22nd of september is declared earth day for the internet by one web day (since 2006). this year’s topic is “online participation in democracy”. to honor this initiative, here’s my modest say on the topic:
reach. kiva.org, micro-lending site, loans that change lives. kiva has experienced such a spike in traffic that very often, there are no entrepreneurs left to lend to. they’re all funded and transaction stats are out in the open. the organization simply can’t keep up with people’s willingness to give in this way. what a potential!!! huge!!! if organized in the right way, this concept could change the balance of this world into a better one!
money doesn’t do it. a cool friend of mine works as a new media fund raiser for red cross… she makes use of e.g. youtube& facebook to get the message across. almost a must in b2c. and so the channels for utilizing viral qualities from peer to peer are heavily explored exploited for commercial interests which clutter the space and makes it extremely difficult to get through the noise… if the message is strong enough, if your home video is truly funny (no link on purpose), if the interface makes it easy to act while people are there, you can involve them. with no other resources than your internet connection and your right to communicate. corporations spend sick amounts trying and failing.
perspective. i laughed loud and from the gut… quite a few times before i had enough. watch the richter scales‘ interpretation of the new bubble below (i too have a web millionaire inside who hasn’t come out yet!). they even predict that we all blog about them… the wannabees and the failed entrepreneurs. but also just people for whom it adds life quality to get a new outlook on things from the comfort of their own sofas, and who share taste and humor. peers and experts in all fields. they’re here.
voice. this blog has an average of 10 daily visits… and it holds very few comments. however, the people who did comment, mainly commented because i wrote my opinion about them. and they responded. that makes me proud… that is also practicing democracy. it gives me a strong feeling of safety as a human being. that i can speak my mind… even if it is in a way that clutters the space… and there is a chance that the right people hear it.
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on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 at 9:10 am and is filed under Random insights, I love www.
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