Hamish Campbell, a veteran in radical media for the past 30 years, discusses the failure of current technology and mainstream culture. He highlights how the #dotcon boom commodified our data, resulting in closed technology silos like #Facebook and #Instagram that capture our attention and data for their own profit. Campbell argues that alternative technology built…
The problem with institutions funding the social side of #openweb tech
Almost all our #geekproblem software fails because they are building “control”, where all good societies are built on “trust”. We keep making piles of #techshit because we can’t communicate about this simple understanding #techchurn one way to address this is to fund the social side of tech. The problem which we need to solve is…
A large-scale protest against the construction of an open-cast coal mine in Fos-y-fran, South Wales
A large-scale protest against the construction of an open-cast coal mine in Fos-y-fran, South Wales. Climate activists from across Wales and local residents, took direct action by occupying the construction site and chaining themselves to the excavation machinery. The protest is a symbol of the battle against climate change and a challenge to the government’s…
Thnking about “communerty”
Reflecting on the history of community spaces and how they have evolved over time. In the 19th and 20th centuries, two main types of community spaces existed: village halls and church halls. Village halls were neutral spaces for community events run by a local group, while church halls had a moralistic and ideological focus and…
If people care, if people do not care.
The Hive Dalston was a grassroots community centre that was started as a collaboration between radical squatters and more mainstream arts groups. The aim was to take advantage of the Tory “big society” legislation, which offered incentives for the social use of empty properties. However, the project soon failed to maintain its radicalism and became…
Thinking about why #openweb projects fail.
Many #openweb projects have failed over the years, and there are reasons, first is the challenge of sustaining a project that is built on open-source principles and relies on community involvement and collaboration. In capitalism, without a clear and consistent funding model, it can be difficult to keep projects going over the long term. Another…
Looking at #DIY projects
* The Village Butty project was a crucial part of the boater community in London, and its success was dependent on a balance between community value and money-making outreach. To keep the success of the #VillageButty project and the preservation of the boater culture in London, it was important to find a way to strike…
This is basic to thinking – ideolagy
Different economic systems are based on different ideas of what it means to be human and what motivates us. The Old Testament in Christianity reflects a negative view of humanity, while the New Testament focuses on love and the idea of a common humanity. Capitalism, is based on the idea that greed and self-interest drive…
“the currency of the 21st century is information”
“the currency of the 21st century is information” highlights the growing importance of data and knowledge in our rapidly-evolving digital world. For the last 5 years, the rise of encryption and cryptocurrencies is on aspect of this trend, reflecting a growing concern for privacy and the secure exchange of information. The unspoken liberal individualism and…
A simple view of the #OMN project
The Open Media Network (#OMN) is a simple project that focuses on building trust-based human networks using technology. The network allows users to publish, subscribe, moderate, rollback, and edit content on various sites they have a login on. For a single user, the process begins with publishing content and adding metadata such as tags. If…
DRAFT film script for #boatingeurope
INT. ACTIVIST WORKSHOP, LONDON – DAY Hamish is leading a group of activists in a video production workshop. He is enthusiastic and passionate, demonstrating how to use a camera and editing software. HAMISH (V.O.)“My name is Hamish, and I’ve been a media activist for 20 years. I recently received a windfall from an Italian feature…
How do you understand a conservative worldview?
The culture of hopelessness is a deeply conservative reaction to social change and challenges. This culture is often characterized by a focus on reaction and inward-looking tribalism, rather than hope and progress. An example would be meme culture and sarcasm, that often conforms to a narrow consumerist view that lacks power to address wider social…