Today is One Web Day, which organizers describe as “Earth Day for the Internet.” In locations around the world including New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Singapore and others, some of the most important people shaping the way we use the Web are gathering to raise awareness about issues central to the protection of an open Internet.
At the New York event, speakers included Stanford professor Larry Lessig, Pandora founder Tim Westergren, Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, Electronic Frontier Foundation co-founder John Perry Barlow and more.
Founded by Susan Crawford, the purpose of One Web Day is to draw attention to key Internet values. This year, the topic is online participation in democracy. Speakers discussed the challenges of access, the dangers of telephone and cable companies controlling the “last 500 feet” of the line and empowering users to speak up, sign petitions and work towards maintaining an Internet that is uncensored, free and democratic.
If you’re an active Internet user (and if you read this blog, you probably are), then I encourage you to visit the One Web Day website and see what you can do to help make a difference. Throughout the day, you can view streams of the live events on Ustream.tv or you can follow events on Twitter.
What do you view as key Internet values? Tell us more in the comments.
