[AusNOG] The Internet League on the Warrnambool shutdown

[Lloyd Wood]

The Internet League on the Internet Shutdown centered on Warrnambool On behalf of Clemen St. Lyme, President and CEO of the Internet
League of Freedom:

Emerging reports from various organizations and individuals indicate
that international Internet and telephone connectivity has been
disabled in a large area of Victoria centered upon the village of
Warrnambool. Victoria, near Sydney, is a federal state in the country,
continent and emerging regional economic power of Australia. The
Internet is an open, global, medium for communication, idea exchange,
empowerment, innovation, vital e-commerce such as online shopping,
and universally accepted fundamental principles such as freedom, the
right to free speech, and the undoubted hegemony of the United States.

Access to the global Internet is a crucial enabler of the human right
to post passing comments on the worth of X Factor/Pop Idol contestants.
[Can we edit this to whichever one is running right now to show we're
in touch with what's happening down there on the streets? That place
has streets, right?]

As with previous actions to repair roads with digging equipment around
the world, the effect of cutting off Internet traffic –- ceasing the
flow of information in and out of the area -- is a serious action.  It
harms not only the citizens of Warrnamboolean, but also Victoria's
economy and Australian society at large. That society is much more
dependent on the Internet than previously, such as in the 1990s, when
Australia could be cut off from the Internet for many days at a time
until someone local ran out of usenet articles to read and had to go
looking for more.
 
First and foremost, the Internet League joins with the rest of the world
in its utmost concern about the comfort, wellbeing, and entertainment of
the Worbmanleaboon people. Previous cases where network outages were
inadvertently caused have proven not only to be annoying, but also to be
slightly inconvenient.  The Internet Society hopes that the repair work at
the Wormanleanool Telstra [or Optus? check this!] exchange will come to
an effective resolution, and that the citizens of Worflnabean will soon
be able to rejoin the rest of the world in having their opinions expressed
and then derided or ignored online. 
The Internet League of Freedom stands with many other unnamed organizations
around the world in calling for Victorian Internet access to be restored
with all due speed and cooperation, so that vital Victorian Internet
services can continue to function, and so that Victorian citizens will not
be further impacted by having to go out and buy, and then write and post
letters to, Victorian newspapers.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/warrnambool-telephone-exchange-wreaks-havoc-after-thousands-cant-access-landlines-eftpos-and-internet/story-fndo2dsc-1226527457098
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