DigiActive.org

DigiActive Meet-up: Washington DC

What? Ever wondered what digital activism is?  Interested in learning what DigiActive is doing to better understand and promote this field?  This meet-up is designed for people who are new to digital activism.  DigiActive co-founder Mary Joyce will make a short presentation introducing DigiActive and explaining how digital tools are being used for social change campaigns around the world, followed by a Q&A and an optional meet-and-greet for those who don’t have to rush back to work.

When? 12:30pm – 1:30pm on Friday, May 29th.
This event is a brown-bag lunch so please bring something to munch on.

Where? Pact headquarters at 1828 L St, NW on the 3d floor (map and directions). We are really happy to be partnering with Pact on this event.  Pact is an international non-profit organization which seeks to build empowered communities, effective governments and responsible private institutions by strengthening the capacity of local organizations and institutions.  You can learn more about their programs here.

Why? Get your lunch to go on Friday, learn about digital activism, and meet some cool people.

How? If you’d like to come, please RSVP on the event’s Facebook page.

Report from DigiActive’s Bangalore Meet-up

We had a great meet-up yesterday at the offices of the Centre for Internet and Society in Bangalore (thanks so much to Sunil, Pranesh,  Sanchia, and Deepika for making it possible!)  It was a very diverse group, with participants from Indian and international NGOs, techies from Yahoo!, and even a radio producer and film-maker.

We started out by dissecting this Pink Chaddis campaign, a very popular women’s rights campaign organized through Facebook that had just organized a big action on Valentines’ Day.  (I’ll be posting on the campaign a little later – it’s a great one.)

However, when we went about creating a definition for digital activism, the discussion became more theoretical.  Although DigiActive is optimistic about the possibility of digital tools to empower those fighting injustice, this meet-up group decided that digital activism was value neutral and that it simply mapped onto the existing goals and motives within a society.  It is a technique that can be used for constructive or destructive ends.

At the end of the event, some participants came up to me to make sure my feelings weren’t hurt by the disagreement, but I assured them I was really happy with the result.  Only if digital activism is debated and dissected will we be able to understand and use it well.

Report from DigiActive’s Rabat Meet-up

It was only our second meet-up, but also our biggest yet.  Eighteen digital activists and fans invaded the second floor of Cafe 8ieme in central Rabat.  Topics of conversation, mostly in Arabic, included the outlook for digital activism in Morocco, whether hacking is a form of activism (particularly with regard to attacks on Israeli sites during the current war) and, finally, whether it is possible to define truth or whether all history is subjective.  I’m not sure how the conversation reached that final philosophical topic (my Arabic is a bit shaky).

DigiActive Meet-up: London

What? an informal meeting of digital activists and fans (and DigiActive’s second meet-up this week!)
When? Thursday, January 29, 2009
Where? the tables in front of Marks & Spencer in Paddington Station in London, UK
Why? meet DigiActive co-founder Mary as she makes a quick stop in London on her way to India. Fascinating conversation is bound to drown out the noise of the trains.
How? If you’d like to come, please sign up on the event’s Facebook page.

DigiActive News: our first meet-up!

On Tuesday night, DigiActive team members Kate, Patrick, and Mary met up with friends of DigiActive Lokman, Yanina, John, and Peter at Diesel Café in Boston. Topics included the digital reaction to the Mumbai terrorist attacks, self-censorship in China, and whether networks are necessary for digital activism. We look forward to holding more meet-ups (in more countries) in the future.

from left: Kate, Lokman, Yanina, John, Patrick, Mary, Peter

Event: DigiActive’s 1st meet-up – Boston

What? DigiActive’s first meet-up
When? Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008
Where? Diesel Café (click for map) in Boston, USA
Why? meet DigiActive team members Mary (Co-Founder), Patrick (Director of Applied Research), and Kate (Correspondent) to talk about digital activism over a warm cappuccino.
How? If you’d like to come, please sign up on the event’s Facebook page.