You can now register to vote on-line

Publiced at June 30, 2015

Massachusetts is now the 21st state that allow you to register to vote on-line. If you aren’t registered to vote or want to register in the Pirate political designation, check out https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/Welcome.aspx. If you do, we would appreciate hearing your feedback on how easy it was and what problems you had. Just write a comment below. Thanks!

published under Elections, Main Topic | Comments Off on You can now register to vote on-line

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Fast Track Passes, Work to Stop the TPP

Publiced at June 29, 2015

Unfortunately the Senate voted to give the president fast track trade authority for six years. While the Massachusetts delegation voted against it, not everyone did in New England including NH senator Jeanne Shaheen. The vote in the House was very close and that is where we will need to focus our efforts to stop TPP and every other agreement that will criminalize file sharing, reduce our privacy and place us more at the mercy of blood sucking corporations. This fight is far from over. Email us at info@masspirates.org if you want to help.

published under Main Topic, TPP | 1 Comment

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Olympics Feedback Wanted

Publiced at June 29, 2015

Back in March we asked for opinions on the bid to host the Olympics in Boston. We got some feedback and have continued to ask opinions the bid. Now we ask you to vote on what our position on the Boston Olympics should be. Fill out our anonymous form to express your opinion by Sunday, July 7th. Thanks! Image: Mark Cartwright, published on 26 April 2012 under the following license: Creative Commons: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike.

published under Issues, Main Topic | Comments Off on Olympics Feedback Wanted

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#FreeBree: The Woman Who Took Down the Flag

Publiced at June 28, 2015

On Saturday, Bree Newsome scaled a thirty foot flagpole, and took down the Confederate flag flying at the South Carolina statehouse. The images are amazing to look at. This was both an act of civil disobedience and an act of extreme courage. To many — and especially to those in the black community — the stars and bars represents racism, oppression, and hundreds of years of slavery. When the state flaunts an instrument of oppression, be it mass surveillance, the war on drugs, overzealous law enforcement, or symbols like the confederate flag; those oppressed have a right, and an obligation to stand up against it. I have a ton of respect for what Bree Newsome did.

published under Civil Liberties, Issues | Comments Off on #FreeBree: The Woman Who Took Down the Flag

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Four Senators needed to stop Fast Track

Publiced at June 21, 2015

Many trade agreements can be viewed as neither truly beneficial nor complete losses. Occasionally, there are clear winners. In the case of the TPP and related agreements, corporations will gain the most at our expense. This fight is returning to the Senate, with a vote possibly taking place as early as today. While the entire Massachusetts delegation is against fast track, 61 Senators voted for it last time. We have to stand in opposition to handing our fates to fickle leaders hiding in the shadows! Now is the time to get your friends in other states to contact their Senators and tell them to oppose fast track, the TPP and all the other “trade” agreements.  If they need convincing, use the arguments below. Because of the rules of the Senate, all we need is for four Senators to switch their vote.  Since the House bill does not have the Trade Assistance section of the previous Senate bill, we can win this fight. Here are the Senators who are most likely to switch.  Calls are best, but you can email them from the linked pages. Thanks! Dianne Feinstein CA (202) 224-3841 Michael F. Bennet CO (202) 224-5852 Thomas R. Carper DE (202) 224-2441 Christopher A. Coons DE (202) 224-5042 Bill Nelson FL (202) 224-5274 Benjamin L. Cardin MD (202) 224-4524 Claire McCaskill MO (202) 224-6154 Heidi Heitkamp ND (202) 224-2043 Jeanne Shaheen NH (202) 224-2841 Ron Wyden OR (202) 224-5244 Tim Kaine VA (202) 224-4024 Mark R. Warner VA (202) 224-2023 Maria Cantwell WA (202) 224-3441 Patty Murray WA (202) 224-2621 Why we oppose these trade agreements From the documents that Wikileaks leaked on TransPacific Partnership (TPP) and Trade in Services Agreement (TISA), we know that these trade agreements would: governments would be prevented from using Free Software: impose stronger DRM and “technological protection measure” … Read more →

published under Copyright, Main Topic, Patents, TPP, Transparency | Comments Off on Four Senators needed to stop Fast Track

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The Piratecon Podcasts: Part II

Publiced at June 21, 2015

We’ve posted the audio for two more Piratecon 2015 talks: Lightning Talks (various speakers) Officer Elections (various speakers)

published under Main Topic | Comments Off on The Piratecon Podcasts: Part II

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First Three Ville Pirates Shows Posted

Publiced at June 19, 2015

The first three Ville Pirates SCATV shows are available to view at our YouTube page.  Thanks to Noelani for putting the show together and to Steve for his GnuPG talk. Ville Pirates #1 – Net Neutrality & Police Brutality Link: https://youtu.be/OY4Gr4t4AWk First half-hour episode of Ville Pirates including two topics: Net Neutrality and Police Brutality. A clip show shot at the SCATV Hotset in Union Square in December 2014. Duration: 31:35 Ville Pirates #2 – Cryptoparty: Part 1 – 1/10/2015 Link: https://youtu.be/Vp6ZavHAgLM Live recording of a Cryptoparty at the Main Branch of the Somerville Library on January 10, 2015. This is a half-hour video related to how to browse safely with Tor. Check out github.com/cryptoparty for more information about Cryptoparties and how to browse safely. Duration: 28:24 Ville Pirates #3 – Cryptoparty: Part 2 – 1/10/2015 Link: http://youtu.be/zr9GiUzE4kY Live recording of a Cryptoparty at the Main Branch of the Somerville Library on January 10, 2015. This is a half-hour video which guides you on how to sign and encrypt messages you send online with GnuPG. Check out github.com/cryptoparty for more information about Cryptoparties and how to browse safely. Duration: 29:54

published under Civil Liberties, Cryptoparty, Main Topic, Net Neutrality, Privacy | Comments Off on First Three Ville Pirates Shows Posted

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House sacrifices workers and citizens to gods of corporate power

Publiced at June 18, 2015

The House voted 218 to 208 for give the president Fast Trade trade power and a limit their control over our trade policy to a simple up or down vote.  The bill now goes to the Senate which had passed a more complex bill that provided limited compensation to workers displaced by trade. From the documents that Wikileaks leaked on TransPacific Partnership (TPP) and Trade in Services Agreement (TISA), we know that these treaties would: governments would be prevented from using Free Software: impose stronger DRM and “technological protection measure” regimes; make ISPs liable for copyright infringement on their networks; implement a “take it down first, argue later” DMCA-like process for notifying copyright infringements; allow corporations to patent plants and animals; potentially ban you from selling a product you bought abroad. These trade agreements would put in place or expand Investor State Dispute Settlements (ISDS) that allow corporations to challenge our laws if they at all hinder their present or potential profits. It has already happened in Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Guatemala. Recently, Mexico and Canada used the NAFTA ISDS process to penalize the US for meat labeling laws. Laws the House of Representatives voted to scrap instead of fight for.  With TiSA, TPP and TTIP, these challenges will be more frequent and raise corporate power over our democracy to new levels. While the entire Massachusetts delegation voted against Fast Track, there are many Senators who voted for it.  The Senate’s vote on the new House bill could occur anytime.  Now is the time to urge your friends in other states to call their senators and tell them to vote against Fast Track.  Thanks!

published under Copyright, Main Topic, Patents, TPP | Comments Off on House sacrifices workers and citizens to gods of corporate power

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House votes on #FastTrack again, call these Reps.

Publiced at June 18, 2015

The House will again vote to sacrifice our future to their corporate paymasters for Fast Track (aka TPA) this morning.  We know the MA delegation will vote against it, but Florida Representative Alan Grayson pointed out the Democrats who voted for TPA last week.  All we need is four of them to vote against it this time.  C-Span says the House will debate and vote on TPA starting at 9am today.  Call them: Rep. Ami Bera (Calif.) – 202-225-5716 Rep. Jim Costa (Calif.) – (202) 225-3341 Rep. Susan Davis (Calif.) – (202) 225-2040 Rep. Sam Farr (Calif.) – (202) 225-2861 Rep. Jared Polis (Colo.) – (202) 225-2161 Rep. Mike Quigley (Ill.) – (202) 225-4061 Rep. John Delaney (Md.) – (202) 225-2721 Rep. Brad Ashford (Neb.) – (202) 225-4155 Rep. Gregory Meeks (N.Y.) – (202) 225-3461 Rep. Earl Blumenauer (Ore.) – (202) 225-4811 Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (Ore.) – (202) 225-0855 Rep. Kurt Schrader (Ore.) – (202) 225-5711 Rep. Jim Cooper (Tenn.) – (202) 225-4311 Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas) – (202) 225-1640 Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas) – (202) 225-8885 Rep. Don Beyer (Va.) – (202) 225-4376 Rep. Gerry Connolly (Va.) – (202) 225-1492 Rep. Rick Larsen (Wash.) – (202) 225-2605 Rep. Derek Kilmer (Wash.) – (202) 225-5916 Rep. Ron Kind (Wis.) – (202) 225-5506 Rep. Suzan DelBene (Wash.) – (202) 225-6311 Rep. Jim Himes (Ct.) – (202) 225-5541 Rep. Hinojosa (Tex.) – (202) 225-2531 Rep. O’Rourke (Tex.) – (202) 225-4831 Rep. Peters (Calif.) – (202) 225-0508 Rep. Rice (N.Y.) – (202) 225-5516 Rep. Sewell (Ala.) – (202) 225-2665  

published under Main Topic, TPP, Transparency | Comments Off on House votes on #FastTrack again, call these Reps.

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Thanks to our Pride marchers!

Publiced at June 16, 2015

We had a great contingent of Pirates at the Boston Pride Parade last Saturday.  I want to personally thank everyone who marched with us including Steve, Ben, Harry, Robby, Arjun, Ryan, John, Noe, Jamie, Peggy and Kate.  It was great to have twelve people unexpectedly join us for the last stretch down Beacon Hill. Here are some pictures of us at the Pride Parade.

published under Civil Liberties, Main Topic, Out And About | Comments Off on Thanks to our Pride marchers!

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