Knowledge is power

Those who are in power are often using this statement in reverse: They try to guard their knowledge so they can stay in power. They often state that they have to keep facts secret (i.e. hide their knowledge) for the sake of society, to protect the privacy of (other) individuals, etc. But in reality it is an egoistic point of view, which must be countered.

It is the collected knowledge of all humans that are of value. And we have to share it - no knowledge should be hidden. And in contrast to material assets their is no shortage problem: you can donate knowledge to others without loosing it yourself - in fact it is pure win-win - you will receive more knowledge yourself by sharing. There is nothing new in this, e.g. OpenSource software works exactly along these lines.

And once again, the net is an extremely useful tool. We are all Googling along, and the more knowledge we put on the net, the better prospects for the future. Furthermore it is one of the best ways to fight the inequality of the world. Poor countries are to a large extent kept in poverty by using the shortage-mechanism of material goods. They are trapped in poverty, because they don't have the money to buy the facilities which will bring them wealth so they can get out of poverty. Whereas energy and physical raw materials are limited, knowledge is unlimited. In economic terms, the value of energy and raw materials has a given value, expressed in a certain amount of money. But the economic value of knowledge is zero! Thus you bring an offer by donating physical stuff to other people, but not by donating knowledge.

Privacy in real life and on the net

We are still deeply rooted in our historic habits. Most of our time we spend milling around - sleeping, eating, working, shopping, playing - without the use of gadgets (computers etc.) and we are used to the concept of privacy: We interact with people in physical proximity to us and can act accordingly. If we like these people we can stay in contact - if not, we can (usually) go away. And we can avoid attending locations where those we don't want to meet assemble. And you will normally evaluate anybody from a distance before establishing contact. If they are completely disguised, you will normally avoid contact.

Our home is our castle
One of the basic human rights is 'privacy'. When we are at home we can do - almost - anything without interference or surveillance from other people, including authorities. It is one of the basic human rights - Article 12 in http://www.hrweb.org/legal/udhr.html. This is often translated as a right to be anonymous. But it is something different. Your family, neighbours and friends know who you are - and they have usually a more or less complete idea of what you are doing.

Privacy on the internet
Usually the physical conception of privacy is translated to a right to be anonymous on the internet. This is wrong. My privacy on the internet is based on non-anonymity of myself and everybody else. I must require the same right to know 'who is in the neighborhood' as in the physical world. If they are disguised, I don't want to interact with them. And if I spot an individual which I don't want to contact, I must have the right to avoid meeting him or her.

Me and the Universe

I'm a just one of several billion people on a little speck of a planet in orbit around a little star located in the outskirts of an ordinary galaxy.

So I have no significance...
...except for my self and my relatives.

Learning is living

Life is an everchanging state.
Each time you do something you learn something.
When you are dead you will not learn more - when you don't learn, you are dead!