We have been following ACTA's progress with great interest and the European Parliament will be voting on ACTA in the coming weeks. Whilst many have been saying that ACTA is now dead in the water, there is a very real danger that rather than dropping it outright, they will ask for it to be 'reconsidered' or amended. With something as toxic as ACTA it will be difficult to do anything to fix it without still causing unintended damage.

We need to remind the MEPs before they sit down in Parliament to discuss this what their constituents expect from them. We need to show them, and the world at large, that we won't accept this assault on our freedoms.

As some of you may be aware, the latest draft of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) has been leaked (via Knowledge Ecology International) and, as with the previous leaks, it is somewhat disappointing and distressing.

During the weeks leading up to the UK General Election — and during the exciting aftermath — our focus has very much been on UK parliamentary politics, and since the election, we've been dealing with our internal elections and getting our paperwork done. But what's been going on at the European Parliament in Strasbourg in that time? Yesterday morning, my attention was drawn to our fraternal Pirate colleague Christian Engström's blog, and in particular two issues that need your action as soon as possible.

Update 2: Statement from UKIP added to the end of the article.

Update: Three Netherlands MEPs have changed their vote, leaving UKIP as the ONLY party that supports ACTA.

Opposition to the secret ACTA treaty is spreading like wildfire. Today the members of the European Parliament had their say, as on a resolution against the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, arguing that it flouts agreed EU laws on counterfeiting and piracy online. MEPs will go to the Court of Justice if the EU does not reject the leaked proposals which include draconian powers to censor the internet and disconnect net connections.

The result was a massive landslide in favour of open government and internet freedom. 636 MEPs were on the side of freedom, and just 10 voted in favour of ACTA.

I can now name and shame those 10, people who were elected to represent us, but who want us to be governed by a secret worldwide clique where the RIAA call the shots and politicians are too scared to tell the public what they are signing us up to. The list in full is:

• Nigel Farage (United Kingdom, UKIP)
• Marta Andreasen (United Kingdom, UKIP)
• Stuart Agnew (United Kingdom, UKIP)
• Gerard Batten (United Kingdom, UKIP)
• John Bufton (United Kingdom, UKIP)
• Trevor Colman (United Kingdom, UKIP)
• The Earl of Dartmouth (United Kingdom, UKIP)
• Mike Nattrass (United Kingdom, UKIP)
• Paul Nuttall (United Kingdom, UKIP)
• Nicole Sinclaire (United Kingdom, UKIP)

Just 16 politicians couldn't make their minds up and abstained. They include:

• Diane Dodds (Northern Ireland, Democratic Unionist Party)
• Nick Griffin (United Kingdom, BNP)
• Andrew Henry William Brons (United Kingdom, BNP)

I am, quite simply, disgusted.

If those names make you feel ashamed to be British, you can do something about it right now. Join the Pirate Party UK, make a donation, come forwards as a candidate for us. Make sure your voice is heard.

The Pirate Party UK's press release:

Pirate Party UK supports MEP calls for ACTA openness, condemns UKIP

Professor Michael Geist of Ottawa University has produced a 20 minute talk introducing the Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) -- the secret copyright treaty currently being negotiated, which threatens to destory our rights on the internet at the behest of greedy corporations.

It's an excellent introduction to this dangerous secret treaty:

http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/4530/125/