#comm3p90

Idle No More Movement

Social Media was a large driving force behind the idle no more movement. It started small with about 100 people rallying across Saskatoon and then grew into a political protest that has spread across Canada.

Activists that supported this movement used social media as their voice. For example Erica Lee, 22, is a University of Saskatchewan student who has been an activist for most of her life. People like her chose social media as the tool allowing them to express their opinions. According to Lee, “traditionally it’s the chiefs and the people in power that have the ability to speak to the media, whereas now, people like me are getting interviewed.” In essence, social media allows people who are directly impacted by these events to get involved and have their voices heard.

Also, Tanya Kappo, an activist from Edmonton, Alberta used social media as a way to help people in far-flung First Nations communities. A day after the Idle No More Facebook page was born she started the Twitter hashtag of #idlenomore that has now been used hundred of thousands of time across the network. This hashtag has since been used as a central way to create widespread awareness, and conversation about the movement.

Overall, without social media the Idle No More movement may not have become as widespread as it has today. If it did, it might have taken a much longer period of time, and people that were truly impacted by the events may not have been able to have their voice heard.

Arab Spring Movements 

It has also been said that Facebook and Twitter helped to blossom the Arab Spring Movements. 

Being capable of sharing an immense amount of uncensored and accurate information throughout social networking sites has contributed to the cause of many Arab Spring activists. Through social networking sites, Arab Spring activists have not only gained the power to overthrow powerful dictatorship, but also helped Arab civilians become aware of the underground communities that exist and are made up of their brothers, and others willing to listen to their stories. 

For these movements, the speed of online communication through digital channels gave activists unprecedented agility during street operations. Online, they were able to organize, debate, plan, and broadcast at a level of coordination that was unavailable in the past. 

The power of social media was so prevalent in these movements that authorities resorted to shutting off the Internet and Telecom service. In a nutshell, the Arab spring has shown the world what is possible when you combine social unrest with brave citizens and powerful digital tools.

  The Digital Divide

The digital divide is the continuous social issue referring to the differing amount of information between those who have access to the Internet and those who do not have access. 

Dimensions

The difference is not necessarily determined by the access to the Internet, but by access to ICTs and to media that the different segments of society can use. With regards to the Internet, the access is only one aspect, other factors such as the quality of connection and related services should be considered. Today the most discussed issue is the availability of the access at an affordable cost and quality. 

Bridging the Gap

The idea that some information and communication technologies are vital to quality civic life is not new. Some suggest that the Internet and other ICTs are somehow transforming society, improving our mutual understanding, eliminating power differentials, realizing a truly free and democratic world society, and other benefits. 

Rural Access

Rural access is one of the biggest tests of the Digital Divide. Nowadays this is being eliminated through the use of power lines and satellite communications.

Reference:

Hack, Hacking and Hackers – In the Realm of Hacking

I though this documentary was quite interesting. It was interesting because you really got an insight into a “legit” hacker’s life, and lifestyle. With a motive of having something to prove, 2 teenagers stole a restricted computer security list and used it to break into some of the most classified and secure computer systems on the planet. Not only was it a difficult task, but seen as almost nearly impossible to break into. The hackers seemed untraceable until one of the boys called into the New York Times to brag about. It was such a feat that they thought they could get away with this too. Although the documentary was interesting, I felt as if they hackers were displayed typically as what the media portrays them as. This includes the assumptions of intelligent teenage males, plenty of time on their hands, longing to fit in, and wanting to prove themselves. Alluding to that, these teenagers could be considered mischievous geniuses and rebellious heroes.

Hackers are seen in two different realms of light. One is a more positive, complimentary light while the other is not. The mainstream media sees hackers as computer intruders or criminals while those in the computing industry will see hackers as brilliant programmers or technical experts. I think it’s important to look at hackers from multiple perspectives. Yes, there are those people out there that are looking to do harm through hacking. Whether it be to gain access to peoples personal computers or on a larger scale, hack into professional or political databases. But on the other hand, mega IT companies employ these technical geniuses to hack ethically. They are used to prevent criminal hackers and used to find loopholes in their own company’s IT securities.

This leads in ethical hackers, or often known as white hat hackers. White hat hackers are people who are ethically opposed to the abuse of computer systems. Ethical hackers write their own computer programs and see themselves as cyber-advocates and builder. Their goal is not to damage or destroy networks but to improve them by exposing their flaws. As mentioned before, some hackers are legitimately paid to find weaknesses in their systems. One way that hackers may be useful to our society is the fact that they believe information should be free. When SOPA became prevalent and the governments wanted to start charging for internet and the use of social media websites, the hacker group Anonymous showed their power by shutting down the white house for 2 hours. This attack wasn’t malicious, but rather a warning from the greater society that their power is greater than they think.

  Unavoidable Ethical Questions About…Hacking 

Do we have a right to communicate and associate freely? In Canada, yes we do. How we communicate with people online is a personal choice. By societal standards, some content may be age restricting but other than that, the way in which we choose to express ourselves should be up to each individual person. Therefore, hacking has the power to create freedom of speech by breaking the limiting barriers.

Does hacking promote or hinder the development of relationships and the building of community? Hacking has the ability to do both. With the views that a hacker generally possesses, I think it helps to build a community. The information online is meant to be free and shared amongst the people that have access to it.

"Michael,

Great news! The President of the Sochi Olympic Committee has just confirmed that the two wild orcas captured by White Sphere will not be displayed during the Sochi Olympics.

But this fight isn’t over. Whale and Dolphin Conservation believe that White Sphere is responsible for the capture of 8 wild orcas in the past year.

The two orcas that were bound for the Sochi Olympics are still in Moscow. They are still destined to be shipped off to another dolphinarium in Russia or China, where they will be forced to participate in live shows and be kept in ridiculously tiny metal tanks.

The physical and mental health of these orcas is in danger. We have to ramp up the pressure on White Sphere, and we think we know how. White Sphere is a member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IIAPA), the world’s largest trade association for amusement parks and aquariums. So is SeaWorld. "

The letter above was an email sent to me because of a petition that I signed online. It was regarding the 2 orcas that were captured to be shown at the Olympic games. This was a big deal for me as it confirmed that online activism does work, and the fact that my single signature did make a difference. Im really glad about this.

London Riots: Blackberry Messenger used more than Facebook or Twitter

In the case of the London Riots, social media didn’t play as conventional of a role like it did in some other cases. The protestors were using Blackberry Messenger vs. Facebook or Twitter as their way to build community throughout the event.

The use of ICTs were vital in the communication among protestors. The device of choice – the blackberry, was a much cheaper and more widespread method for the British teenagers to communicate. The device was much more prominent than Android or iOS devices while a third of the British population owned blackberries. BBM was a free service to blackberry users, is instantly available, and was a good source to use to authorities couldn’t immediately trace the messages.

For activists participating in the London Riots, the biggest constraint came when the police immediately caught on to a post on Facebook early on when Mark Duggan was first killed. The teenagers needed to find a method to communicate and plan their riots without making their plans easily accessible to authorities. This is where BBM came in, and helped them tremendously.

The London riots are a direct result of the ongoing debate on police brutality. The riots were a reaction by British teenagers to the shooting of a resident of Tottenham named Mark Duggan.

The authorities tried to respond originally by paying attention to Facebook and Twitter, but they quickly learned that they were missing out on the action when they couldn’t find anything online. Then, The Guardian got their hands on a broadcast BBM message sent out to people saying “Everyone in Edmonton Enfield wood green everywhere in north link up at Enfield town station at 4 o clock sharp!" reads one. Another directs looters to Oxford Circus in the heart of London: "SHOPS are gonna get smashed up so come get some (free stuff!!!)"

The event was significant not only because of the impact it had on London and the damage that was caused, but it was huge for Blackberry and BBM. It showed that BBM is an extremely secure source to pass private information because of its inability to track. It was big for Blackberry as a company because it was a feature of their mobile device that competitors did not offer.

  Why 2011 Will be Defined by Social Media Democracy

Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube fulfill many different aspects of Digital Activism and Advocacy. Some of these are as follows:

Community Building

These social networks help to build communities online by the many pages that are available to people online. Media today is very customizable and this allows people to pick and choose the communities they want to be apart of for. For example, Justin Bieber's followers are considered a community online. Some of his fans create accounts of their own to build extended communities among one another. With regard to Facebook and YouTube, YouTube provides the content and Facebook facilitates the conversation. Videos are shared over Facebook creating communities. On YouTube itself, people can "subscribe" to certain accounts they like hence creating a community amongst people with similar interests.

Organization

Internet activists pass on e-petitions to be sent to the government and public and private organizations to protest against and urge for positive policy change in different areas. Many non-profits will use Facebook to send the petition to their friends list gather signatures in hopes that people would pass it on. Generally speaking Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are the methods that organizations use to create awareness.

Awareness

As mentioned above many organization use social media as their outlet to create awareness. Because Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have the ability to reach millions of people in such a short period of time they are very effective in getting your message out. These networks also create awareness because of the ability to share, retweet, and embed links on nearly any other website. Many people in favor of advocacy will share the message.

Mobilization

Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are accessible at nearly anytime at any place. With the advancement in technology, smartphones have allowed people to be active online nearly 24/7. This ties in with awareness as well as the ability to mobilize your message effects the spread by word of mouth too.

Action/ Reaction

The overarching goal of online activism is to create enough awareness and strike a chord that will force people to share your message. Posting the right photos or video on these networks is up to the advocate but is so customizable that it has the ability to evoke emotion in people across the world. When this happens, people want to share the message and evoke the same emotion in others, As previously mentioned, this is done by sharing, retweeting, and embedding.

Lobbying

Many of these aspects of Digital Activism are highly related but activists online not only want to create awareness but they want to inform people as well. Once again, because of ability these networks create to reach a mass audience, the activists’ goal is to tell as many people at a time why a problem or issue is occurring. Lobbying is also made easier because of mass e-mail and the ability to broadcast a message widely at such little cost.

Fundraising

The Internet has also made it easier for small donors to play a meaningful role in financing campaigns. Previously, small-donor fundraising was prohibitively expensive, as costs of printing and postage ate up most of the money raised. Activist groups have found that they can raise large amounts of money from small donors at minimal cost, with credit card transaction fees constituting their biggest expense.

  Part 2

MoveOn.org is an American non-profit, progressive public policy advocacy group and political action committee, which has raised millions of dollars online for candidates it identifies as progressive in the United States.  This group has used online fundraising to pay for many of their organization related costs. As mentioned they have raised millions in small donor donations from all across the USA. “For the first time, you have a door into the political process that isn’t marked ‘big money’”, says Darr.

Classmates.com is a network designed to assist members in finding friends and classmates from kindergarten, primary school, high school, college, work, and the US Army.  This group has used Facebook mainly as their way to build their community. The website has reached out to the network on Facebook trying to create awareness about what they offer in hopes of attracting members to their network.

 Soundcloud is a network used for people to upload their own music as well as share music from other artists with people across the web. This platform is great for creating awareness. Not necessarily for digital activism but simply for the spread of one’s music. New artists can reach a vast network of musicians using soundcloud and it’s an effective way to get your content heard.

  Part 3

I will use the #saveourseas hashtag for my chosen cause this semester.

#goodsharkkarma – people talking about different ways to go about helping the oceans, more specifically the sharks.

#saveourseas – the hashtag run by organization creating buzz around the 5 threats of the ocean and the ways in which people can help. The organization takes time to recognize people that are trying to make a difference.

Growing up, few philanthropic issues around the world have made a personal impact on me. However, throughout my travels, I was exposed to new things around the world that Canadians might not be regularly exposed too. Because of this, I have gained a larger appreciation for the little things in life, and have found an issue that effects me personally.

What social issues are important to you?

Mental illness, and cyber bullying are two major social issues that are important to me. I have people in my life who are dealing/ have dealt with these issues on a daily basis. Although no issue is no more important than another, when something like either of these two problems effects you personally, they seem to stand out.

How do you keep up with these issues?

Issues like these are hard to “keep up” with. However, if I witness bullying online, or in public for that matter, I do my best to help out. I often monitor a situation to see if an intervention is necessary because issues like these can escalate quickly. With mental illness diseases, I do my part by acting as a “shoulder to cry on” when someone close to me is having a rough time. My friend often comes to me in times of trouble or doubt, and I do my best to be the uplifting boost he needs.

What kind of advocacy have you been involved in? Protests? Marches?

I have not participated in any sort of protest or march. The furthest I have gone in any sort of movement thus far is acting to spread the word online, or signing a petition. I was in support of the Kony movement when it arose, and I signed the SOPA petition at the time as well.

What keeps you from being more involved in social movements & activism?

For me personally, I hadn’t found a recurring issue that seemed to bother me enough to care. As selfish as that sounds, it is true. I turned a blind eye to a lot of issues simply because they didn’t effect me personally…or so I thought. As previously mentioned, my horizons have broadened completely, and I find myself caring much more about worldly issues.

In what ways is social media beneficial to activist movements? What are some constraints?

Social media and the web as a whole allows a message to spread to a mass group of people extremely quickly. The goal of an activist movement is to create awareness regarding a certain issue and using social media to do this is effective. However, although a message may reach a large group of people, the movement really stops there. Kony is a perfect example. The message spread around the world in a matter of days but yet nothing occurred from this; no action was taken, and now the issue is not talked about any longer.

My Chosen Advocacy Group

For me personally, I have chosen the “Save our Seas” foundation as my advocacy/ philanthropist group to follow throughout the semester. With much exposure to the ocean and marine life while in Asia, I have grained great knowledge in the importance of underwater wildlife and have seen how the ocean is used a means for dumping and pollution. The food chain underwater is vital to life on earth, and the way humans are treating the oceans is selfish, unhealthy, and careless.

Save the Oceans foundation funds and supports research, conservation and education projects worldwide, focusing primarily on charismatic threatened wildlife and their habitats. Since 2003, the foundation has sponsored more than 160 projects in 42 countries in the areas of Research, Education, Awareness, and Conservation. Outlined below are the 5 main threats to our oceans and the motive behind this movement. The 5 threats include:

1. Overfishing depletes stocks of fish beyond their ability to recover.

2. Predator loss releases prey populations from both the pressure and risk of predation.

3. Climate change is warming the oceans and making them more acidic.

3. Pollution can poison marine life and decimate entire marine environments.

5. Habitat destruction physically limits the suitable living space available to marine life.

Hi! 

Welcome to my Blog dedicated to both COMM 2P91 and COMM 3P90. Throughout the semester, I will continually update the blog with a personal taste in social media as well as my involvement in ongoing issues around the world. 

Who am I?

My name is Michael Sferrazza, and I am a third year student studying Business Communications. I started university enrolled in the BBA-Coop program but quickly realized that my strengths were in writing over mathematics. I made the change to BComm staring in second year. My second year at Brock was somewhat textbook meaning that I wasn't involved in many school related events, clubs, or teams. I participated in Relay for Life and other small events around campus but that was it. In third year, I was lucky enough to be accepted into the study abroad program so I spent the first semester living in Hong Kong, and traveling South East Asia. This was an incredible opportunity for me to expand my horizons and learn about other cultures while living in a brand new city. I met so many incredible people, and learned about so many new cultures. I was lucky enough to travel to Tokyo, Beijing, Macau, and Thailand throughout my semester! The lazy academics in China made my trip that much more enjoyable as I had a copious amount of free time to explore, and travel. Those 4 months went quickly though and I soon found myself back in cold Ontario at Brock. I was glad to be back after 4 months away from my family and friends. At the end of this semester, I will graduate after only 3 years as I have more schooling plans down the road.

In september, I plan to move to South Florida for 1 year to attend an elite flight academy for pilot training. Upon graduation, I will move back to Asia (not sure where yet) to teach new students how to fly, and eventually work my way into a job flying for a major air carrier. It will be a busy few years, but exciting none the least.

Apart from school, I play competitive squash, and golf as well. I work at a golf course in the summer time which allows me to cut costs on such an expensive sport. I also enjoy hiking, scuba diving, traveling, and reading in the little bit of spare time that I have.

Throughout both of these courses, I hope to learn how to actively manage my social media use, and to explore an issue that effects me at the core. As of right now, I plan to write about the active measures in place to save our underwater world.

Hopefully this is a well-explained insight to who I am. I look forward to working with you this semester.