Slightly off-topic perhaps, but how does the nomination of Paul Wolfowitz affect Free software?
~sm
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From: zgrauer@earthlink.net Reply-To: Lonix General general@lists.lonix.org.uk To: Lonix General general@lists.lonix.org.uk Subject: Re: [Lonix] Patents Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 16:11:35 -0000
If you are serious about activism - and intellectual property is an important issue, for sure, let me suggest something even more pressing
- the appointment of Paul Wolfowitz but George Bush to be the next
leader of the World Bank.
I think it is not out of line to call you local representative and ask him to protest this nomination. Here is why:
- The first action by the Bush administration was to drop the
prosecution of Microsoft for abusing its monopoly. Any Bush appointee will support corporate rights against the rights of individuals, be it on open source, subsidies, etc. The worlds bank should have a leader that is open to what the world has to say, not push an American agenda down the throats of the world.
- On a moral ground, we should not have someone responsible for the
death of tens of thousands of innocent people, the waging of illegal war, lying to the world and wasting hundreds of billions that are needed to support America's poor, in charge of helping developing nations.
- Mr. Wolfowitz has nothing that would demonstrate his ability to do
a good job in the World Bank. The fact that this is a way to ease him off the Pentagon roster is cold comfort. Screwing up the World Bank means more hardship the UK and the EU will have to address on their own.
If you agree, please get busy. And either way, have an enjoyable weekend.
Z.