I decided to start reading the Guyana Chronicle again to keep up with a part of the world that is rarely covered in the mainstream or independent media. I did not think that I would read about such a burning free speech/civil rights case going on in Australia in the Guyana Chronicle.

But next door to Australia, in New Zealand, there is a slightly more pressing (but ever more slight) legal situation. They are thinking of passing a DMCA-like law but are first accepting comments, including international ones. Here is what you can do:
————————————————————————————————————–

New Zealand’s incumbent government prides itself on being
highly consultative, so you’ll have the ability to tip the
scales in favour of the consumer and the private citizen.
The more New Zealand can be swayed to a less oppressive
position, the more force there’ll be towards efforts to
repeal/mitigate the DMCA in the USA, because NZ can then be
cited as a positive example.. So it’s actually in *your*
interest, in the USA and other countries, to make a
submission.

Submissions must be received before Friday, February 21,
2003. Please don’t delay unduly – it’s easy to blink twice
and discover that the date has already passed.

Snail Mail is probably best, sent to the following address: Digital Technology and the Copyright Act 1994
Attention: Victoria Pearson
Regulatory and Competition Policy Branch
Ministry of Economic Development
PO Box 1473
WELLINGTON,
NEW ZEALAND

Email submissions are also accepted -
victoria.perason@med.govt.nz

—————————————————————————————–