[Festival] IFF Specifics, Culture & Featured Events

[IFF Team]

Dear Friends,

As the festival approaches, we will be sending you a variety of
festival-specific updates. The following are some items we either need
help with, or would like to share:

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***IFF Parents: We Want to Talk to You!***

We are currently trying to identify all parents that are coming to IFF
with their children, in the hopes of creating a network of parents that
can help each other out while in Valencia. Please email us directly and
let us know: team at internetfreedomfestival.org!

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***Apply to be featured in the Tools & Tech Showcase***
The IFF is excited to officially announce the second edition of the
Tools & Tech Showcase, organized by eQualit.ie and the 2017 IFF Tools &
Technology Fellows, on Tuesday 7th March starting at 19.30!

If you are a tool developer or run a service for Internet freedom and
want to take part in the Showcase, apply via the link below by Friday,
February 24th! https://www.equalit.ie/eq-blog/iff-2017-tools-tech-showcase/

The Tools & Tech Showcase aims at offering visibility to innovative and
inclusive projects that are precious for protecting freedom of speech
and human rights online. IFF Technology fellows will choose 12
applications, favoring first-time participants and recently launched (or
public beta) initiatives.There will be prizes for audience members, a
chance for friendly banter and in-depth conversations with an inspiring
group of coders and activists, and the opportunity for developers to
meet their users and peers face to face.

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***Volunteers Still Needed: Sunday, March 5***
Just a reminder that volunteers are needed on Sunday, March 5 from
1:00pm to 5:00pm to help prep the venue. As this is a DIY event, we need
individuals to help us with tasks such as stuffing goodie bags, moving
chairs, and setting up signs. Music, beautiful sun, and great company
will be provided!

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***IFF Fellow Nighat Dad***
The Internet Freedom Festival is a place where people from different
communities gather in the spirit of solidarity and collaboration. This
means that maintaining an environment free of harassment is essential
for its success and is intrinsic to its core. As such, We would like to
express our support for IFF Fellow Nighat Dad, a passionate human rights
defender who is working tirelessly to improve the situation for those in
her home country, and others across the globe. Her work is celebrated
and respected in the Internet Freedom community and beyond. In 2015,
Time magazine recognized Ms. Dad as the next generation leader for her
work helping Pakistani women fight online harassment; last year, she was
awarded the Human Rights Tulip award for this same work. We are grateful
to her for her contributions to the IFF as an attendee and as a fellow,
and are doing everything we can to support her continued participation
at the IFF.


We would also like to take the opportunity to state that we will not
tolerate harassment of women in any form, whether it be online or in
person. We find this to go against the ethos and philosophies that
should be the basis of any type of human rights work. Harassment is
directly opposed to our goal of serving those on the front lines and
beyond. For more on the Internet Freedom Festival's anti-harassment
stance, please visit our Code of Conduct
[https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/Code_of_Conduct]

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***The Official Festival Hotel is Full***
The "official" IFF hotel - the AC Hotel Valencia - is now fully booked
full. As an alternative, we recommend you check out Hotel Primus
Valencia, which is a 10 minute walk from the venue. An entire list of
accomodations can be found here:
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2017-IFF-Accommodation-List-.pdf

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***Featured Events***
As many of you know, the festival schedule was recently published. We
want to take the opportunity. To highlight a few featured events:

**Global South Participants Collaborative Gathering:**
An IFF tradition, on the first day of the festival we will be hosting a
meetup where folks from the global south can meet, celebrate and start
of the IFF with good energy. Monday, March 5 @ 5:00pm in the Theater.


**Meetups in Every Shape & Size**
Attending a big event can be really challenging. One trick is to find
people you share interests with. As such, there are several meetups
planned throughout the week designed to help you meet and get to know
other humans. Check out the full list here:
https://internetfreedomfestival.org/wiki/index.php/Meetups

**Border Crossing Party**
Preparing to cross any border can be complicated and a bit cumbersome.
Lets all meet on the last day of the festival and collectively, with the
help of awesome digital security trainers, listen to some music and
prepare TOGETHER!!! Friday, March March 10 from 9:45 to 1:15 in the Library.

We look forward to seeing you soon! Please note we will be sending more
updates as we get closer to the festival!

The IFF Team