LWN: Comments on "An activism update from Europe"

An activism update from Europe

Klavs — Thu, 10 Jun 2004 21:30:54 +0000

It seems this article has been made public - good LWN - as a paying reader I'm happy these kind of important news is made public :)

I would like to contribute with the list of danish MEP's and their attitude towards software patents: http://www.it-pol.dk/Members/flemming/undersoegelse

All Danes - have a look at this thorough survey (and notice that "Social demokraterne" - the left wing) had not even bothered to answer the questions - whereas just about everyone on the right wing has. I know where I'll be voting.

This handy page

pdc — Thu, 10 Jun 2004 15:56:16 +0000

Sadly unless you know who your MEP is, you will not be able to find them from either of the lists supplied. Neither is it possible to map the party groupings used in these lists to the parties MEPs are actually members of. I for one have never heard of these EED and VERTs and whatnot.

The Europarl web site is a wonderful example of an EU-produced site -- supposedly it is all about outreach to the European citizenty, but uses jargon and terminology only insiders can understand.

See www.TheyWorkForYou.com for an example of a political activism site designed to let ordinary people get an idea of what is going on.

Do your research

telex4 — Thu, 10 Jun 2004 11:22:26 +0000

Sorry about that. I knew about the Irish Presidency mistake, but stupidly missed it when
correcting my first draft. As for the election dates, that I didn't know, so I'm grateful for the
correction.

An activism update from Europe

scglwn — Thu, 10 Jun 2004 08:24:57 +0000

It should be noted that verstandopnul.nl is quite absurd. It is so absurd that it really sends the opposite message and forces the visitors to conclude that there are really good reasons to vote. And that is also the real purpose of the makers of that website (see the colofon).

Netherlands might revoke their vote.

bbencic — Thu, 10 Jun 2004 07:26:17 +0000

I have read on the ffii website that Poland wasn't for the directive but
as a qualified majority was reached before they could vote, something happened and their vote was considered as 'for the directive'

more info on http://kwiki.ffii.org/?Pietras040520En

If Netherlands and Poland change their vote this could change everything.
But, I do not think this will happen.

Greek activists against software patents in Europe

serzan — Thu, 10 Jun 2004 02:00:25 +0000

Greek users may want to have a look at the greek activists' web site against software pantents in Europe.

Netherlands might revoke their vote.

jeroen — Wed, 09 Jun 2004 18:37:34 +0000

The council position will probably not be adopted before september, the translation is behind schedule because of a shortage of translators, especially for the languages of the newly joined countries. The text has to be translated in every language before it can be adopted.

Every country can still change their vote in the council, although as far as we know it has never happened that a previous agreed on issue wasn't officially adopted later. The Dutch vote alone is not enough to do prevent the adoption, but it might set an example for other countries. If for example Germany or Poland change their vote too there isn't a qualified majority anymore. A few of the smaller countries will also do the job.

Netherlands might revoke their vote.

dmantione — Wed, 09 Jun 2004 11:09:18 +0000

I'm not really at home in the exact procedures of the EU, but what I read it is
still possible to change the vote and parliament is aiming at it.

It's a pity this article will have an audience restricted to subscribers...

slowjoe — Wed, 09 Jun 2004 08:15:32 +0000

As a subscriber, can I second this?

I _politely_ request that this article immediately become open-access.

Do your research

Felix.Braun — Wed, 09 Jun 2004 07:44:21 +0000

Thank you for an informative article! It is very rare that people get the intricacies of the European legislative process right (which probably contributes to the belief that the EP has no power). It is therefore too bad that the author makes a couple of unneccesary mistakes:

The term of the Presidency is only six months. As the Irish Presidency started 1 Jan 2004, it will end on 30 Jun 2004, to be followed by the Netherlands.
The elections to the European Parliament run from 10-13 June 2004 Where each country uses a fixed election day according to local custom.

An activism update from Europe

bbencic — Wed, 09 Jun 2004 07:17:55 +0000

A little bit off-topic but what you say here remind me a website I just
visited a few days ago ... (sorry, only for dutch speaking people)

http://www.verstandopnul.nl/index2.html

In short, it is a website that ironically says :
"You do not need your right to vote. Just abandon it and go get some fun. Don't worry about the political problems (etc), somebody will take care of it for you ..."

Netherlands might revoke their vote.

bbencic — Wed, 09 Jun 2004 07:09:17 +0000

What does that mean ? That NL will try to change the vote they did during
the May-session ? Is that allowed ?

If that is possible what will be the impact on the vote of the directive ?

Netherlands might revoke their vote.

dmantione — Tue, 08 Jun 2004 21:26:42 +0000

Something interresting is happening in .nl. Members of the NL-parliament did
take notice of demonstrations in Den Haag just before minister Brinkhorst did
vote yes. However they did investigate the matter just after (there was only
working day between demonstration and sign day) the Netherlands had voted
yes.

The minister had informed the NL-parliament that there was no disagreement
between the EU-parliament and the comission in a letter and he would
therefore vote yes.

This was however far from the truth and now the NL-parliament is kind of
pissed off. The situation is ongoing at the moment. The minister has informed
that he had written the situation as it was to his knowledge. Obviously he was
a "little bit" mistaken.

It looks like the parliament will not aim for his head though (misinforming the
parliament is considered the worst mistake a minister can make and often costs
them there jobs), but there seems to be a majority to force the minister to
revoke his vote.

An activism update from Europe

halla — Tue, 08 Jun 2004 21:15:30 +0000

And that won't be much better... I was present at the demonstration in the Hague, and we were, very politely, told not to worry our little minds and go home in the comfortable assurance that our minister would take care of us, for us, by doing what was in our best interest, even if we didn't recognize it.

But then, even my own employer cannot wrap his mind around the reasons why software patents directly threaten him and his business.

An activism update from Europe

ymmv — Tue, 08 Jun 2004 20:25:34 +0000

The Irish Presidency will expire at the end of June, not next year. Next will be the Netherlands.

I agree

Ross — Tue, 08 Jun 2004 19:53:22 +0000

Please consider posting a small blurb including the election date and the
link to the voting database for non-subscribers to see before it is too late.

It's a pity this article will have an audience restricted to subscribers...

ctg — Tue, 08 Jun 2004 19:39:56 +0000

...Until after June 10th. It would be nice to make this available to the
widest possible audience - so to include as many EU voters as we can
_before_ the election. I'm sure subscribers are probably well informed
enough to have decided on how they will vote already..