Join PulseWire Sisters to Speak Out for Universal Internet Access

Dear sisters,

You are the leaders of this community of women leaders from around the world and I invite you to lead us in raising our voices on the issue of Universal Internet Access and Digital Freedom.

Today, freedom of expression and equal access to knowledge and ideas has become synonymous with access to the Internet. As we witness on PulseWire every day, the Web has opened a new frontier for the free exchange of ideas, exposure to new markets, and global forums for building movements. Yet hundreds of thousands of people are excluded from participating—due to cost and infrastructure, threats to safety, government censorship, etc.

World Pulse invites women worldwide to share their personal testimonies on obstacles faced and risks taken in accessing the Internet to seek information, speak freely, and connect globally.

Share your personal testimony on the everyday obstacles you face and risks you take in accessing the Internet. Does expressing yourself freely put you at great risk for your personal safety? What's it like battling constant power outages or a slow connection speed? Do you pay exorbitant prices and endure harassment at local Internet cafes? Or does your country filter and block access to important information?

We also want to hear about innovative ways you're utilizing the Internet to accelerate change in your life, your community, or globally. How has the Internet made a difference in your life? What will it take to improve access in your community, and what does Universal Internet Access and Digital Freedom mean to you?

Raise your voice and speak your truth to bring awareness to this rising, global human rights issue. Together, let's lead the conversation and ensure a gender lens on global advocacy efforts to bridge the digital divide and demand our right to access!

Your testimonies will be leveraged to advocate for Universal Internet Access and Digital Freedom at the highest levels of policy-makers and International Human Rights bodies.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

1. Write your Testimony
   In your PulseWire journal, share your personal testimony on the every day obstacles you face and risks you take in accessing the Internet. How has the Internet made a difference in your life, what will it take to improve access in your community, and what does Universal Internet Access and Digital Freedom mean to you?




2. Tag your Journal
   In the tag field of your journal, type Access Now to be sure your post is included in our campaign and advocacy work. Without this tag, we may miss your journal, so be sure to copy it exactly.




3. Be Heard!
   World Pulse is committed to leveraging your voices for global change. We will compile all testimonies tagged Access Now and share them with key policy-makers and International Human Rights bodies. Submit your testimony on PulseWire by June 17, 2011 to ensure your voice is included.




4. Be Published!
   Throughout the campaign World Pulse will select and publish the most powerful testimonies in the Community Voices column of our online Magazine.




5. Invite your Friends
   Post a link to your testimony on your Facebook or Twitter account, and encourage your friends to join us. Together, we are stronger!

LEARN MORE >>

In love, gratitude and solidarity,
Jade