#Chain 59 – Post-ACTA era – Word from a Translator

It’s the Year 2015. I am a translator or at least I think I am. If only my life were easier; fined for illegal usage of copyrighted material, internet connection sporadically down as a slap on the wrist for supposed “misuse”, and those pesky global internet police – do they never sleep? I am spied on; remind me again I am “just” a translator right? My credibility is in tatters – imagine the money spent on public transport, library fees and not to mention those over-inflated fees to “legally” view necessary documents for my research. After all I’m only being paid the equivalent of 2 of the old centimes! ACTA has crept into my life, destroyed what was once my working environment and I have the feeling of entering a dead zone. Every turn brings a new challenge – let’s face it when you are “paid” to translate the words of others and your translated words hold no value what are you to do? My own words are taken away from me (it feels more like theft for the amount I get paid) and I feel all that I am doing is paying more each day for the right to work. Every single word I thought once belonged not only to me but to the whole human race bears the barcode of the beast “they” call ACTA. Am I being silenced? Written by Anon

#Chain 58 – Rest in peace my beloved word

Based on “Mourning the written word” by Point of View’s Lisa Jardine On reading an author’s point of view regarding the written word, I was propelled into contemplation regarding the implications of her findings. She wrote & I quote (whilst ACTA still permits me): “In these days of email, texts and instant messaging, I am not alone, I feel sure, in mourning the demise of the old-fashioned handwritten letter. Exchanges of letters capture nuances of shared thought and feeling to which their electronic replacements simply cannot do justice.” She goes on to quote the works of modernist write Virginia Woolf, who wrote “the humane art, which owes its origins in the love of friends”. After reading the article, which I urge you to read; I was brought back to the frightening thought & subject of our last few Chains – ACTA. Forget electronic mail watering down the sentiment of words through rapidity, forget that many people do not have the time or the inclination to write letters anymore ….. If ACTA has its way we will be simply silenced; unable to debate the demise of the written word using literary exerts & examples – the gag my friends is almost upon us! Join in the fight to stop #ACTA – Translate our petition today Word Count 223