Tell ICANN "YES to NAME.SPACE"

New Top Level Domains must not be captured by corporate interests!

This week, The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
(a/k/a/ ICANN) is holding its annual meeting in Marina Del Rey,
California.

Name.Space has applied to ICANN for recognition of the TLDs
they publish and operate (many since 1996! including "art."
"media." "fun." "politics." "radio." "now." and "sucks."

  [Name.Space is an independent group of artists and engineers
  with a social conscience and a sense of social responsibility
  founded in 1996 by media artist Paul Garrin--also known for
  his video of the Tompkins Square Riots in 1988 that exposed
  police violence perpetrated against demonstrators and the cops
  attempts to cover it up by blacking out their badge numbers.
  The tape, which was given freely to the tv news, raised awareness
  of the power of media when it's in the hands of the people.]

ICANN has so far acknowledged mainly applicants who represent big
corporations including Network Solutions, who have "rubberstampped"
the freedom unfriendly policies enacted by ICANN and WIPO
(World Intellectual Property Organization) over domain name
registrations and rights.

Name.Space stands for free speech, privacy and equal access--
in contrast to the ICANN/WIPO policies that restrict access
and free speech by limiting the number of top level domains (TLDs)
and the criteria for who can use them, favoring trademark and commercial
rights over cultural and non commercial rights.  Name.Space calls
for an "open" domain name system, that allows access for non-commercial
and cultural domains, independently operated, with respect for
free speech and privacy, valuing culture and community, not
just commerce.

This Wednesday, 11/15 ICANN is holding its public forum, live
in Marina Del Rey, and on the web.  Please pass the word
to log in and support Name.Space during the forum!  There
should be a message board on the ICANN website, as well as
the ability to post or email questions and comments during
the forum.  The forum starts at 1.30 PM Pacific Time, and
runs until 6PM Pacific time (9 PM NY Time).

See: http://www.icann.org/mdr2000/agenda.htm

In the event that there are no possibilities for posting
comments over the web to the "public forum", then send
your email comments to:

    comments@icann.org
    (and "bcc" tlds@namespace.org)

Show ICANN that the PEOPLE want Name.Space!
NOT corporate rule of the internet!

New TLDs are the people talking!

For more information  on the public forum, check the ICANN website:
http://www.icann.org/
http://www.icann.org/mdr2000/

Stand up for independence and free speech--
Tell ICANN "YES to NAME.SPACE!"


Please circulate widely!


also see:
http://namespace.org

how you can set your home computer to use
these new domains today:
http://namespace.org/switch

send your messages and comments to Name.Space:
tlds@namespace.org