Originally posted at my own blog.

Social media -- those avenues to send instant, short, widely-distributed messages and images -- cuts both ways:

• It can be used to organize protesters, but it can also be used to identify protesters and arrest them.
• It can be used to spread information, but it can also be used to spread MISinformation.
• You can use it to promote your organization and cause, and others can use it to tear down your organization.

And it's been used to organize protests since the 1990s - so can we stop now with how "new" it all is?

This is cross-posted from my blog, Beckyblab:

The best part about the TechSoup Global Contributor’s Summit was seeing in real time the power of networks. A lot can be said for nonverbal communication and the effectiveness of meeting each other face to face!

Dear all,

Nice to meet you all! I've become aware of NetSquared during my research on activism and organizations using innovative communication tools, and Claire encouraged me to link my survey here for all of you to see (thank you!), so...

The Global Poverty Project have just released a personalised video using flash layers to put you in the middle of the story of ending global poverty. You can see it's native site at http://wnnn.tv .

The two minute video makes you the hero who is praised by world leaders and celebrities for ending extreme poverty. After entering your name, you witness a news report of how the world is reacting to your amazing achievements. World leaders, celebrities and the public applaud your efforts in a series of funny, challenging and enlightening scenarios – including the revelation that aid agencies are closing for lack of work.

I recently wrote this post about a new book called Digital Activism Decoded and followed up with editor Mary Joyce to learn more. Read the full interview below.

About the book:

A new book has recently been published that I thought some of you might be interested in reading. It's all about how we can use technology for political activism. While many books have already been written about the tools and tactics available for activists online, this is the first book to attempt to map the field of digital activism in its entirety.

If you're going to the 2010 Personal Democracy Forum Conference, you may be interested in checking out the half-day Mobilize Your Cause Bootcamp which will be held on the CUNY campus the day before the conference starts.

An entirely non-commercial forum site for local green groups and organizations has been created at Local Green Forum.    It is designed specifically for sharing information about environmental action at the local level.  This is an excerpt from the home page –

"This is a place where local communities can share information.  Although our site has been created for the Green Team at East Shore Unitarian Church in Bellevue, WA, other church groups, schools, university groups, and local organizations are encouraged to use the site as well.  Originally created for the Puget Sound area, our forum can be easily expanded to accommodate local groups outside our area.  
 
Our Purpose

This post is ultimately about the role technology plays in Burma-centered human rights action, the bulk of which is carried by a conversation with U.S. Campaign for Burma
board member Nickie Sekera. Bear with me, however, as the rambling preamble touches on how relatively small and intimate the nonprofit/activist tech world is.

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Social media doesn't mean you do less organizing — it means you (can) do it better, or at least differently. You still have to use all the old skills of coalition-building, strategic planning, creative social action, managing relationships and preventing burnout. None of that goes away just because you're engaging with people on Facebook instead of in town halls.

Read the complete post