#keepItOn campaign launching in Lebanon and internationally on November 25th 2016
Beirut November 25th: In an attempt to exert control over citizens, governments across the globe are instructing internet service providers to restrict internet access, particularly to social media – during protests, elections, and even school exams. These blackouts have led to human rights violations taking place, emergency services unable to do their jobs, journalists being censored and businesses, along with local and global economies, losing vast amounts of money.
In 2016 alone, the international digital rights organization, Access Now and a network of dozens of aligned groups around the world, including the Arab digital rights organization Social Media Exchange in Lebanon, has documented more than 50 shutdowns worldwide. People are being silenced, so it’s time to speak up.
Break the silence
From 25th November – 7th December 2016, Lush is joining forces with Access Now for the next stage of their global #KeepItOn campaign to fight government ordered internet shutdowns.
‘’Lebanon with its free thinking is a pioneer in introducing and discussing new issues that could help societies progress. It is our place to be, and given the innovation of #KeepItOn, we are highly invested in this topic’’, said Lina Tannir CEO of LUSH Lebanon.
Kicking off on Friday Nov 25th, the #KeepItOn campaign will run on Lush.com and in 40 countries across the world where staff and local campaign partners will talk to customers about how digital rights can affect us all and invite them to join the fight by signing a petition on http://www.accessnow.org/keepiton asking world leaders to keep the internet on.
In Lebanon, Social Media Exchange, an Arab digital rights organization, will be on hand at all three Lush locations to answer questions about internet shutdowns and the #KeepItOn campaign in the Middle East.
On the final day of the campaign (Wednesday 7th December), these petitions will be handed to government leaders at the Internet Governance Forum 2016 (IGF 2016) where UN delegates will be gathering in Guadalajara, Mexico to discuss the future of the open internet. More than 3,000 participants from around the world will join the meeting, making this a critical moment to urge our leaders to speak out against internet shutdowns.
Bathed in freedom
To help local digital rights organizations like SMEX amplify their #KeepItOn campaigning, Lush has created the Error 404 bath bomb. (Error 404 is the message users receive when a Web page has been censored or blocked.) Between November 25th and December 7th, profits from the sales of the Error 404 bath bomb – priced at LBP 15,000– will go to #KeepItOn digital rights fund. Bath bombs will be available online and in the Lush shops.
@LushLtd @accessnow #KeepItOn