Now sure exactly how to tackle the issue. To me the best way to do it is to go to the backbench — all the MPs that need to vote for the thing — and explain to them the absurdity of the proposal. I don’t see that it is going to be won by protest or outrage but more through explaining the poor ratio of cost (in money, time, reputation) to effectiveness (bugger all) of the scheme.

That’s probably where i’d start but i’m spread a little too thinly to do anything other than contact the local members that i know and have dealings with – i’m part way through that process at the moment.

Happy to be involved in campaigns of most kinds though.

What is to be done, is indeed the question!

I feel some kind of organized resistance to this is required.

It would probably need to be similar to the fight you Alison so valiantly were involved in to defend talented local artist Bill Henson. I’m not sure how that defense was organized but getting a few celebrities on board, organizing a collective of like minded members of the arts and film community to speak out on this and to write to various mInisters on behalf of whatever group is formed, etc., is a great idea and a good start.

As I have stated I am more than happy to lend my networks and that of MUFF to this cause. I think you and Marcus could be excellent spokes people for this fight being articulate and well respected with maybe a celeb or two thrown in to grab the Murdoch and Fairfax papers attention.

The issues involved are complex and so is the blanket defense of the no clean feed internet involved in opposing the filter. But it is necessary fight.

There is a site here : http://nocleanfeed.com/

This site aims to fight this.

Maybe a group of us can join forces? Get the major film and arts people, groups, blogs and festivals involved and who knows what we might be able to achieve. Even the attempt could create interesting synergies, discussions and cross pollinations.

Lets get something started!

Best Regards

Richard Wolstencroft
MUFF Director
http://www.muff.com.au

it made me laugh and think that it smells a little like censorship

This means that the filter is not going to work , This will also mean that most people will not care about this censorship as they can get easy around it and it will not effect them .
and thus you will loose some basic human rights , bad luck nothing to do about it

Given there’s some basis to your cynicism when you speak of the so-called “creative community”, a media invention if ever there were one: enough sometimes to make me want to emigrate. But dismissing what resistances exist is both blind and self-defeating. It makes Andrew Bolt more in touch with the arts than you are.

Yes, Richard, with you there. But how?