OzHub, the Macquarie Telecom-led cloud computing alliance, has come down firmly on the side of Optus over the copyright controversy surrounding Optus TV Now, warning that any moves to change the law "risk branding Australia a global luddite state."
read moreWednesday, 22 April 2009 10:55
The Shutdown Day 2009 Campaign will take place between March 1 and May 2, 2009. As in years past, Shutdown Day 2009 will call on individuals make an online pledge to SHUT DOWN their computers for 24 hours on May 2, 2009. We'll be working with other like-minded organizations, to stage events on May 2, 2009, which encourage and help people to engage in face-to-face activities in their communities, with their family and friends, and with the environment.
It is clear that our increased use of modern computer technology is adversely effecting the lives of our children, and of ourselves! More and more young people are falling victim to computer addiction —a rapidly growing problem that leads to devastating physical and social consequences. Shutdown Day, a nonprofit organization, is committed to raising awareness about the impact excessive use of modern computer technology is having on our social relationships and the environment.
In 2007 and 2008 Shutdown Day conducted worldwide online public awareness campaign during which people were asked to shut down their computers for one day and devote their time to other activities. The campaign attracted over one million participants from various countries, including Canada, the United States, Germany, Japan, and Russia, and was widely covered in the Internet and in popular media, such as CNN, Fox News, The Globe and Mail, The Gazette, The Toronto Sun, The Washington Post.
The Shutdown Day Campaign 2009 campaign, which will take place in 2nd of May 2009, will build on the success of the two previous campaigns, and will offer new opportunities and events to attract still more participants.
History and AccomplishmentsShutdown Day was founded in 2007 by a group of computer programmers from Montreal. Through their website shutdownday.org they posted a simple question:
"Do you think you can stay away from your computer for at least 24 hours a day, and if yes, can you pledge to do so?"
What began as an experiment, exploded into worldwide online public debate during which people were challenged to shut down their computers for one day and devote their time to other activities. Here is a summary of the results from the Shutdown Day 2007 and 2008 campaigns:
• Over one million people from various countries participated in the online Internet volunteer campaigns.
• Over 65,000 people in 2007 and over 56,000 in 2008 pledged to shutdown their computer for 24 hours.
• 977,900 unique visits on the Shutdown Day website.
• More than 200,000 blogs and on-line forums discussed the idea of Shutdown Day.
• Shutdown Day campaigns were widely featured in the Internet and in popular media, such as CNN, Fox News, The Globe and Mail, The Gazette, The Toronto Sun, The Washington Post.
• Shutdown Day video "Alternative Uses for your Laptop " posted on YouTube received over 1,2 million views.
Shutdown Day Team.
