October 25, 2007
Nonprofits use Technology to become World Actors
The world has changed, and technology has brought new actors to the world stage. Non-profit organizations and NGOs are making major contributions to the “global village."
The Internet has become an essential work tool for non-profit organizations, and has propelled them to be players in world affairs. Though the Web, these organizations reach a larger part of the population around the world. Technology magnifies their influence beyond the organization’s physical boundaries. Non-profit organizations have always developed awareness for a wide array of issues and causes, but now these organizations can reach millions spanning across the globe in seconds.
In addition to spreading a message the web is a tool to recruit volunteers and organize supporters. Generation Y is the most technologically savvy generation in history, and it is technology that is connecting younger people with the causes of non-profits. The web along with this new generation is reshaping what is possible by creating new strategies and harnessing new methods.
The ease of online fundraising is the final piece of the puzzle, which pushes the message and its supporters into action. Small donations now truly make a difference because they can be harnessed exponentially. Millions and Millions were raised in the response to Hurricane Katrina and the Tsunami in the Indian Ocean, and many of those contributions were in small increments.
Technology breaks down the formal barriers of 20th century top-down world management. It provides a direct communication among actors. The Web equals the playing field for all, and allows any group with a cause to become a major actor just as any government or any leader. In this new world, leaders ignore major world issues at their own peril.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 22, 2007
The Power of Drudge
The Drudge Report is arguably the most powerful political website. The site originated during the Monica Lewinsky scandal as a place for rumor and innuendo, which many times turned out to be fact.
Since the days of Clinton scandal, the site has grown into one of the most popular sites on the web, especially for conservatives. The headline on the Drudge Report has the power of driving the daily news cycle, and the statistics support this claim. Drudge contends that more than 16 million people visited the site last week alone.
The Clinton campaign appears to recognize the capacity of Drudge to effect the news cycle, and is trying to use the site to its advantage instead of being caught in the site’s cross hairs. The NY Times reports, the Clinton camp leaked the 3rd quarter fundraising statistics to Drudge just as Barak Obama was going to give a speech criticizing Sen. Clinton on the war in Iraq.
The Clintons, better than anyone, understand the ins and outs of the news media and the 24/7 news cycle. This calculated leak the Drudge Report( a former Clinton opponent) blunted Obama’s speech and message for the entire news cycle. Will other campaigns be able to adeptly utilize the web and news media to compete with the Clintons?
Posted by Buzz Webster at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 18, 2007
Blog Action Day 2007
Blog Action Day is a U.N. backed initiative that brings bloggers from around the world together to discuss one thing.
Coordinators must be thoughtful in selecting a subject that is relevant and important around the world, this year’s hot topic, The Environment. On October 15th, over 20,000 bloggers committed to the topic and have the potential to reach over fourteen million people. Blog topics ranged from discussing green companies, ways to reduce your impact on global warming, recycling, organic farming, criticisms of state environmental policy, etc... Of course organizers hope to keep the conversation going. The event is a proactive catalyst to stimulate further discussion and change.
While bloggers may agree on one topic to discuss the international scope still leaves room for versatility amongst the unity. This allows for a number of different opinions and perspectives to come to light and help develop an understanding of the problem as a whole on the international stage. Once again the internet has brought together millions of people to connect on a chosen issue in hopes of a response and another push for change. The internet’s ability to facilitate far reaching associations is something we can all use to move in a positive direction on the environment or any topic.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 15, 2007
Facebook Used to Organize Burma Protests
Interest has exploded for a Facebook group, Support the Monks Protest in Burma.
This interest has translated into action and once again social networking sites prove to be a mobilization tool. In less than one month the group's membership has reached a record 405,984. (On September 29th, more than 100,000 individuals joined in one day, that's over one every second!) The group's Facebook page is rich with information, videos and member posts. There is praise from Elie Wiesel, Yoko Ono Lennon and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who simply says, "Please use your liberty to promote ours."
That is exactly what thousands are doing. This Saturday's marches around the world are being organized using Facebook. The irony in all of this is that the leaders in Burma have censored the internet, making it hard for Burmese citizens to know how much international support they have.
Social networking sites have become a cheap and easy way to establish cohesiveness which is vital to any successful movement. Unfortunately, simply joining a Facebook group will not result in immediate political revolution. It is up to state leaders to respond to the public's protests for a change in Burma to occur.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 04:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 09, 2007
YouTube Changing State and Local Races
YouTube is no longer a venue for presidential candidates, but it is playing a real role in local and state elections. Candidates can post information and videos that bypass the MSM, and even better they are accessible to anyone all the time.
In addition, constituents can use the platform to respond to people running for office. Users add to the conversation by praising or insulting opinions in the same effortlessly available manner. Unfortunately sometimes these enthusiasts may be your opponent.
Recently more and more videos with disreputable intentions have surfaced in State campaign races. For example, in Missouri representative hopefuls have utilized YouTube to track consistency and uncover any activity that may be harmful to opponents. Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon and rival incumbent governor Matt Blunt have both acknowledged that they have employed “trackers” whose job is specifically to follow around candidates, document and post activity(David All’s recommendations at work). At the state and local level, widespread use of such “trackers” could potentially impact race outcomes with more and more macaca moments.
YouTube is an open platform for all to use, but this openness leaves little room for fact checking. must Many videos may be entertaining they are not necessarily always authentic or fair. More than ever negative information is easier to generate but harder and harder to discern fact from fiction. YouTube certainly levels the field. Candidates are in less control of the information circulated relating to them and more accountable for behavior, which on the whole is probably good for the democratic process.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 04:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 05, 2007
Burma: Technology Plays Major Role in Conflict
In Yangon, anti-government protests reached a violent climax last week when military force was exercised to suppress demonstrations.
The initial protests were a response to a decision to abandon domestic fuel subsides which would significantly raise the price of diesel fuel. As tension has been escalating for weeks the situation has spilled-over and attracted international attention. The Burmese military have been harshly criticized for their aggressive force and attempts to conceal the domestic situation. The government had hoped to evade global detection, their attempts however were unsuccessful. With the increase in capabilities of cell phones and foreign media coverage, photos and videos leaked and spread across the world. In order to dissuade cohesion and organization amongst protestors, the government cut phone lies and blocked internet servers. Since the block no new images have surfaced from Yangon.
Globalization’s effect on the way information is transferred has become problematic for governments violating human rights or anyone wishing to prevent the spread of information. Many contemporary examples from U.S. satellite images of Serbian atrocities in the 1990’s, to disturbing cell phone images at Abu Ghraib, smuggled tapes containing anti-government rhetoric in Iran or the use of emails or blogs to organize revolutionary movements in China, show how challenging it has become for governments to suppress the distribution of unwanted information. Undoubtedly the internet can be seen as a democratizing force and those wishing to impede this facilitator must conceive new ways to fight an invisible enemy.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 01, 2007
Idealists Change the World Via the Web
Idealist.org is a website run by Action Without Borders, an organization founded in 1995 by Ami Dar. Action Without Borders headquarters in New York City and has offices in Portland, Washington, DC and Argentina.
Action Without Borders is a non profit organization. It is nonpartisan organization without an ideological bent and it is not affiliated with any religious group.
Idealist.org is an interactive website trough which organizations and individuals collaborate and share resources and information to make our world a better place to live. 288 Idealist groups which connect people of similar interests, more than 70,000 organizations from 180 countries, more than 2000 speakers, take part in this community. The Web site’s goal is to promote a free world in which human dignity is respected.
Idealist.org helps people to be integrated and find their niche in the world in which they live in by promoting job opportunities. Volunteers and internships opportunities lead people to commit themselves to civic involvement. Idealist.org is a tool for people who desire to connect with the world around them and want to improve their community as well as the communities beyond their nation’s borders.
At the 2002 Webby Awards, Idealist won both the Webby and the People's Voice award for the Best community site. At the 2006 Webby Awards, Idealist was chosen as the People's Voice Winner for Best Employment Site. Entering their second decade, Action Without Borders will keep creating new spaces, new methods and opportunities to lead people to imagine, think, connect and act to make this world a better place.
Posted by Buzz Webster at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
