEETING
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29th
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
CPSR's annual weekend will be held in the San Francisco Bay
Area the weekend of October 28-30. Historically, the standard
format for the weekends has been to hold three interrelated events:
a board of directors meeting, a members' meeting on CPSR affairs,
and a public conference with speakers on some topic (last year's
conference in Washington D.C. was on the Bush Administration's
approach to information and communication technology issues).
However, this year we have decided to do something different.
We will not be holding a conference, which will allow us more
time to have a members' meeting for extended discussion on
Saturday the 29th that will focus intensively on the state of CPSR.
The organization is really at a crossroads, and we need to have a
serious conversation with concerned members about its future
direction and prospects. We will be taking some special steps to
facilitate that conversation, the details of which are being worked
out and will be announced in next month's Compiler. For now,
please save the date and consider spending your Halloween with
us at this very important meeting.
******
BOARD OF DIRECTOR ELECTION RESULTS
Todd Davies received 165 votes to serve for a three year term.
Joi Ito received 150 votes to serve for a three year term.
David Casacuberta received 121 votes to serve the one year
remainder of Madan Rao's term
Todd Davies has been elected Vice President of CPSR by the
Board.
&&&
WEBSITE UPDATE
My name is DiHuyen and I just joined the CPSR staff as
a part-time webmaster. I used to be a software
engineer working with document management systems
first, then financial software. One opportune day in
2002, I followed the call of my heart and enrolled at
De Anza College to learn about filmmaking. I am
currently working on my second and third films.
I am working with CPSR staff on the member registration
process that will allow access to emerging members'-only tools
and features that are meant to faciliatate a stronger collaborative
community among members. Members are encouraged to
join the web committee, which is my primary support base
and feedback mechanism, to help us more fully develop the site.
We need CPSR Groups and individual members to contribute
to the website, and better integrate links to our rich archives
(accessible via http://www.cpsr.org/prevsite ).
We do not expect a big commitment. Whatever you can provide
and whenever you can provide it, will improve the experience
for members and the public visiting the site. CPSR relies on
its members for most of what we do and how we present it.
For you and the public to get the most out of their web contact
with CPSR, we need your help.
Please send your comments and thoughts and/or interest to
webmaster@cpsr.org.
&&&
CPSR hopes to migrate its mailing lists and email addresses in the
next month. We don't anticipate significant outages, but might
experience several hours of disruptions when we switch the
addresses. Please contact Paul Hyland at phyland at cpsr.org
if you are interested in helping out.
&&&
CPSR SUPPORTS VOTER'S RIGHTS IN NEW JERSEY
In conjunction with the Electronic Freedom Foundation and other
organizations, CPSR has filed to be a "friend of the court" on the
appeal of a court case challenging the legality of unreliable
electronic voting equipment. CPSR notes that so-called "touch
screen" voting machines record votes in electronic memory.
Unless a voter-verifiable paper ballot is printed by the voting
machine, it is not possible to conduct a meaningful recount, or in
fact to confidently determine if votes are accurately recorded in the
voting machine's memory. CPSR calls upon New Jersey to forbid
the use of unreliable voting technologies.
&&&
CPSR SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
CSPR signed on to a proposal for a Development Agenda at the
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that was prepared
by IP Justice and submitted by the Group of Friends of Development.
In a nutshell, this proposal urges WIPO to acknowledge a
development dimension to intellectual property laws and regulations
explicitly in its own organizing documents, create the structures to
encourage access to information, knowledge sharing, and other
development goals along with the wishes of developed nations
and their knowledge industries, and to reform norms and practices
to reflect these values - to weigh the costs and benefits of IP rights,
ensure that they do indeed foster innovation, are flexible enough to
serve the developing world, and are include public interest
participation at every step.
The full text of the NGO Group Statement Supporting the
Friends of Development Proposal can be found at
http://www.ipjustice.org/WIPO/NGO_Statement.shtml
&&&
NEWS FROM THE PUBLIC SPHERE PROJECT
by Doug Schuler
We have exciting Public Sphere Project news this month!
We have just signed a contract with MIT Press to develop
a book based on our "Liberating Voices!" pattern language
project. The pattern language project is a large participatory
project involving over 200 people that has been a work in
progress for the past four years. Its ambitious goal is
identifying, presenting, and integrating knowledge, ideas
and experience about democratizing information and
communication into one holistic "pattern language." We
believe that this new development will provide incentive to
the authors of all the patterns to improve their patterns. We
are also very interested in exploring how this project can be
better integrated with and help further CPSR's work. The
people at MIT Press seem to have a very good understanding
of this project and they are trying to work in accordance with
its spirit. For one thing, all pattern authors will retain
ownership to their own patterns -- which will continue to be
available on the web site. For another thing, we are also
exploring options to make the material available without
charge to researchers and practitioners in developing
countries.
The book based on CPSR's 2000 "Directions and Implications
of Advanced Computing" symposium, "Shaping the Network
Society: The New Role of Civil Society in Cyberspace" (edited
by Douglas Schuler and Peter Day; MIT Press, 2004), received
several reviews recently. There are three reviews on the RCCS
(Resource Center for Cyberculture Studies) web site
(http://www.com.washington.edu/rccs/) and a short response by
the editors. Also, writing in the European Journal of
Communication, Frank Webster, author of many books including
"Theories of the Information Society", was quite positive about
both the purpose of the book and the product of that purpose.
This is from the last paragraph of the review: "Shaping the Network
Society is quite a seminal book, one that would well suit a graduate
class and which anyone interested in social change and advanced
technologies will find of interest. It is intellectually curious and
provocative, as well as accessible and pleasurable to read. It
astonishes that so little like it has been published in earlier decades
given the huge numbers of academic researchers working on
cognate subjects. And it begs us to ask why this should have been
so. The contents here are challenging, innovative and provocative
reflections on alternative possibilities and practical initiatives."
&&&
CPSR BOOTH AT O'REILLY'S OPEN SOURCE CONVENTION
CPSR will have a booth at O'Reilly's Open Source
Convention (OSCON 2005) in Portland, OR, August 1-5.
If you are interested in helping at the booth, please contact
cpsr@cpsr.org.
See http://conferences.oreillynet.com/os2005/
&&&
MEMBER RECOMMENDATIONS
SILICON VALLEY TOXICS COALITION
Open Position: Director, Sustainable Technology Program
Send a cover letter and resume to:
The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
760 North First Street
San Jose, California 95112
Attention: ST Program Director Search Committee
You may inquire and/or apply via email to svtc@svtc.org.
If applying by email, please put "ST Program Director Search"
in the subject line
------------------
My apologies if I overlooked any entries for this Compiler issue,
and/or if any of your questions/requests to me have not been
answered.Please feel free to send reminders to evoy(a)cpsr.org, maybe with
the Subject beginning - "NUDGE". Thanks, Susan
evoy (a)cpsr.org
******************************
The CPSR Compiler is a monthly notice with short updates on recent
activities of our members and opportunities to engage in the
development
of the public voice through CPSR projects.
To report news for future issues, send a sentence or two (and URL if
available) to cpsr(a)cpsr.org.
CPSR provides a discussion and project space where individuals can
contribute to the public debate and design of our global digital
future.
Through CPSR's chapters and working groups, members focus on
regional and civic issues developing the public voice. To insure a
democratic future in a time of intense globalization, the voice of the
public must command a prominent position on the world stage.
CPSR frames and channels the public voice.
When in doubt about how to get more out of your CPSR membership,
contact cpsr(a)cpsr.org or refer to the Activists Handbook at
http://www.cpsr.org/membership/activistshandbook to get help
in getting the most out of your membership.
To get involved in policy work through CPSR, consider joining one of
CPSR's Working Groups http://www.cpsr.org/about/projects
or contact cps(a)cpsr.org about starting a new one.
CPSR-Activists is the main members forum of CPSR, where the
board and members discuss current policy and organizational
issues. Only subscribed members can post to this list:
http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/cpsr-activists
(c) Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility 2005.
Redistribution of this email publication - both internally and
externally - is encouraged if it includes this paragraph.
CPSR is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Donations are tax deductible.
Pay Dues, Buy Tshirts, or Make Donations via
http://cpsr.org/membershipForm
Find out about email discussion lists and Working Groups hosted
by CPSR at http://lists.cpsr.org/lists
The CPSR Compiler is emailed to CPSR members in good standing,
who have provided CPSR with their email address.
********************************************
Online Dues and Donation Form: http://www.cpsr.org/membershipForm
--
Susan Evoy * Managing Director
Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
P.O. Box 717 * Palo Alto * CA * 94302
Phone: (650) 322-3778 * (650) 322-4748 (fax)
The CPSR Compiler - July 2005 - 4.1 < <
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
COMPUTER PROFESSIONALS for SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Turning Thoughts to Actions
******
* ANNUAL MEETING, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29th
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
* BOARD OF DIRECTOR NEWS
* WEBSITE UPDATE
* CPSR SUPPORTS
* PUBLIC SPHERE PROJECT NEWS
* MEMBER RECOMMENDATIONS
******
SAVE THE DATE ! STAY TUNED !
CPSR MEMBERS' ANNUAL MEETING
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29th
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
CPSR's annual weekend will be held in the San Francisco Bay
Area the weekend of October 28-30. Historically, the standard
format for the weekends has been to hold three interrelated events:
a board of directors meeting, a members' meeting on CPSR affairs,
and a public conference with speakers on some topic (last year's
conference in Washington D.C. was on the Bush Administration's
approach to information and communication technology issues).
However, this year we have decided to do something different.
We will not be holding a conference, which will allow us more
time to have a members' meeting for extended discussion on
Saturday the 29th that will focus intensively on the state of CPSR.
The organization is really at a crossroads, and we need to have a
serious conversation with concerned members about its future
direction and prospects. We will be taking some special steps to
facilitate that conversation, the details of which are being worked
out and will be announced in next month's Compiler. For now,
please save the date and consider spending your Halloween with
us at this very important meeting.
******
BOARD OF DIRECTOR ELECTION RESULTS
Todd Davies received 165 votes to serve for a three year term.
Joi Ito received 150 votes to serve for a three year term.
David Casacuberta received 121 votes to serve the one year
remainder of Madan Rao's term
Todd Davies has been elected Vice President of CPSR by the
Board.
&&&
WEBSITE UPDATE
My name is DiHuyen and I just joined the CPSR staff as
a part-time webmaster. I used to be a software
engineer working with document management systems
first, then financial software. One opportune day in
2002, I followed the call of my heart and enrolled at
De Anza College to learn about filmmaking. I am
currently working on my second and third films.
I am working with CPSR staff on the member registration
process that will allow access to emerging members'-only tools
and features that are meant to faciliatate a stronger collaborative
community among members. Members are encouraged to
join the web committee, which is my primary support base
and feedback mechanism, to help us more fully develop the site.
We need CPSR Groups and individual members to contribute
to the website, and better integrate links to our rich archives
(accessible via http://www.cpsr.org/prevsite ).
We do not expect a big commitment. Whatever you can provide
and whenever you can provide it, will improve the experience
for members and the public visiting the site. CPSR relies on
its members for most of what we do and how we present it.
For you and the public to get the most out of their web contact
with CPSR, we need your help.
Please send your comments and thoughts and/or interest to
webmaster@cpsr.org.
&&&
CPSR hopes to migrate its mailing lists and email addresses in the
next month. We don't anticipate significant outages, but might
experience several hours of disruptions when we switch the
addresses. Please contact Paul Hyland at phyland at cpsr.org
if you are interested in helping out.
&&&
CPSR SUPPORTS VOTER'S RIGHTS IN NEW JERSEY
In conjunction with the Electronic Freedom Foundation and other
organizations, CPSR has filed to be a "friend of the court" on the
appeal of a court case challenging the legality of unreliable
electronic voting equipment. CPSR notes that so-called "touch
screen" voting machines record votes in electronic memory.
Unless a voter-verifiable paper ballot is printed by the voting
machine, it is not possible to conduct a meaningful recount, or in
fact to confidently determine if votes are accurately recorded in the
voting machine's memory. CPSR calls upon New Jersey to forbid
the use of unreliable voting technologies.
&&&
CPSR SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
CSPR signed on to a proposal for a Development Agenda at the
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that was prepared
by IP Justice and submitted by the Group of Friends of Development.
In a nutshell, this proposal urges WIPO to acknowledge a
development dimension to intellectual property laws and regulations
explicitly in its own organizing documents, create the structures to
encourage access to information, knowledge sharing, and other
development goals along with the wishes of developed nations
and their knowledge industries, and to reform norms and practices
to reflect these values - to weigh the costs and benefits of IP rights,
ensure that they do indeed foster innovation, are flexible enough to
serve the developing world, and are include public interest
participation at every step.
The full text of the NGO Group Statement Supporting the
Friends of Development Proposal can be found at
http://www.ipjustice.org/WIPO/NGO_Statement.shtml
&&&
NEWS FROM THE PUBLIC SPHERE PROJECT
by Doug Schuler
We have exciting Public Sphere Project news this month!
We have just signed a contract with MIT Press to develop
a book based on our "Liberating Voices!" pattern language
project. The pattern language project is a large participatory
project involving over 200 people that has been a work in
progress for the past four years. Its ambitious goal is
identifying, presenting, and integrating knowledge, ideas
and experience about democratizing information and
communication into one holistic "pattern language." We
believe that this new development will provide incentive to
the authors of all the patterns to improve their patterns. We
are also very interested in exploring how this project can be
better integrated with and help further CPSR's work. The
people at MIT Press seem to have a very good understanding
of this project and they are trying to work in accordance with
its spirit. For one thing, all pattern authors will retain
ownership to their own patterns -- which will continue to be
available on the web site. For another thing, we are also
exploring options to make the material available without
charge to researchers and practitioners in developing
countries.
The book based on CPSR's 2000 "Directions and Implications
of Advanced Computing" symposium, "Shaping the Network
Society: The New Role of Civil Society in Cyberspace" (edited
by Douglas Schuler and Peter Day; MIT Press, 2004), received
several reviews recently. There are three reviews on the RCCS
(Resource Center for Cyberculture Studies) web site
(http://www.com.washington.edu/rccs/) and a short response by
the editors. Also, writing in the European Journal of
Communication, Frank Webster, author of many books including
"Theories of the Information Society", was quite positive about
both the purpose of the book and the product of that purpose.
This is from the last paragraph of the review: "Shaping the Network
Society is quite a seminal book, one that would well suit a graduate
class and which anyone interested in social change and advanced
technologies will find of interest. It is intellectually curious and
provocative, as well as accessible and pleasurable to read. It
astonishes that so little like it has been published in earlier decades
given the huge numbers of academic researchers working on
cognate subjects. And it begs us to ask why this should have been
so. The contents here are challenging, innovative and provocative
reflections on alternative possibilities and practical initiatives."
&&&
CPSR BOOTH AT O'REILLY'S OPEN SOURCE CONVENTION
CPSR will have a booth at O'Reilly's Open Source
Convention (OSCON 2005) in Portland, OR, August 1-5.
If you are interested in helping at the booth, please contact
cpsr@cpsr.org.
See http://conferences.oreillynet.com/os2005/
&&&
MEMBER RECOMMENDATIONS
SILICON VALLEY TOXICS COALITION
Open Position: Director, Sustainable Technology Program
Send a cover letter and resume to:
The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
760 North First Street
San Jose, California 95112
Attention: ST Program Director Search Committee
You may inquire and/or apply via email to svtc@svtc.org.
If applying by email, please put "ST Program Director Search"
in the subject line
------------------
My apologies if I overlooked any entries for this Compiler issue,
and/or if any of your questions/requests to me have not been
answered.Please feel free to send reminders to evoy(a)cpsr.org, maybe with
the Subject beginning - "NUDGE". Thanks, Susan
evoy (a)cpsr.org
******************************
The CPSR Compiler is a monthly notice with short updates on recent
activities of our members and opportunities to engage in the
development
of the public voice through CPSR projects.
To report news for future issues, send a sentence or two (and URL if
available) to cpsr(a)cpsr.org.
CPSR provides a discussion and project space where individuals can
contribute to the public debate and design of our global digital
future.
Through CPSR's chapters and working groups, members focus on
regional and civic issues developing the public voice. To insure a
democratic future in a time of intense globalization, the voice of the
public must command a prominent position on the world stage.
CPSR frames and channels the public voice.
When in doubt about how to get more out of your CPSR membership,
contact cpsr(a)cpsr.org or refer to the Activists Handbook at
http://www.cpsr.org/membership/activistshandbook to get help
in getting the most out of your membership.
To get involved in policy work through CPSR, consider joining one of
CPSR's Working Groups http://www.cpsr.org/about/projects
or contact cps(a)cpsr.org about starting a new one.
CPSR-Activists is the main members forum of CPSR, where the
board and members discuss current policy and organizational
issues. Only subscribed members can post to this list:
http://lists.cpsr.org/lists/info/cpsr-activists
(c) Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility 2005.
Redistribution of this email publication - both internally and
externally - is encouraged if it includes this paragraph.
CPSR is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Donations are tax deductible.
Pay Dues, Buy Tshirts, or Make Donations via
http://cpsr.org/membershipForm
Find out about email discussion lists and Working Groups hosted
by CPSR at http://lists.cpsr.org/lists
The CPSR Compiler is emailed to CPSR members in good standing,
who have provided CPSR with their email address.
********************************************
Online Dues and Donation Form: http://www.cpsr.org/membershipForm
--
Susan Evoy * Managing Director
Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
P.O. Box 717 * Palo Alto * CA * 94302
Phone: (650) 322-3778 * (650) 322-4748 (fax)
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