I wanted to let the LJ Speaks community know about the creation of ljunited-- a coalition of LiveJournal users dedicated to putting forth a slate of two qualified candidates for the upcoming LJ advisory elections, drawn from individuals who believe in basic principles for LiveJournal that are very much appreciated by and in line with the beliefs of the LJ Speaks community. 

Do you believe that the promises that were made to LiveJournal's members are gradually being eroded?

Promises like:

Working with the community, for the community.
Honoring the status of every account.
Maintaining the uptime and performance of the site.

Staying advertisement free.
Never sending us unsolicited e-mail.
Supporting the Free Software movement. 


Are you aware that LiveJournal is shrinking... and concerned about what that could mean for its future in a profit / loss corporate world?

Are you concerned that the promises made by LiveJournal for protecting our privacy may be weakened and undermined by LiveJournal's new owners? Were you aware that in Russia today, LiveJournal user Savva Terentyev is behind bars, facing the possibility of two years imprisonment for posting a comment, saying that Russia would be better off if bad, corrupt police were publically executed?

Are you concerned that the election of LiveJournal members to LJ's advisory council could become little more than a popularity contest, without making sure that LiveJournal's users get what they want - skilled representatives who stand up for our rights, strongly supported by LiveJournal's members?

Then please, join LJ United.  A coalition of LiveJournal users that believe that the promises that were once made to us should be the basis of what we would ideally like to see again, and who intend to use those promises as the platform for the nomination of a Russian and non-Russian representative to LiveJournal's advisory council.

We believe that the best way for LiveJournal to be a successful business is to restore the trust of its members, for we are its greatest asset, its strongest evangelists, and its most loyal, dedicated customers... but only when we have reason to believe in them again. 

Until that time, there's ljunited
Let's stand together.