NetSquared teaming up with Sun Microsystems to produce global Hack Days. Sao Paolo, Brazil was a success on October 1, stay tuned for an update. Next up, China!
NetSquared is an initiative ofTechSoup
NetSquared enables social benefit organizations to leverage the tools of the social web.
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Organizations asking, "What is democracy to you?"
With elections and politics consuming news programs and conversations around the world right now, the Democracy Video Challenge asks you to make a short video to finish the sentence, "Democracy is..."
N2Y2Con: Introducing the Innovators
The N2Y2 sessions have begun; this is Evonne Heyning blogging live from San Jose for NetSquared Innovation spotlights. I will be liveblogging from the detail sessions later today but first, an intro on why this gathering is unique.
The future of organizing networks and activist media will be redefined by many of these 21 innovating social ventures presenting here at N2Y2. Here are a few of the culture-shifting approaches that these groups are pioneering:
Local Issues Forums - E-Democracy.Org's Online Townhalls in US, UK, and now NZ
Voting Summary (Elevator Pitch):
The online townhall made real where citizens have a say and make a difference locally.
China Digital Times
Voting Summary (Elevator Pitch):
China Digital Times is an uncensored news portal covering China's political and social transformation. CDT uses the power of the Internet to bridge the language and cultural gap and overcome state censorship.
Plenary: 11 am. Day 1, Gillmor
Democratizing the Media (a subject close to our hearts at Link TV) by Dan Gillmor, Center for Citizen Media. Dan puts a PowerPoint up on the screen and takes us through citizen journalism. He tells us that CJ is the result of ubiquitous networks, lots of tools, and the fact that today, anybody can be a publisher.The hallmark of Democratized media is that it is a conversation, something most journalists are not good at. There are new rules for this kind of media.
1. Secrets emerge…get over it.
2. What is “true” is about trust as well as accuracy.
At what point does Grass Roots + Personal Media = Social Change?
When we talk about how the opportunity for "grass roots" media use do we need to be more specific about what is possible? Doesn’t "grass roots" mean more than personal media makers? Doesn’t it imply collective action? We need more than media in the hands of thousands of people. Where is the mobilizing spark? How do we flick the Bic (lighter) and light the fire for colelctive ation and social change?
We need to worry about Congress
The intersection of technology and capitalism is the primary reason that we will continue have to work uphill to protect open access and free speech no matter what technology we are talking about. Indeed, we must remain vigilant. It is not the companies who created a new set of policies (1996 Telecom Act) that threatens access and open source -- it is CONGRESS. And we have to fight first against the undue influence telecomm companies have over Congress through CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. What do we have in response? PEOPLE POWER. So sure, we need though leaders, but we need to MOBILIZE PEOPLE POWER in defense of our consitutional rights in the "information age".
