We are starting a new chapter (HORRAY!!!) in our country's history very, very soon. The Orphan Works Bill is *still* around (like a goblin in the shadows) and still threatening to take away our rights/protection as image creators. It's so ugly - - it's really unfathomable that something like this could happen in the U.S... But yet, here we are -- it is a fact of life, and it's not going away. We have to rally to voice our opposition, and we have to do it now.
Aside from the Orphan Works bill, we in general just need more overall SUPPORT for the arts in this country!! The arts are integral to our culture, touching it in every single way. It's SO much more than just making things look pretty. The arts are such a huge part of the groundwork for cultural growth, intellectual growth, education, understanding other cultures and other people's experiences, among other things.
There are two things you can do (from the comfort of your own computer) to lend your voice and help support artists and protect our work from image theft in this country.
Change.org created this web site called the
Citizen's Briefing Book. It's basically a "soapbox" of sorts for you, me or anyone to post their thoughts on a specific issue facing the country - something that needs attention, needs to be addressed, and has a lot of supporters. Individuals can go and post their support to specific entries - like a blog. All entries are then vetted and the most popular ones will be looked over and hopefully addressed, by President-Elect Obama's team. There is an Orphan Works entry! Please consider posting on this entry to make your voice heard. Support artists and the arts - and please help kill the OW Bill!
Citizens Briefing Book:http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/Oppose The OW Post
Another oppose the OW postPLEASE VOTE. Please note, you need to sign up at Change.gov in order to be able to vote. It's easy and only takes a minute.The other way you can click to help is more generalized. I am posting the blurb here, just as it was sent to me by a friend:
"Quincy Jones has started a petition to ask President-Elect Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts. While many other countries have had Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, The United States has never created such a position. Those in the arts need this and our country needs the arts now more than ever.Please take a moment to sign this important petition and then pass iton to your friends and colleagues."www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html
Continue reading ...
