The problem of #fashionistas in activism is the priority of style and appearance over substance and meaningful action. These people are concerned with projecting a certain image or brand of activism, rather than engaging in the effect of social change. The phenomenon of #fashionistas in activism poses challenges to the efficacy and integrity of grassroots…
The Rise and Fall of Grassroots #openweb Activism in the UK
Grassroots activism has undergone significant ups and downs over the past four decades, particularly within digital communication and organizing. This post seeks to provide an overview of the challenges and successes experienced by grassroots activists during this time period, focusing on the evolution of the #openweb and its eventual decline. It explores the ideological underpinnings…
Building trust in the #openweb
The #openweb is a framework for human-centric, decentralized technologies built on transparency and collaboration. Its success hinges on trust, and as a slogan suggests, “Technology’s job is to hold the trust in place.” This concept is woven into the #OMN and #OGB initiatives, which emphasize community-driven decision-making and adherence to the #4opens principles. #OGB and…
A script #makinghistory
[Opening Shot: A montage of radical historical photographs, documents, and footage representing social movements and political activism throughout history.] Narrator: In a world where history is written by the victors, a new #openweb project emerges, aiming to democratize the process of archiving and storytelling. This is the story of #makeinghistory, a groundbreaking initiative within the…
Women & Online Television in Senegal – Screening of Mistress of a Married Man + Q&A with director Kalista Sy
St John’s Cinema Club and the TORCH African Languages, Literatures and Cultures Network are excited to welcome Senegalese online television series screenwriter, director and producer Kalista Sy. The event will start with a brief introduction by Dr Estrella Sendra (Department of Culture, Media and Creative Industries at King’s College London), followed by the screening of…
Copper the chameleon – earth processes generating critical copper.
A seminar in Oxford today. This presentation of the green alternative within capitalism. Recycling and doing better from mine wastes as a B company. VC funding is flooding into this area. A moral question, mining copper is a core part of allowing our current dysfunctional society to continue without the needed fundamental change. This is…
indymedia back
Bringing back the #Indymedia project is essential for several reasons, rooted in its historical significance, its potential for grassroots activism, and the need for independent media platforms. Why we need to revive and support the Indymedia project: Historical Significance: Indymedia played a pivotal role in the early 2000s as a decentralized network of independent media…
The development of ActivityPub was a collaborative effort
The history of #ActivityPub and the #fediverse is a journey marked by innovation, collaboration, and the ever-present struggle between open and closed systems. To understand this history, lets delve into the origins of ActivityPub and its evolution within the context of the broader #openweb movement. ActivityPub emerged as a response to the limitations of existing…
Nurturing the Potential of the Fediverse: A Socio-Political Roadmap
The #fediverse, promises decentralized social networking and democratic governance, stands as a light of hope for a native #openweb. However, as it navigates the terrain of politics, technology, and human behaviour, it faces challenges that threaten to undermine its #4opens civic potential. In this post, we delve into these challenges and explore potential pathways to…
All code is ideology solidified into action
The statement is a perspective on the intersection of politics and technology, suggesting that both suffer from their own shortcomings when it comes to addressing complex social issues. Overall, the statement underscores the need for a more nuanced and critical approach to the intersection of politics and technology, that recognizes the inherent ideological nature of…
Some aspects of the geekproblem
The #geekproblem refers to the challenges and limitations that arise from the dominance of a particular “problem” geek culture within the technology industry and #FOSS movements. This culture is characterized by a strong emphasis on technical expertise, at the expense of social, ethical, and democratic considerations. The geek culture prioritize technical solutions and innovations over…