Dear Friends,
NetAction was founded in July, 1996 to help other activists learn how to use the Internet as a tool for organizing, outreach, and advocacy. Throughout this past year, we have worked to accomplish this in a variety of ways -- by publishing NetAction Notes, developing a Virtual Activist course curriculum, preparing "how-to" guides for the Mother Jones Web site, providing online advice and assistance to activists working on a wide range of issues, and launching a grassroots Internet organizing effort to stop the Microsoft monopoly. As 1997 draws to a close, I am writing to ask for your support so that NetAction may continue this work in the coming year.
The generous support we received from NetAction Notes subscribers and other supporters made it possible for us to carry out these activities over the past year. We want to continue this work in 1998, and to expand our outreach to activists by compiling our Virtual Activist training materials into a comprehensive "how-to" guide for Internet activists.
But we can't accomplish our goals for 1998 without your help. A significant portion of our support comes from membership dues and individual contributions, and we need to raise $15,000, by December 31, 1997, to ensure that our work will continue in the coming year. I'm writing to ask for your support as a subscriber to NetAction Notes. Please take a few moments right now to make a contribution to NetAction.
You can make a credit card donation by visiting our secure Web site. Or, if you prefer to make your donation by check, just print out and complete the brief form at the end of this message, and mail it along with your contribution.
Your support is crucial to the continued success of all of NetAction's training activities, as well as to our Consumer Choice Campaign. Microsoft's quest for control of Internet access, content, and commerce poses a serious threat to the Internet's continued development as an open forum for unfiltered communication. And that makes Microsoft a threat to Internet activism since the free and easy exchange of information on a global scale is what makes the Internet such a powerful tool for activists.
In the six months since NetAction launched the Consumer Choice Campaign, we've heard from thousands of concerned consumers, and helped make it possible for hundreds of citizens to communicate their concerns to Congress and the Justice Department. And we are making progress. A key Congressional committee is planning to examine Microsoft's activities, and the Justice Department is seeking sanctions against Microsoft for violating the terms of the 1995 consent decree that governs the marketing of the Windows operating system.
NetAction is working hard to stop the Microsoft monopoly. Earlier this month, we stepped up our consumer education and mobilization efforts by appointing a project director to oversee the Consumer Choice Campaign. We're pleased to have recruited Nathan Newman, who is a pioneer in using the Internet for grassroots organizing and education. Nathan researched and wrote our recently released White Paper, in which we document nearly 50 Internet-related investments and acquisitions by Microsoft, worth an estimated $4-5 billion!
The complete report, "From Microsoft Word to Microsoft World: How Microsoft is Building a Global Economy," is available on our Web site at http://www.netaction.org/msoft/world/.
I'm asking you to make a donation now to ensure that NetAction can continue publication of NetAction Notes and our other activities, including preparing "how-to" materials to help activists learn to use the Internet for organizing and advocacy, and mobilizing cyberspace consumers to stop Microsoft from gaining control of Internet access, content, and commerce.
As a special incentive, membership dues have been slashed to just $10. But this offer will end on December 31, 1997, so you need to act now if you want to take advantage of this special offer. With your help, NetAction will have the resources we need to stop the Microsoft monopoly and train activists in how to use the Internet to advocate on other issues.
Thank you! And please share this letter with others who may be able to help.
Audrie Krause
Executive Director
NetAction
P.S. If you join at the Monopoly Buster rate of $100, you will be acknowledged on the Web site.
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NetAction is seeking sponsors to provide financial support for the continued publication of NetAction Notes. Sponsors will be acknowledged in the newsletter and on NetAction's Web site. NetAction is supported by individual contributions, membership dues and grants.
For more information about contributing to NetAction, or sponsoring this newsletter, contact Audrie Krause:
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