Finland has a system for the public to propose revised laws by petition; then the parliament is supposed to vote on these changes. A petition for small relaxation in harsh copyright law was rejected by a committee as too radical. So far, parliament has [ rejected all six of the petitions without voting on any of them ]( https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20141016/09594728848/finnish-parliament-refuses-to-consider-crowdsourced-copyright-law-any-other-bill-drafted-public.shtml ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28Finnish_parliament_wont_consider_petitions%29

The US wants to use the TPP to [ impose criminal penalties on access to trade secrets through a computer ]( https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/10/cyber-espionage-and-trade-agreements-ill-fitting-and-dangerous-combination ) , with no protection even for journalists investigating dangerous or unjust practices. This calls to mind the "Ag-Gag" bills [ designed to criminalize undercover investigations of shameful or illegal farm practices ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2014-mar-jun.html#19_March_2014_(ACLU_and_others_to_challenge_Idahos_ag-gag_law) ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28The_TPP%29

The UK government wants to be able to [ collect data from Facebook, Twitter and YouTube automatically (without a warrant, of course) ]( http://rt.com/uk/197576-isis-social-media-government/ ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28UK_gov%27t_want_to_collect_data_without_warrant%29

The UK government's real attitude towards the disabled is now patent: to stir up hatred against them [ while pushing them into hopeless poverty ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/20/disabled-lord-freud-austerity ) . People who hate the disabled will forget to hate the plutocrats that really deserve it. A worldwide survey of happiness finds that people are generally [ happier in societies with "big government" ]( http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/eskow20141017 ) that runs ample welfare programs.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#21_October_2014_%28Hatred_against_disabled%29

There's finally an effective way to end teen pregnancy: [ long-acting birth control ]( http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/tarico20141014 ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#21_October_2014_%28Long-Acting_birth_control%29

The US needs a constitutional amendment to [ establish every citizen's right to vote ]( http://www.vox.com/2014/10/20/6997315/voting-rights-amendment-affirmative-right-to-vote ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#21_October_2014_%28Citizen%27s_right_to_vote%29

The UK government is [ punishing prison guards that are whistleblowers ]( http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/20/prisons-whistleblowers-threatened-with-dismissal ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#21_October_2014_%28Punishing_prison_guards_that_are_whistleblowers%29

Illegal Copying Has [ Always Created Jobs, Growth, And Prosperity ]( http://torrentfreak.com/illegal-copying-has-always-created-jobs-growth-and-prosperity-141019/ ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#21_October_2014_%28Illegal_Copying%29

[ Gamergate explained ]( http://www.motherjones.com/media/2014/10/gamergate-explained ) . Here's what I think of this. The principal wrong in this issue consists of the threats of rape and murder made against some commentators. These threats are inexcusable. Even supposing the targets' statements were mistaken or dishonest, that would not justify these threats. The integrity of journalism is a significant issue, in regard to computer games as in every other area. However, according to this article, the initial accusation that a game designer exercised dishonest influence on a journalist is demonstrably false. Meanwhile, US journalism is subject to distorting influence in regard to issues such as [ war ]( https://www.stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#07_September_2014_(Debates_between_right-wing_pundits_that_all_agree) ) , [ destabilization campaigns ]( https://www.stallman.org/archives/2010-nov-feb.html#14%20February%202011%20(Aristide%20vs%20US) ) , [ supporting tyrannical allies ]( https://www.stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#30_July_2014_(Hamas_is_forcing_Israel_to_kill_Palestinian_children) ) , [ global heating, <a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2011-nov-feb.html#01_November_2011_(Treaties_Don%27t_Create_Job)">"free trade" treaties ]( https://www.stallman.org/archives/2012-sep-dec.html#26_September_2012_(Distorted_coverage_of_global_heating) ) , [ massive surveillance ]( https://www.stallman.org/archives/2013-sep-dec.html#07_October_2013_(NSA%27s_bogus_claims_get_coverage_in_mainstream_media) ) , and [ others ]( http://fair.org ) . The quality of journalism is also a significant issue. Journalism about computer games is generally lousy because it focuses solely on what playing the game is like, and disregards the grave ethical flaw nearly all these games have: a nonfree software engine. If you value your freedom, rather than arguing about whether a review of a nonfree game was accurate in regard to secondary aspects, [ refuse to run nonfree games ]( http://gnu.org/philosophy/nonfree-games.html ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#21_October_2014_%28Gamergate%29

Zainab Al-Khawaja faces 7 years' imprisonment in Bahrain for [ tearing up a photo of the king ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/20/bahrain-human-rights-attack-tortured ) . Freedom of speech includes the freedom to insult any person, any group, any organization, and any idea. Bahrain used Saudi troops to [ crush protests ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2010-nov-feb.html#20%20February%202011%20(Protesters%20attacked) ) , with [ total US backing ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2011-mar-jun.html#03%20April%202011%20(Intervention%20Against%20Gaddafi) ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#21_October_2014_%28Imprisonment_for_tearing_up_a_photo%29

Microsoft's "immutable laws of security" ironically imply (law 1 and 2) that [ if Windows is on your computer, it's not secure ]( http://technet.microsoft.com/library/cc722487.aspx ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#21_October_2014_%28Microsofts_immutable_laws_of_security%29

Large centralized power plants carry [ large unreliability ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2014/oct/20/while-didcot-b-burned-renewable-energy-powered-on ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#21_October_2014_%28Large_centralized_power_plants%29

Google search statistics suggest that [ porn is especially popular ]( http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/tarico20141017 ) in the repressed Christian south of the US.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#21_October_2014_%28The_repressed_Christian_US_South%29

Jean Davis, 86 years old, fasted to death because her children were forbidden to help her [ get a less difficult death. ]( http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/19/right-to-die-campaigner-starved-herself-jean-davies )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28Right-to-die_activist_fasts_to_death%29

Has the Christian Doctrine of Hell Become an [ Awkward Liability? ]( http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/tarico20141006 )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28Christian_doctrine_of_hell%29

Thugs have repeatedly attacked the massed protesters in Hong Kong. The protesters resist the sticks and pepper spray [ without attacking. ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/19/hong-kong-protesters-police-clash-second-night )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28Repeated_attacks_on_HK_protesters%29

Human pharmaceuticals could be to blame for part of the [ massive destruction of wildlife ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/13/drugs-flushed-into-the-environment-could-be-cause-of-wildlife-decline ) now occurring.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28Pharmaceuticals_and_wildlife_destruction%29

Erdogan says Turkey will not help the [ US defend Kurds. ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/19/turkey-will-not-cooperate-us-support-kurds-erdogan ) This formalizes what was already apparent. So much for Obama's dream coalition. However, the US can bring food, arms and Kurdish fighters to Kobani by air without Turkey's help.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28Erdogan_refuses_to_help_defend_Kurds%29

Beware the [ BitLicense. ]( https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/10/beware-bitlicense-new-yorks-virtual-currency-regulations-invade-privacy-and-hamper )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28Beware_the_BitLicense%29

The rate of deforestation in the Amazon rain forest [ has doubled since a year ago. ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/19/amazon-deforestation-satellite-data-brazil )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28Amazon_deforestation_doubles%29

The UK is cutting the budget for education for teenagers in prison, but it proposes to build a privatized prison for teenagers as an [ excuse to legalize using force against them. ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/17/super-prison-children-ministry-justice-physical-punishment )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28UK_proposes_privatized_prison_for_teenagers%29

Western-imposed privatization and spending cuts in Africa produced weak health care systems that can't cope with <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/10/16/assassination-public-health-systems-driving-ebola-crisis-experts-warn"> epidemics such as Ebola.</A>
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28Privatization_in_Africa%29

Everyone: Tell McDonalds to adopt a policy to make sure its palm oil does [ not cause deforestation. ]( http://act.sumofus.org/go/6113?t=1001&akid=7531.881131.je9vOW )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28Urgent%3A_No_palm_oil_from_deforestation%29

A democratic primary/secondary [ school in the US. ]( http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/10/students-lead-the-learning-experience-at-democratic-schools/ )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28Democratic_school%29

[ Deceptive practice ]( http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/14/deceit-default-setting-hedge-fund-tax-haven ) has become standard practice for many businesses.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28Deceptive_business_practices%29

The Canadian government is punishing NGOs with audits for writing to the government about issues, [ which is supposed to be legal for them. ]( http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/revenue-canada-targets-birdwatchers-for-political-activity-1.2799546 )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28Canada_punishes_NGOs_with_audits%29

"Cost savings" obtained by screwing the poor and sick often cost society dearly. For instance, the UK could save 8 billion pounds a year by spending a mere 1/3 billion [ on mental health care for mothers. ]( http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/20/mental-health-care-new-mothers-cost-study ) Reducing spending or deficits is only an excuse. When right-wingers succeed in doing this, they turn around and cut taxes for the wealthy or businesses, thus creating another deficit that they "need" to reduce by screwing the poor and sick.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28Cost_savings_costing_society%29

The US dropped weapons and supplies [ to Kurds in Kobani. ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/20/us-drops-weapons-to-kurds-in-syria ) and appears to have convinced Turkey to let Kurdish [ reinforcements in. ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/20/turkey-iraqi-kurds-kobani-isis-fighters-us-air-drops-arms )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#20_October_2014_%28Kurdish%20reinforcements%29

Democracy protesters have occupied Parliament Square in London for several days. Recently they were [ attacked by thugs using a law designed pre-emptively to criminalize protest camps ]( http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/oct/19/occupy-protesters-parliament-square-london ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#22_October_2014_%28Occupy_Parliament_Square_in_London%29

[ Housing First: the 'Counterintuitive' Method for Solving Urban Homelessness ]( http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/oct/20/housing-first-the-counterintuitive-method-for-solving-urban-homelessness ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#22_October_2014_%28Solving_Urban_Homelessness%29

Putin has [ reestablished the Soviet practice ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/20/russian-artist-cuts-off-earlobe-protest-forced-psychiatric-treatment-dissidents ) of declaring dissidents mentally incompetent and imprisoning them in mental hospitals.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#22_October_2014_%28Putting_dissidents_in_mental_hospitals%29

How Nigeria's vigorous response [ quashed Ebola in that country ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/20/nigeria-ebola-crackdown-example-to-world ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#22_October_2014_%28Nigerias_vigorous_response_to_Ebola%29

It appears [ Ukraine dropped cluster bombs on Donetsk ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/21/cluster-bombs-ukraine-human-rights-watch ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#22_October_2014_%28Cluster_bombs_dropped_on_Donetsk%29

A scholar argues that US "security" policy is [ decided by an entrenched bureaucracy, not by elected officials ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/10/20/reality-national-security-state-trumps-delusions-us-democracy ) . This may be true in practice, but a president opposed to massive surveillance could stop it.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#22_October_2014_%28US_security_policy%29

[ How to rebel against "inverted totalitarianism" ]( http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/10/20/imperative-revolt ) ?
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#22_October_2014_%28Inverted_totalitarianism%29

[ The future of journalism in the US: will "official sources" be the only sources? ]( http://fair.org/extra-online-articles/official-sources-may-be-the-only-sources/ )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#22_October_2014_%28Future_of_journalism_in_the_US%29

US citizens: [ call on Congress ]( http://act.credoaction.com/sign/fuller_impeach ) to impeach Judge Fuller, who pled guilty to attacking his wife.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#22_October_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Impeach_Judge_Fuller%29

The drugstore chain CVS [ owns a company that reimburses drug stores from insurance companies ]( http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/20/7017031/cvs-reportedly-plans-to-punish-pharmacies-that-still-sell-tobacco ) . The idea of penalizing people for using drug stores that cell cigarettes might be good, but one drug store should not be able to decide on such policies towards its competitors.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_October_2014_%28CVS_to_penalize_competitors%29

Right-wing US school boards are banning [ books about poverty and social classes ]( http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/21/us-adds-poverty-to-dangerous-reading-lists ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_October_2014_%28Books_banned_by_US_schools%29

[ "Cleansing the Stock" And Other Ways Governments Talk About Human Beings ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/21/cleansing-stock-doublespeak-people-killing ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_October_2014_%28Euphemisms_that_dehumanize%29

Canadian indigenous people are using their traditional land title to protect the environment, so the Canadian government is [ trying to force them to sell nearly all their land for a pittance ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/true-north/2014/oct/21/the-indigenous-land-rights-ruling-that-could-transform-canada ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_October_2014_%28Canadian_indigenous_peoples_land%29

The UK will have the "risks and benefits" of fracking investigated by a team [ funded by frackers ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/21/former-environment-agency-head-to-lead-industry-funded-fracking-task-force ) . The team says it will be "impartial", the way Faux News is "fair and balanced".
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_October_2014_%28UK_fracking_investigators%29

Afghanistan's poppy production [ has hit a record level ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/true-north/2014/oct/21/the-indigenous-land-rights-ruling-that-could-transform-canada ) . Since the government tries to destroy poppies, they are grown mainly in areas controlled by the Taliban.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_October_2014_%28Afghanistans_poppy_production%29

Rising sea levels due to global heating are affecting gondolas in Venice: [ they have trouble getting under the old bridges ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/21/venice-gondola-rising-waters-iron-ornament-stern-risso ) . By and by, Venice will have to be dammed off from the Adriatic Sea, and water pumped out of the lagoon all the time.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_October_2014_%28Rising_sea_levels_in_Venice%29

Just about everyone is exposed to phthalates that seep out of plastics, and they have various [ harmful effects on people ]( http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2014/oct/21/how-household-plastics-could-ruin-your-sex-life-phthalates ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_October_2014_%28Phthalates%29

An Australian MP [ asked the ICC to investigate ]( http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2014/oct/22/asylum-seekers-andrew-wilkie-takes-australia-to-international-criminal-court ) Australia's treatment of asylum seekers.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_October_2014_%28Australias_treatment_of_asylum_seekers%29

[ Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Poses Global Threat, Warn Doctors ]( http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/22/drug-resistant-tuberculosis-tb-global-threat ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_October_2014_%28Drug-resistant_TB%29

India is railroading a large dam project through [ slipshod environmental review ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/india-untamed/2014/oct/22/indias-largest-dam-given-clearance-but-still-faces-flood-of-opposition ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_October_2014_%28Large_dam_project_in_India%29

Facebook juggles its books to [ claim that it has "lost money" in the UK ]( http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/oct/22/facebook-uk-corporation-tax ) . Make Facebook lose money for real! [ Don't be a used of Facebook ]( https://stallman.org/facebook.html ) !
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_October_2014_%28Facebook_claims_loss_in_UK%29

Note to Canada: it is not "terrorism" to kill [ soldiers of a country at war ]( https://firstlook.org/theintercept/?p=7196 ) . One can argue it is treason for a Canadian to thus take sides against his own country. The ethics of this are a complicated question. Was Mr Rouleau fighting on behalf of Iraqis devastated by Bush's conquest and occupation of Iraq (done with Canada's help), or was he fighting on behalf of the PISSI which is more cruel than Bush ever dreamed of being?
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#23_October_2014_%28Terrorism%29