#2013ILC 18: Birgitta Jonsdottir, Icelandic MP: Icelandic Modern Media Initiative & more - Sept 20
Channel: Dee Shanger
Date: 2013-09-24

The keynote panelist of the 2013 (1st) International Livestream Congress #2013ILC was a two-hour livestreamed talk on Fri, Sept 20 by Icelandic MP and leader of the Pirate Party, Birgitta Jónsdóttir. Speaking from Reykjavik, Birgitta discussed the latest news about the Icelandic Modern Media Initiative (http://www.immi.is), which she co-wrote with Julian Assange and which was unanimously approved by the Iceland Parliament. This landmark law has been called "the best freedom of speech legislation on the planet." To view Birgitta's talk visit the Occupy Toronto Livestream archive at: h http://www.livestream.com/occupytoronto/video?clipId=pla_94d79bb7-ce4e-4b63-ad0c-986aa51a141d

"I'm very happy to be here. I've been a supporter of the occupy movement since Day 1 and all the other movements that are calling for social change. I think it is so amazing to actually witness the fact that there are peoplefreedom of speechfreedom of information and expression of speech; and now that our online privacy is held as sacred as our offline privacy."

"In 2008, Iceland had the world's third largest financial meltdown all because of the nepotism and the perfect marriage between the corporations and the state. The same old, same old. It's the same stuff all over. But it became so incredibly big here because we live in a really small society. There are only 320,000 of us."

"What happens when you have a crisis like this...it's actually really good. Even if it was quite a shock for most Icelanders, it was also an incredible relief for lots of people because nobody liked the times before the crisis because it was all about consumerism and superficial things. So, when we had this really big crisis we also had a realization by most people Iceland that everything people put their trust in had failed them -- the academia, the media, the politicians, the financial system -- you name it."

"So, within the time of crisis, you have the chance for change. When you have a profound chance for change -- like the crisis that happened in the USA after 9/11 that brought the infamous Patriot Act (very similar laws were passed in the UK and other European countries). The reason crisis brought bad laws is because us -- the people who define themselves as the 99% -- weren't ready. We had not prepared for what to do after the crisis."

"I was fortunate to read a book by Canadian Naomi Klein called The Shock Doctrine. So, I was aware that during times of crisis you have usually bad laws made, but it was also an opportunity for good laws. So, I accidentally stumbled into a situation where I helped create a political movement, which got 7.2% of the vote. We were created eight weeks prior to elections and no Parliamentarian nor professional politician were allowed run. So, it was up us to make ourselves who started it and to make ourselves to run. I wasn't really going to run, but I was going to find enough women to take leadership because they usually take a little bit longer to make big decisions like this."

"So, just after I got into Parliament -- and it's worth noting that I was the only geek in the Parliament. I come from a background of being a poet and I was the first Icelandic women to go into web development back in 1995. So, I'm sort of a native to the movement of people who had a true impact of shaping the internet in its early visual days. I really love the internet so much. It has completely transformed and changed my life. It has made it possible for somebody like me from a tiny island with very few people to be able to collaborate with people from all over the world that are like minded, find them, share knowledge and share projects."
.:.
.:.
::: Thank you to: [Big Mama} Sheryll Alexander for that (above) transcription.
.:.
::: #2013ILC FB events pg: https://www.facebook.com/events/318921614892769/
.:.
::: Twitter: @2013ILC - #2013ILC
.:.