On technology, peace and the Dalai Lama?

Several mainstream media outlets reported today that the Dalai Lama (who delivered a speech in Vancouver as part of the World Peace Summit) had indicated that "technology could be an obstacle to peace" (I'm paraphrasing here). Ironically (or perhaps, appropriately), trying to find the actual speech online proved challenging for me. I wanted to find the actual source instead of linking to news sites. I ended up finding it from a couple of sources on Twitter - thanks Minna at The Network Hub and CommGurl. I've watched the clips but couldn't really find that exact quote.

I can't possibly think that a thought leader of the caliber of His Holiness the Dalai Lama would oppose technology on a fundamental level or find it an obstacle to peace. I can't make any assertions on whether that's what he said or not until I watch or hear the speech myself.

All of this said, I can't think of technology as an impediment to peace after the whole green ribbon movement that occurred on Twitter supporting the Green Party's candidate in the recent Iran election. People were talking on social networking sites and mainstream media outlets about possibly giving Twitter a Nobel Prize for its role in keeping insurgents in Iran connected with the outside world during the riots.

I can't think of technology as not enabling compassion after having used it myself along with Isabella Mori to organize Mental Health Camp, a one-of-a-kind, groundbreaking one-day unconference exploring how social media could help break down the stigma associated with mental health.  

Technology, if harnessed by compassionate people, can effect positive change. However, I'd argue that compassion comes from within, technology can't generate it. What do you think?

Kutano Makes it Easier for Users to Share with Twitter Integration

Local (Burnaby-based) startup Kutano recently released their Twitter integration feature, further enhancing its browsing, bookmarking and content-sharing capabilities. Here at TechVibes, we have reported before on Kevin Ishiguro's latest venture. Amos Michelson's (of Creo fame) is the Chairman of the Board of Kutano, while Ishiguro is the CEO. The main product (also named Kutano) is a browser add-on (currently supported on Safari, Firefox and Internet Explorer). It would be interesting to have Kutano supported for Opera and Chrome.

Kutano is considered the industry’s first browser add-on tied to the web page subject. Kutano's features include creating open, context-sensitive discussion forums, side-by-side Twitter integration and tools to enhance the social networking experience.

The great advantage of Kutano is that it allows users to share relevant content to people in their own social networks, and respond within the website itself. Kutano lets users contribute, extract and exchange information by interest area, anywhere on the web.

Another great advantage is that Kutano is not tied to the URL of the website. But the Twitter integration further enhances Kutano, through an easy tool to track follows/followers and easy-to-post content-sharing capabilities. We'll be following this local startup closely.

Philantrophy On The Go: MGF and CWTA Launch the Mobile Giving Foundation Canada

Crowdsourced online donation and fundraising programmes have increased their presence in the Canadian sphere in the past few months. TechVibes has reported previously on (Vancouver-based) applications such as PincGiving and FundRzr. Recently, the Mobile Giving Foundation and the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association announced their partnership to bring mobile philantropy to Canada.

This mobile application allows users to text a keyword that corresponds to a specific charitable cause to a designated short code. Upon texting the keyword, a donation ($5 or $10) is made and processed. Wireless carriers distribute the donation to the MGF, which passes-through the entire amount to the specific registered charity. Donations appear on the monthly bill of donors and tax receipts are made available to accompany the donation.

While the extent to which online fundraising will be prevalent in the future hasn't been measured quantitatively, the extent to which consumers have started to move their consumptive patterns to the online and mobile spheres is not negligible. With the increase in demand for smart phones and mobile applications, MGF and CWTA are taking a positive step in making it easier for Canadians to be philantrophes on the go.

Telling the story of a Twitterville: Shel Israel at Third Tuesday Vancouver

Ending his 5-day, 5-cities, whirlwind book launch tour in one of the hottest Canadian hubs of the information technology industry (Vancouver), renowned social media author Shel Israel launched his new book at the September 2009 Third Tuesday (ironically, on a Thursday).

Twitterville: How Businesses Can Thrive in the New Global Neighborhoods is a compendium of stories of people who 'inhabit' global neighbourhoods. A story-teller by nature, Shel Israel embarked in a journey interviewing 400 individuals who live in 38 different countries. Spending many hours of interviewing and learning about how everyday folks and business people used Twitter led Shel to an in-depth understanding of how Twitter has led to the creation of global neighbourhoods.

Shel discovered that Twitter had a small town feel, influenced by contribution, where people behaved online mostly like they did offline. Paraphrasing Shel, "each one of us becomes the center of each of our global villages". Shel shared numerous insights from the individual case studies that comprise his book, from Molson Brewery's community-focused social media strategy to the case of Janis Krums and his photo of the airplane that landed on the Hudson River in the US.

Several social media Twitterati are mentioned in the book, including Cathy Browne and Tris Hussey. Twitterville promises to be a must-read for anyone in business interested in how to harness social media.

New Media BC and Wireless Innovation Network of BC announce proposed merger

For months, the tech community in British Columbia wondered who the next President of New Media BC would be. As recently as early September 2009, TechVibes' own Warren Frey offered his best guesses on whether the new President would be one of a list of big names in the industry (Boris Mann, Rochelle Grayson, Kris Krug, Earl Hong Tai or Paul Lee). Well, we can put the speculation to rest for a bit and ponder over the next big announcement of New Media BC and the Wireless Innovation Network of British Columbia (WINBC).

The executive directors and the boards of WINBC and New Media BC have been exploring the opportunity to merge WINBC and New Media BC into one organization representing over 22,000 people, more than 1,300 companies, and annual revenues of $4 billion-plus. The goal of the proposed merged organization is "To promote, support and accelerate the growth, competitiveness and sustainability of BC's digital media and wireless industry.", with a vision "To make BC the most recognized and admired centre of digital media and wireless excellence in the world and to position Vancouver as the digital media capital of Canada."

As announced by Warren Franklin, the Chair of the New Media BC Board of Directors, they are in the planning stages for an AGM in early October to present this plan to the membership and will be sending more information on that soon. This is an important and promising development in the new media and wireless industries

Green Consumption Goes Mobile: Shopping Sustainably with 3rd Whale

With the recent increase of crowd-sourced, consumer-driven review sites like Yelp or UrbanSpoon, the number of mobile apps that allow customers to assess their purchases based on ethical and green considerations has also risen. In a recent Mashable report, Josh Catone highlighted 10 new sites where consumers can buy while satisfying their ethical and social responsibilities.

Local startup 3rd Whale (led by Vancouver-based entrepreneur Dr. Boyd Cohen) has been highlighted on Mashable as one of the top 10 new websites to look to when looking for a sustainable/green product. 3rd Whale is, in their own words, like a green Yelp on your mobile".TechVibes attended the 3rd Whale launch party and we have been closely following the development of their smart-phone applications.

Last month, 3rd Whale announced that their app for Android was available for download. Being featured on the recent Mashable report is a sign that the future is bright for this young green startup. TechVibes will be looking at future developments of their mobile application suite.

Twestival Goes Local: Vancouver Twitterati to Raise Funds for BC Childrens Hospital Foundation

Twitter's potential for fundraising has become evident in the past few months. Globally, Twestivals have taken off as offline gatherings of people who "tweet, meet and give". As indicated by Rebecca Bollwitt, "Twestival gives you the chance to get out from behind the computer screen and meet your Twitter contacts while supporting a very worthy local cause". The previous version of Twestival raised funds for charity:water whereas this edition allowed local organizers to choose a charity within their own city."Vancouverites are so crazy about Twitter so events like this can showcase how you can use it (and social media) to support your community", Bollwitt added.

Rebecca Bollwitt, Chief Executive Officer of local development and design firm Sixty4Media is the organizer of Vancouver's Twestival, which will take place on Saturday September 12th, 2009 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm on the rooftop of local bar Ceili's. But this fundraiser is not only for the Twitteratti. Bollwitt comments "This event is for anyone and everyone who would like to come out for a good time while supporting the BC Childrens Hospital Foundation". Tickets are available online. The entirety of Twestival's proceedings go to the charity of choice.

Online philantrophy becomes easier through PincGiving

 

In the face of an economic recession, shrinking budgets and ever-growing target populations, charities have increasingly sought innovative methods to raise much-needed dollars. Recently, mother of three and long-time philantropist Beverly Pomeroy launched a new online donation platform, PincGiving. With the mandate of offering a simple, secure, and cost effective web based service, PincGiving allows charities to manage their fundraising campaigns directly on their own websites.


While many charities have slowly but surely been growing their online presence in various social media platforms, they are also experiencing steep learning curves. PincGiving allows the charity to concentrate in program delivery, while Pomeroy and her staff provide support and technology implementation (pretty much a turn-key solution). At the local level, charitable events like Twestival Vancouver (organized by social media maven Rebecca Bollwitt) will also harness the power of social media to raise funds for the BC Children's Hospital Foundation. Online micro-fundraising and crowdsourcing fundraising activities seem to be the way of the future, and we'll be looking closely at the growth of PincGiving as an online donation platform. 

 

 

Tweet To Remember: Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro one tweet a time

Local entrepreneur Michael-James Pennie has tackled challenges and adventures before. Co-founder of !escunid Online Business Development with Gwyn T. Pritchett and offering online services since 2003, Pennie is setting out on an adventure to climb Mount Kilimanjaro next month in an effort to raise awareness and funds for the BC Alzheimer Society. As he climbs the mountain, Pennie will broadcast his progress through his Twitter account (@mjpennie).

Pennie, whose father was recently diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer, is organizing a fundraiser on Monday August 24th from 6:00 to 10:00pm. The wine tasting and silent auction will be hosted by The Wine Room on Burrard and West Pender. Ticket prices are $25 online in advance and $30 at the door. Tickets include a Best of B.C red or white wine flight and can be purchased through EventBrite.

Pennie's blitz fundraising campaign will also see the local entrepreneur climb the Grouse Grind carrying the $10,000 raised in loonies – approximately 154 pounds in change. More information on the Tweet to Remember campaign here.

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