Canadian Writers Speak Out on Copyright

[David Ferry]

This is an email I sent to M. Garneau on this issue:

M. Garneau,

I write to you concerning proposed changes to copyright legislation:

Imagine if you will, that you were one of the fortunate humans who have had the privilege to soar above our planet's atmosphere. Imagine you have seen the beauty of the millions of stars in the sky around you as you float through the dark sky. Imagine seeing stars disappear in front of your eyes. Imploding, collapsing, no longer able to support their own mass.

I am an actor/director/writer/editor and am also Vice Chair of Actra Fraternal Benefit Society (though I write here as an independent artist.) At Actra Fraternal I see first hand many an artist who has challenges surviving economically, I chair a donations committe for instance that donates $100,000 a year to the Actors Fund to help subsidize artists in need.

As a director/actor in the theatre I see daily playwrights who struggle to make a living.

The proposed changes to copyright legislation that will see educational institutions exempted from paying photocopy royalties to playwrights and other authors will have a significant effect on the livelihood of those writers.

Our authors tell the stories that define us and unite us as a society. They are the  souls with the daunting task of telling the truths about our existance to us..and they are the ones that can make us see stars in all their glory without the benefit of a space shuttle platform or massive telescope, they describe  those beauties through the imaginative process of writing. They are our own stars.

I urge you to speak up on behalf of those stars, or we will soon see them disappearing, collapsing in on themselves, no longer able to support the mass of their continued existence.

When that happens the lights truly will go out.

Thank you.

David Ferry




On Feb 15, 2011, at 6:10 AM, Kim Solga <ksolga at UWO.CA> wrote:

> For those of you who feel strongly about this issue, please click the link below and pass on as you see fit.
> Also: for those of you who do NOT already below to Access Copyright, know that it is your right as an author (fiction, nonfiction, articles, books, plays, whatever) to belong to them, and to be paid a regular sum from them for fair use of your work in the public domain!
> Best,
> Kim
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
> 
>> From: Access Copyright <editor at accesscopyright.ca>
>> Date: February 15, 2011 7:04:19 AM EST
>> To: ksolga at uwo.ca
>> Subject: Canadian Writers Speak Out on Copyright
>> Reply-To: editor at accesscopyright.ca
>> 
>> Having trouble viewing this email? Click here
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Canadian Writers Speak Out on Copyright
>>  
>> The Writers' Union of Canada, under the leadership of its Chair Alan Cumyn, has put together a video featuring five writers about the perils of Bill C-32, Canada's controversial new copyright bill.  Access Copyright encourages all of our creators, publishers and member organizations to spread the word about this video.
>>  
>> The video features two-time Governor General's Award winner Nino Ricci, and builds awareness on how Bill C-32 and the education exceptions will hurt Canadian writers' ability to make a living.
>>  
>> "Without strong copyright protections, professional writing in this country will be irreparably harmed," says novelist Alan Cumyn and author of the video. "Thousands of authors and artists across the country have been writing their MPs, protesting parts of this bill. This video puts faces and voices to our concerns."
>>  
>> Also featuring in the video are Canadian writers Erna Paris, Sandra Campbell and Susan Swan.
>>  
>> What can you do to help?
>>  
>> Let's make this video go viral!
>>   
>> Here is the URL that will link you directly to the Canadian Writers Speak out on Copyright video on YouTube.
>> You can cut and paste the link into all of your e-communications.
>> 
>>  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qrcNksj5DE 
>> 
>>  
>> Here's how you can help spread the word:
>> As a Member Organization please forward this e-blast or email the link to all your members.
>> Blog about the video. Use the attached news release as content and add the YouTube link to your blog entry.
>> Tweet your followers on Twitter the YouTube link asking them to watch the video and re-Tweet to others.
>> If you have a Facebook account or a special Facebook page dedicated to Copyright, the Arts or Writing, add the link to your page and ask people to watch the video. Ask your friends to add the video to their Facebook page.
>> Add the video link to all your outgoing emails for the next week by adding it to your e-mail signature. Every time you send an e-mail you're letting people know.
>> Send the YouTube video link to your MP and to those MPs who are on the Bill C-32 Legislative Committee. (Find your local MP's e-mail at www.parl.gc.ca).
>> Here's what you can say:
>>  
>> I am a writer,
>> Most Canadian writers earn very modest incomes. Some writers try and get by on less than minimum wage.  Some people say that's our choice. And it is. But creating is our calling, our vocation.
>> Just like anyone else, creators need income to survive. Our incomes depend not just on sales. We also depend on income we receive when universities, colleges, schools, corporations and governments make copies of my works for their own use, instead of buying more copies of the original.
>> Copyright exists to protect creators.  When others use our works, copyright law should ensure the people who worked so hard to produce them are compensated.  
>>  
>> Please ensure the voices of Canada's creators and publishers are heard.
>> Please work with your colleagues to see that C-32 is amended so that without hardship to consumers, creators suffer no hardship either.
>>  
>>  
>> Legislative Committee Members
>> ·         Gordon Brown, Chair, brown.g at parl.gc.ca
>> ·         Charlie Angus  angus.c at parl.gc.ca   
>> ·         Pablo Rodriguez rodrigues.p at parl.gc.ca
>> ·         Mike Lake  lake.m at parl.gc.ca
>> ·         Dan McTeague  mcteague.d at parl.gc.ca
>> ·         Serge Cardin, cardin.s at parl.gc.ca 
>> ·         Ed Faste, faste at parl.gc.ca
>> ·         Sylvie Boucher, boucher.s at parl.gc.ca 
>> ·         Dean Del Mastro  delmastro.d at parl.gc.ca
>> ·         Peter Braid, braid.p at parl.gc.ca
>> ·         Carole Lavallée lavallee.c at parl.gc.ca
>> ·         Marc Garneau garneau.m at parl.gc.ca
>>  
>> 
>>   	
>> This email was sent to ksolga at uwo.ca by editor at accesscopyright.ca |  
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> 
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