Young Pirates get Government Funding
Written by Ben Jones on January 17, 2009Ung Pirat, the youth organization of the Swedish Pirate Party received over 1.3 million Krona from the Swedish government yesterday. The money – government funding to political youth organizations – was heavily criticized by anti-piracy lobbyists.
Ung Pirat, or ‘Young Pirate’, is the youth organization associated with the Swedish pirate party. Yesterday it was a big day for the group, getting 1,325,744 Swedish Krona (Approx €121,900, or $161,700 US) from the national board for youth affairs. The amount is based on a membership count of around 1280 members, but with current membership of around 4,872, next years amount should be even greater.
The national board for youth affairs (Ungdomstyrelsen) awards money to organizations, in order to ensure that they have access in influence, to promote the next generation of politicians; indeed possibly the current generation. At least two of the board members of Ung Pirat are listed on the Pirate Party’s list of candidates for June’s EU elections.
Not everyone has been pleased about the government funding though, with the IFPI chief among them. IFPI’s Swedish director Lars Gustafsson wasn’t happy at all, saying “It is surprising. Ung Pirat works in principle to encourage something illegal. That they then receive money from a state institution is remarkable.”
This is of course, the same Gustafsson who last year urged ISPs to spy on its customers, which is of course completely illegal – not that hypocrisy from the IFPI is anything new. The board dismissed the complaints though, with Director-General Per Nilsson saying “It is our understanding that they want to change legislation around copyright issues and that is an opinion that they are entitled to.”
UP, at just over two years old, has seen a fantastic growth rate. It is now the third biggest political youth organization in Sweden, behind those of the Moderate and Social Democrat parties, and ahead of the Christian Democrats – all parties with representatives in the Swedish Parliament.
Per Nilsson recognized this as well, saying, “It is positive that the organization in a short time has managed to build a large nation-wide activities on issues involving many young people.” With this money and constantly growing support, it’s quite likely that come the next election, the Pirate Party will be voted into parliament.
“The growth of the Young Pirates in Sweden heralds the coming of a new dimension in European politics,” Ung Pirat’s Mattias Bjärnemalm told TorrentFreak, “The communication revolution has made the life of the younger generations into something altogether different from how their parents grew up, and now that cultural change will alter the very core today’s political landscape.” We wish them all the best of course.
Previously: RIAA Scared of Court Case Webcast
Next: Music Piracy Not That Bad, Industry Says
47 Responses
Let us not be too hasty to give up in other countries. We are not defeated until we give up. We must organize. We cannot remain divided against ourselves – we must unite to be able to get anything done. We must form a union of citizens against copyright holder (MAFIAA) supremacism to take action.
This is basic organization. Why not organize in the same way in the United States and other countries? In the United States, there is the U.S. Pirate Party, but nobody really takes third parties seriously in the United States. It could have some usage in organizing people, but only some. At least in the United States, most of politics is done by non-governmental organizations. In the same way, I do not think that single-issue parties could really do that well in other countries. After all, there is the piratbyran (The Pirate Bureau) in Sweden, so there ought to be the same in the United States.
What is more important is for people who are against copyright holder (MAFIAA) supremacists to simply organize into a movement. With more organization, people are able to do more than they can by themselves. Let there be the Citizens against Copyright Holder (MAFIAA) Supremacists – or something like that.
There are a lot of copyright holder supremacists in the United States in other nations. The IFPI directors are among these heinous copyright holder supremacists. Surely we must do something about this.
Demonstrations are just that – demonstrations. It is not as powerful as the popular opinion. At least in the United States, about only 20% of people think that file-sharing should be okay.
This is a war for public opinion, not for government policy. In a democratic government, majority rules, and it is up for the public opinion to decide, not the government or industry or things like that. Only the popular opinion is supreme, not demonstrations or anything like that. In order to change the popular opinion, we must form a citizens' union against copyright holder supremacists in order to do anything effective.
The fact is that no "Citizens against Copyright Holder Supremacism" exists as of yet, and it needs to exist before anything positive could happen.
They do listen, but when it is only 20% of people, it is negligible. We need to increase this percentage to at least a majority before we can be heard.
wow sweden seems to actully care about its people and there opinions, i was reading that there also banning mercury from dentistry and they dont flurodate there water (excuse my spelling lol) any swedes wanna swap homes? i live in rubbish ol england lol
I love that politician, he’s te first person in government that i actually feel like he knows what he’s talking about.
And damn right they should get funding they are no different than any other party.
shame the uk is so far gone.
Arrrr! thats the way to go
Congratulations to Ung Pirat!
Things are looking good for the Pirate movement, it just took the time for the Internet generation to grow up and become politically active. :)
actually the UP board has 4 members and 2 alternate members on the Pirate Party’s list of candidates for June’s EU elections.
Its times like these that makes us proud to be Swedish citizens!
The world is a-changing my dear dinosaur friends at IFPI, say hello to the Dodo for us!
We know what you are scared of, today Sweden, tomorrow the world!
Heja Sverige!
http://www.eZee.se
We really need something like this in the UK. To bad it just fell apart when no one could be bothered.
A wonderful development.
Sweden leads the way again!
ye i agree with Crandom.
i would vote for a uk Pirate party for sure!
its just what the uk needs! who else is
with me?
Good on you Sweden! Good on the younger generation also. This is a battle us older generations started and you have taken on to continue the struggle. More power to you.
Sweden is the last true image of a Democracy, don't let it fall like the dictatorships of the rest of the Western world.
proof that governments everywhere will give money to anyone.
This is basic organization. Why not organize in the same way in the United States and other countries? In the United States, there is the Pirate Party, but nobody really takes third parties seriously in the United States. It could have some usage in organizing people, but only some. At least in the United States, most of politics is done by non-governmental organizations.
What is more important is for people who are against copyright holder (MAFIAA) supremacists to simply organize into a movement. With more organization, people are able to do more than they can by themselves. Let there be the Citizens against Copyright Holder (MAFIAA) Supremacists – or something like that.
This is basic organization. Why not organize in the same way in the United States and other countries? In the United States, there is the U.S. Pirate Party, but nobody really takes third parties seriously in the United States. It could have some usage in organizing people, but only some. At least in the United States, most of politics is done by non-governmental organizations.
What is more important is for people who are against copyright holder (MAFIAA) supremacists to simply organize into a movement. With more organization, people are able to do more than they can by themselves. Let there be the Citizens against Copyright Holder (MAFIAA) Supremacists – or something like that.
This is basic organization. Why not organize in the same way in the United States and other countries? In the United States, there is the U.S. Pirate Party, but nobody really takes third parties seriously in the United States. It could have some usage in organizing people, but only some. At least in the United States, most of politics is done by non-governmental organizations.
What is more important is for people who are against copyright holder (MAFIAA) supremacists to simply organize into a movement. With more organization, people are able to do more than they can by themselves. Let there be the Citizens against Copyright Holder (MAFIAA) Supremacists – or something like that.
This is basic organization. Why not organize in the same way in the United States and other countries? In the United States, there is the U.S. Pirate Party, but nobody really takes third parties seriously in the United States. It could have some usage in organizing people, but only some. At least in the United States, most of politics is done by non-governmental organizations. In the same way, I do not think that single-issue parties could really do that well in other countries. After all, there is the piratbyran in Sweden.
What is more important is for people who are against copyright holder (MAFIAA) supremacists to simply organize into a movement. With more organization, people are able to do more than they can by themselves. Let there be the Citizens against Copyright Holder (MAFIAA) Supremacists – or something like that.
Sweden is a beautiful country. All Swedes should be immensely proud of their country! I was amazed how much influence the public have in politics. It has room for improvement, although there is nothing anywhere in the world that comes closer to Sweden to a true Democracy.
Stand proud Sweden, no matter what other lobby groups say, your country is the envy of any free society, BE PROUD! If I was younger, I would move there in a heartbeat.
This development is good not only for sweden. If UPs mother party gains seats in parlament, it really opens up for the rest of the pirate parties around the world, whouldn't you agree?
The United States also does care about its people and their opinions. The only reason why the industry has control right now is because the citizens have not bothered to organize yet, nor have they bothered to voice their opinion yet. After all, how can any government take a group of people's opinions into account if they don't even bother to voice them or do anything about it? Of course people are going to be ignored if they just do nothing about it. The way to solve this problem is for the citizens to organize into a group, like form a Citizens against Copyright Holder Supremacists, or something like that; only then can the people take back control, and voice their opinions.
Its ironic that UP is getting a great deal of funding, while it's mother party doesn't get a penny. We're still trying to "hire" a full time party-leader with donations.
They don't listen as much as you whould think. There has been several huge demonstrations against the several new laws combating not only piracy but our privacy and integrity. Despite this the goverment(with a few exceptions) acts as though the the issue didn't even exist.
We will make our voices heard next election though..
Regarding piracy Sweden is truly "remarkable" to use the IFPI's word ;) But there are still many undemocratic things like the censorship firewall or secret service now being allowed to monitor all foreign internet traffic. And on a personal note it's just too friggin' cold to move there :P
Well, only in countries that support third parties well. The fact is that third parties do not really work that well in the United States. The only way to effect change in the United States is to pressure one of the two parties into changing their stances.
Demonstrations are just that – demonstrations. It is not as powerful as a union of citizens who would voice their views.
The fact is that no "Citizens against Copyright Holder Supremacism" exists as of yet, and it needs to exist before anything positive could happen.
At least in the United States, about only 20% of people think that file-sharing should be okay. This is a war for public opinion, not for government policy. In a democratic government, majority rules, and it is up for the public opinion to decide, not the government or industry or things like that.
Demonstrations are just that – demonstrations. It is not as powerful as a union of citizens who would voice their views.
The fact is that no "Citizens against Copyright Holder Supremacism" exists as of yet, and it needs to exist before anything positive could happen.
At least in the United States, about only 20% of people think that file-sharing should be okay. This is a war for public opinion, not for government policy. In a democratic government, majority rules, and it is up for the public opinion to decide, not the government or industry or things like that. Only the popular opinion is supreme, not demonstrations or anything like that. In order to change the popular opinion, we must for a citizens' union against copyright holder supremacists in order to do anything effective.
Demonstrations are just that – demonstrations. It is not as powerful as the popular opinion. At least in the United States, about only 20% of people think that file-sharing should be okay.
This is a war for public opinion, not for government policy. In a democratic government, majority rules, and it is up for the public opinion to decide, not the government or industry or things like that. Only the popular opinion is supreme, not demonstrations or anything like that. In order to change the popular opinion, we must for a citizens' union against copyright holder supremacists in order to do anything effective.
The fact is that no "Citizens against Copyright Holder Supremacism" exists as of yet, and it needs to exist before anything positive could happen.
You have a good point, the US democracy is a far way from being an actual democracy at all. Per defeinition a democracy is when all voices are heard and taken into account, not just the majority. Let us hope though that atleast a proper organisation can take place, even in the US.
Atleast in sweden, if 20% are pro-filesharing, then that could potentially be 20% of the votes lost to any party taking an anti-filesharing stance. That should be enough to make any party think long and hard before they take such a stance.
Think the youth of the world have the correct mindset. Its just a matter of waiting for the foolish old to die.
Well, the other component is passion. In the United States, at least, I see that nobody is angry enough to take effective action. I mean, it takes a lot of effort to organize a political movement. Why the hell would anybody go through all that effort if they weren't furious about something? If we are just going to be apathetic and complacent, of course nobody is going to listen to us, because it is not like the 20% care that much about it in the first place. We need to be more angry, because there is sure a lot to be angry about. But we aren't – yet.
Its times like these that makes us proud to be Swedish citizens!
Younger the better, never to young to start pirating!
online-privacy.se.tc
This is proof that any product that can be obtained by electronic transfer is not safe by copy write laws.
What's so special? Most democratic countries have some kind of program to support political parties that qualify. Obviously UG has been successful.
Today there are Landtag (state parliament) elections in Hesse, Germany. If the Pirates get 1% of the votes then we also will get government support (about EUR 0,38 for every vote we get for the next 4 years and iirc EUR 0,70 for every Euro we get through donations or other ways; of course, it's limited to a maximum amount we can get).
If that doesn't work, we need to get 0,5% of the votes at the EU parliament elections which is actually quite likely.
Anyway, good luck to all pirates all over the world!
*UP, not UG
Start a community (on Facebook or so) and get it rolling!
Maybe there isn't much political action yet but what else but anger and hate for the industry gets people to run projects like tpb (+ hundreds and thousands of other warez sites), upload terabytes in torrents/rapidshare/etc, take the time to crack every technology they bring out …?
And i doubt just being "angry" and "furious" will get you a good reputation. Just imagine a public discussion and the "angry" pirate guy is acting like a spaz while the copyright guy is all serious, calm and reasonable. Now who's gonna get the public's sympathy? After all it's especially the older/ generally more conservative ones you have to get on your side; not the young liberal ones who are already on your side.
“It is surprising. Ung Pirat works in principle to encourage something illegal. That they then receive money from a state institution is remarkable.”
It's called Democracy.
O and things are illegal because the goverment decides they are illegal, if the goverment overthrows this and makes it legal, well it's legal. And the only way this can happen if someone is pushing the change. So beeing suprised by this fact shows of complite lack of understanding the basic operations of a democratic contry, but hey that's understandable sinc RIAA is from a non-democratic contry. (I dont whant to hear the USA is democratic bullshit)
long live revolution!!
all political parties always end in manipulating for their own asses, this stupid shitty pirate party exists only to support tpb moneymaking and nothing else, they have absolutely ZERO politcal ideas, and its sole existence proves they don't have a clue and are a bunch of clueless ignorant petit bourgeois wanting to make money out of thin air
Hold your breath, for this is not revolution yet.
How long until revolution? I know not, but it shall, eventually.
Ummm, they did succeed in getting money out of thin air ;)
someone sounds jealous..
:-D
Seriously… with all that is going on in the world. It seems this money could go to something more useful, like securing Energy, so you are not at the mercy of Mother Russia.
Why not use this money to help end the Cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe, or perhaps help out our friends int he middle east?
hehe, indeed
I want to be able to see Soccer AM on tv, and cricket, and go to Premier League live. So yes please :p
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