I wish I could have used my 10th Journal entry for something uplifting.  A milestone celebration for everyone who puts up with me.  An announcement that my comic book is finished [link] (hint, hint).  Good news that I'm FINALLY done that mountain of requests I'm sitting on.  Sadly, these are not the case.  Due to a combination of inactivity, a complication with my printing agency, unadulterated laziness and world events, I have to talk about something else.  That's right, SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and its domestic sister bill, PIPA (Protect IP Act).

I've always wanted to be an opinion leader on something, but I'm not informed enough for that yet, so the best I can do for now is parroting what real opinion leaders have been saying/doing about these bills.  First amongst these is a DA Journal I saw detailing a protest called "Black March."

[link]

Highlights
- The proposed movement is that everyone in opposition to these bills goes the entire month of this upcoming March without buying any new media products, at least not from any companies that support the bills.
- The idea behind the protest is for those against the bills to hurt the big media companies who want them passed where it hurts: the pocketbook.  If the media companies are behind these laws because they can make gobs of money off them, their motives will theoretically be rendered moot once they see they can't even sell the things their suing us over.
- A few people who commented on this Journal suggested that not only should protesters not buy things from the big media, but instead buy their entertainment/information needs from smaller stores and/or creators.  Instead of buying Spider-Man, for example, pick up an Alex ze Pirate [link] .  As much as it pains me to side against Marvel and other mainstream loves of mine, I endorse the idea of helping smaller artists and creators, especially if you get to stick it to "The Man" in the process.
- So as not to hurt media companies that are actually against SOPA and PIPA, ~T1p2 went out of their way to find a list of companies with official standings on the bills, [link] , so we know who to and not to hate.

Some of my own Watchers/Watchees here on DA deserve special shout-outs on this subject.  *6t76t stays informed on these bills through other opinion leaders and is very good at keeping anyone who listens to her informed.  ~Nightflash1 has also been staying on top of developments as they come along and passes the knowledge and petitions onto his viewers.

Highlights: 6T76T
- Videos like [link] and others in JeepersMedia's library tell viewers the roots of these bills and more, including what companies are pushing the most for their passage and their terrifying motives.
- JeepersMedia goes into great detail about what powers these bills will theoretically endow big media and the hardships people around the world would have to endure or succumb to under them.
- Some people, like British student Richard O'Dwyer are taken from their home countries and brought to courts in the US for things as simple as "linking to infringed copyrighted works" (as JeepersMedia put it).  A petition to give O'Dwyer a fair trial in his home country (where his crime was committed) can be signed here, [link] .

Highlights: NightFlash1
- NightFlash has compiled a list of IP addresses for popular websites that are likely to be hurt by the bills in question.  Although the bills will target the people who use the sites, they don't actually do anything to the sites' IP addresses.  These will technically still allow people to visit websites even if the worst should happen.  The list is here, [link] .
- NightFlash also found petitions opposing the bills like [link] .  While this petition may be outdated, there are undoubtedly more out there that can still make a difference.

Of course, teh internets is a big place, so I've found some inspiration from sources outside of DA.  There are a few good videos out there that serve as motivations to oppose these bills and even more sites provide visitors with information on how to contact their Congress representatives to tell them how they feel about the bills (the intent is to tell them why they would never work).

Highlights
- [link] is a rallying call for anyone against the bills.
- [link] lets you know who your state's representatives are and how you can get in touch with them.  It's been suggested that calling them or writing them a physical letter works better than email, but my reps don't have such contact information, so I guess it's best to work with what you're given.
- Not sure what to tell your reps?  Wikipedia has you covered on details.  Give [link] a look over to see what sticks out to you.  There's no shortage of other resources elsewhere on the web if you want even more info.
- Unless I'm missing something, it looks like friends outside the US are sadly limited to petitions and protests even though they'll be affected if these bills pass.

Of course, I'm not here to force my ideology down your throat; I would need a cape, a castle and an army of robots to do that successfully.  If you think I and everyone listed above are wrong in hating these bills, or think we're going about it the wrong way, make yourself heard.  I agree everyone has a right to protect their copyrights and that piracy is rampant today.  Where I draw the line with these bills is that they take what should be, at worst, a fine and turn it into a full-on felony, complete with exorbitant legal fees and jail time.  Going to jail over a Youtube video or just downloading something for your own use, especially when half the world is clueless on how copyright laws work, is overkill.

And that's my first stab at political activism.  Long, dry, unoriginal and late to the party?  Maybe.  I'll have to try harder on the next international crisis.  In the meantime, discussion ensues?

PS- There's apparently another bill that's already been passed and utilized called ACTA.  I have no idea when it was passed or what it does, but I'll "tweet the deets" when I have them.