Monday, June 2, 2008

The Great News!

For all of you who have hostile work environments, who have stumbled upon p*ornography, who have tried to close innappropriate websites, only to find them doubled and tripled on your screen, whose children have seen it, whose families suffer, whose marriages are struggling, who see a problem and want to help solve it....and to anyone else interested, this is how you too can become part of the Internet Pornography solution!!

The CP80 Foundation has figured out a legal way to categorize the Internet and give us a p*orn free option. They have written legislation and a Senator and his staff are working on ways to introduce it and get it passed. The basic premise is so simple. They are asking that the US Government open up an additional port for our home Internet use. This port would be legally free from p*ornography. The port we currently use, port 80 would remain the same. So homes, schools, libraries, governments, work places all could have a safe place to research on the Internet. And anyone who wanted an unchanged Internet experience would still have that available to them.

Read on to find out how you can help. And please go to http://www.cp80.org for much more information.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

The Power of One

How can you even measure the power of one? Each of us has a specific circle of influence. I believe that there are people in our life's many paths there for a reason. I just don't think much of our initial contact with others happens by chance....what we do with that initial meeting is then up to us.

If you are here because you want to help the Cp80 Foundation, let me help you get started. First of all, make sure you join their organization at their website, http://www.cp80.org/. From there you will get valuable newsletters that will keep you up to date on the national level news. I have created this blog because I think there is much that needs to be done on a local level in our own communities, among our own neighbors. Here is how you begin:

1. Contact everyone you know and let them know about the CP80 Foundation and possible legislation that could channel adult material. (The Internet Community Ports Act-ICPA)

2. Contact State Legislators. Let them know about their opportunity to sponsor a state resolution asking the government for internet change to protect kids online. You can get a copy of this resolution at http://www.cp80.org/. Legislators might appreciate a sample copy sent to them.

3. Contact your Federal Legislators. Tell them they will soon have an opportunity to support legislation that would open additional ports for Internet use. One of these additional ports could then be designated as a child friendly port. Tell these Senators and Members of Congress you would like their wholehearted support and expect joint sponsorships from them of any and all measures like this. Mention the CP80 Foundation as a great source for more information.

4. Talk to groups and organizations in your area. Ask to speak to PTA meetings at the school. Be aware of Internet safety forums and ask to be involved. Present the information to church groups. Ask to speak to city councils and email specific city council members.

5. Join http://www.cp80.org/

Specifically here in Texas, this is what we need to do:

1. Email Representative Vicki Truitt and thank her for her support. Vicki.Truitt@house.state.tx.us.

2. Email Senator Kim Brimer http://www.senate.state.tx.us/.

3. Email Senator Jane Nelson http://www.nelson.senate.state.tx.us/

4. Email Kenny Marchant and thank him for his support. http://www.marchant.house.gov/

5. Email John Cornyn asking him to support the ICPA. http://cornyn.senate.gov/contact.html

6. Email Senator Hutchison asking her to support the ICPA http://hutchison.senate.gov/contact.html

7. Email Ken Paxton and thank him for his support. Ken.Paxton@house.state.tx.us

8. Email your specific State Representatives. Ask them to support a Texas Resolution and to support the CP80 Foundation.

In Texas on a Federal level, we have of course Two Senators and 32 Members of Congress. Each one of these people needs to hear from many Texans!!! Below is a list of all the Members of Congress:

Texas
Barton, Joe, Texas, 6th
Brady, Kevin, Texas, 8th
Burgess, Michael, Texas, 26th
Carter, John, Texas, 31st
Conaway, K. Michael, Texas, 11th
Cuellar, Henry, Texas, 28th
Culberson, John, Texas, 7th
Doggett, Lloyd, Texas, 25th
Edwards, Chet, Texas, 17th
Gohmert, Louie, Texas 1st
Gonzalez, Charlie A., Texas, 20th
Granger, Kay, Texas, 12th
Green, Al, Texas, 9th
Green, Gene, Texas, 29th
Hall, Ralph M., Texas, 4th
Hensarling, Jeb, Texas, 5th
Hinojosa, Rubén, Texas, 15th
Jackson Lee, Sheila, Texas, 18th
Johnson, Eddie Bernice, Texas 30th
Johnson, Sam, Texas, 3rd
Lampson, Nick, Texas, 22nd
Marchant, Kenny, Texas, 24th
McCaul, Michael T., Texas, 10th
Neugebauer, Randy, Texas, 19th
Ortiz, Solomon P., Texas, 27th
Paul, Ron, Texas, 14th
Poe, Ted, Texas, 2nd
Reyes, Silvestre, Texas, 16th
Rodriguez, Ciro, Texas, 23rd
Sessions, Pete, Texas, 32nd
Smith, Lamar, Texas, 21st
Thornberry, Mac, Texas, 13th

Let's get started and email each one. The more people who are talking about a specific topic, the more legislators that pay attention!

Let me know your experiences and if you get a positive response from any, please let me know right away!
Thanks!!!!!

Sample Letters to Friends and Lawmakers

For All Your Contacts:
Here is a sample email to send to all your contacts asking for support for the CP80 Foundation.

We have some fantastic news!!!!!
The CP80 Foundation has finally come up with a way to reign in the pornography industry and keep it zoned out of a child's eyes. The internet as we now know it is NOT a safe place for kids to surf, and it gets worse every day. The very best filter only filters 92% of unwanted adult content. That leaves over 300,000 sites unblocked!!!!!

We are writing to announce that there is HOPE and you can help! We expect to see new legislation, The Internet Community Ports Act which would open up another port for internet use. Currently we all use basically one port for our web surfing, the HTTP. With two ports to use, the internet could then be appropriately zoned. One port (the open port) would be the same as we now know it. The other (the community port) would be WITHOUT the adult content. For practical home and community use, you make your choice with your server and they simply flip a switch.

This simple easy change would protect schools, libraries, governments, businesses, and homes with children or any place that did not want access to pornography; it would give all these people a safe place to search the Internet. It is a brilliant, well designed solution. It NEEDS political backing! There is a rather large ground swell. The plan right now is two-fold: we are going state by state, gaining ground support, and asking each state legislature to pass a resolution, requesting the federal government to change the internet to further protect children and businesses. I have attached a sample copy of a resolution that other states have passed. (please insert your own state information) And of course, to gather federal support downtown around Senator Kyl and his efforts. We keep working and asking our legislators until they agree to support our efforts.

What can you do? Well, I was just hoping that you will support this new Internet Community Ports Act in any way you can. Will you let your colleagues know the exciting opportunity we all have to protect ourselves from this filth? Will you write to your local government leaders and tell them you want your state to protect kids online? Will you send an email off to your federal legislators asking them to support the Internet Community Ports Act this spring? Below is a sample letter you could send them.

The brilliance of the plan is that it gives everyone their freedom of choice. Those who still want pornography will have it available to them. Those who want a safe place to go without it, will finally have that place. (I personally prefer that it was made illegal, but since the courts have ruled otherwise, we still CAN zone it in its own place!)

I probably don't need to tell you how intrusive the porn industry is, how they actively try to invade any kind of filter out there, how they target our thirteen year old boys, how they are not simply offering a product, but are spending billions of dollars to find ways to get in where they are not wanted. How it is destroying children's lives and ruining families. How the sex crimes in this country are spiraling out of control. How the next generation of lawmakers and parents are becoming addicted to it! Enough is enough!

Thanks!! Please check out their website http://www.cp80.org/ to read all about it and the national and international coalition that is growing. There are currently 25 states on the move with this and 10 or so countries. Let's add yours to the list! And add our influence to help those on the Hill!

Thanks again!!! I know you are already busy but I also knew you would appreciate the CP80 Foundation's efforts. It really is a cause we can all stand behind.
Spread the word!!!
Thanks!

Here is a letter to send to State Legislators:

Dear Representative :

I live here in Southlake and enjoy seeing the sign showing your office is right here in my town. As your constituents, we could really use your help. (let them know you are their constituent) We expect a bill to be presented to the United States Senate this spring, a bill that would open up additional ports for Internet use, ports that would be legally pornography free. It is called the Internet Community Ports Act (ICPA).

In order to help this bill to pass and to encourage action in Washington DC, we are asking the states to petition the federal government to regulate the Internet. I am including a copy of this resolution and I am asking that you will please make every effort to ensure that Texas (your state) sends this resolution on to the United States Congress and President of the United States. We would like you to sponsor this resolution and work to get it passed.

This is the most important issue to me and my family at this time. No matter where you live or how you try to protect your children from this vice, it is everywhere and unless we do something about it, pornography will become more and more intrusive. Already American corporations loose over $85 billion annually due to pornography. 70% of pornography is accessed during the 9-5 work day. In Texas it is a troubling and growing problem. See what the Houston Chronicle printed about our public library use! (see if you can find evidence that it is a problem in your state, if not, that's OK, send it off anyway)

I look forward to seeing the results of your tireless efforts on behalf of children and businesses here in Tarrant County (write your county) and all over the country. This is definitely a cause we can all stand behind. I will be in touch with businesses and education organizations in the area as well.
Thank you so much!!

Here is a sample letter to a federal legislator:

Dear Senator or Member of Congress:

We thank you for your efforts in our behalf for all your constituents here in Virginia! We know you listen and work hard in our behalf.
We are asking for your support of some new legislation we expect to see soon. It is called the Internet Community Ports Act. This bill would open up additional ports for Internet use and therefore enable us to legally and enforcably declare a family friendly place for kids, schools, governments, libraries and homes to research on the Internet without the intrusive adult content. There is no filter in existence today that will do better than 92% which leaves over 300,000 pornography sites left unblocked!

We are asking for your full support of this and any other initiatives that would further protect children online.

I probably don't need to tell you how intrusive the porn industry is, how they actively try to invade any kind of filter out there, how they target our thirteen year old boys, how they are not simply offering a product, but are spending billions of dollars to find ways to get in where they are not wanted. How it is destroying children's lives and ruining families. How the sex crimes in this country are spiraling out of control. How the next generation of lawmakers and parents are becoming addicted to it! Enough is enough!

I look forward to seeing the results of your tireless efforts on behalf of children and businesses here in (write your state) and all over the country. This is definitely a cause we can all stand behind. I will be in touch with businesses and education organizations in the area as well.
Thank you so much!!