Have you ever seen one of those pyramids that describes food choices? Well, if you’re a “good vegetarian” like me, then you’ve probably seen your share, or have mentally created a few of your own. You might have even caught yourself thinking “Is a conventional vegetable within walking distance better than an organic one that I have to take public transportation to get?” — before realizing how circular those questions can be. That said, over the last couple of years, I’ve been thinking how helpful a software pyramid would be… as the saying goes: a picture is worth a thousand words. read more »

Over the last couple of weeks, I was thinking a lot about “network leadership,” and the role of innovative technology, and how it all becomes part of a movement here in Canada that could change the field of innovation. The last burning question for me is: How can Canadian grant makers play a bigger role in catalyzing the necessary networks, and helping innovators build the necessary relationships?

Lots has already been said about the opportunities for a more holistic approach to financing non-profit technology initiatives. So, when it comes time to explore new ways of financing social innovation, I hope that foundations and grant makers will invest some time to integrate the “old” ideas too. But, when I return to the question “how can Canadian grant makers play a bigger role in ensuring that technology projects are successful and sustainable,” I always come back to the same conclusion: the funding model needs to be innovative too. read more »

One of the questions that I’ve struggled with over the last couple of years is: What systemic changes are necessary to help catalyze innovation around social technology? I came back to this question the other week as the conversation swayed toward the opportunity for progressive organizations — and social innovators — to integrate social software, social networks, and the ideas of Web 2.0 into their work. I think for most of us who work in the non-profit technology space, the sparkle is off the Web 2.0 starburst, as we see organizations struggle to fully “get” what this new technology movement is all about.

What I do think is cool about Web 2.0 — especially when it comes to non-profit organizations and social innovators — is the operational style (business model if you must). Having a usable, interactive, data-exposing, read/write Web site is, in my opinion, more a function of a new approach to problem solving than a tectonic shift in the way the underlying technology works. read more »

Photo of Kirsten Jordan (Taking IT Global) and Andres Dussan (Askoka) by Michael Lewkowitz

How often have you sought to answer questions like “how can new technologies support social change that has impact, durability and scale?” or “is it possible to foster collaboration, sharing, and even co-development of technology solutions rather than everyone building their own or working in isolation?” Well, last week, I was surprised to find myself in a room with some of Canada’s brightest minds when it comes to social innovation and social technology (that is: technology in support of social innovation). We gathered early in the morning on July 26th at MaRS to do some brainstorming on how best to support innovative organizations to leverage appropriate technology, execute technology projects successfully, and how to build capacity for ongoing innovation and sustainable technology operations. read more »

Today is the last day to have your voice heard on the CRTC’s “Diversity of Voices Proceeding.” Please take a moment today to send in your own comments — the future of Canadian media depends on it.

Looking south of our borders, we can see the impact of the concentration of media ownership; the Telecommunications Act of 1996 lead the way by allowing a company to own multiple media properties (including multiple properties in the same market). However, thanks to the work of the Prometheus Project, a further loosening by the FTC was stopped in 2004. The compelling argument for not loosening the regulations further: concentration of ownership means less ownership diversity. Put in plain words, it means that people like you and I will not have access to the public airwaves. (And, if you’re part of a traditionally “under-represented” community — forget about it.) read more »

If what Tim O’Reilly says is right — that “Data is the next Intel Inside” — then civil society better get moving or they’ll be left running last year’s technology.

Online advocacy options in the US are plentiful; Democracy in Action, ActionStudio, GetActive — the list goes on-and-on. However, in Canada, NGOs have always struggled to integrate even the most basic functionality — like sending e-mails to an elected official — into their campaigns.

Why is that? Well, as discussed before, Statistics Canada and other similar groups hold the “crown copyright” on the basic data needed to make online advocacy effective. Want to look up your Federal Electoral District via your Postal Code? Nuh-ah: can’t do that unless you’ve licensed an expensive data set and signed a restrictive contract about how you can (or, in this case, can’t) use it.

Well, I’m happy to announce that — thanks to the efforts of Mike Gifford and Russell McOrmond — a solution is not far away!

Last week Mike, Russell, and I sent out an invitation to a number of our clients, colleagues, and NGOs and unions across the country asking them to join Canada’s first “Electoral Data Consortium.” Over the next few weeks, as members sign-on, I’ll post updates on the progress toward a new Web service that will deliver civic data to member organizations, and manage all the work of keeping it online, updated, and evolving to meet the needs of the consortium members. (Interested in joining? Just pop me a note via the contact form or comments.)

This comes right on the heels of a similar announcement that benefits organizations in the US from the fine folks at CiviCRM and The Sunlight Foundation (read their announcement past the jump): read more »

My partner Melanie and I are in Ottawa. It’s getting late. And I’m still preparing for the workshop that I’m leading tomorrow with Meera Karunanathan from the Council of Canadians. (I know, I know: don’t leave everything for the last minute!) The Council (along with the Canadian Labour Congress, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and others) have organized a teach-in that promises to be nothing less than historic.

Apparently I’m not the only one up late. My search for a little music to keep me company turned up no less than the personal music library of Avi Lewis. I feel like I’m in good company tonight.

Avi will kick-off tomorrow’s Integrate This teach-in as moderator for “The Big Business of Insecurity,” “Commandeering the Continent: Military Integration, Big Oil and the Environment,” and “The Democratic Deficit: Parliament and the SPP.” Judy Rebick takes over in the afternoon moderating the session “The North America We Really Want.”

A who’s who of the social-justice movement here in Canada, other names on the line-up include: Maude Barlow, Elizabeth May, and Maureen Webb.

I’m pretty excited to be here, and to have an opportunity to present some online campaigning strategies to activists from across the country. Heck, it’ll even be a great opportunity to update my Flickr feed.

Got a great note last week from Nick Moraitis about the launch of Social Tech Brewing in Australia. The first event is set for later this week in Sydney, then moving to Melbourne in the coming months. I met Nick when he was here in Toronto working with Taking IT Global and we kicked around some ideas about successful community-led events — thought I’d quickly recount them here: read more »

There’s been lots of renewed discussion recently on two important questions for Canadian civil society:

• Why are there so few Canadian online advocacy systems? (As defined by the ability to send e-mails and faxes to your MLA, MP, MPP, etc., based on your postal code)
• Why is Canada’s postal code and electoral district data stuck in draconian licensing / copyright schemes?

This came up a few months ago, when some Web of Change alumni asked the first question. I struggled with this just a little over a year ago while working on the Kleercut campaign (you can read a bit about it here). Basically, as ActionWorks (a hosted advocacy system that licensed the aforementioned data) was being purchased by AdvocacyOnline (who also licenses that data), we had to find another way to provide similar tools on the site (for less than the $9000 - 12,000/year licensing fee that AdvocacyOnline wanted for its tools). read more »

On Monday night, my partner Melanie took me to see a film that many might call life-changing. Viva Zapatero paints a startling picture of a crippled independent media in modern-day Italy and the implications that has for Italian civil society. It’s a documentary told through the personal experience of political satire artist Sabina Guzzanti that lays naked what is possible today in the current political reality of many countries in this world. Unstopped media consolidation, blatant corruption, backward libel laws and the targeting of journalists with lawsuits, spineless public representatives, and coerced publishers and broadcasters all pave the way for censorship, propaganda, and a complete disintegration of the Italian media environment. Again, this is happening today. read more »