[liberationtech] Advice for Somali NGOs?

[Jim Youll]

Until "safer" can be quantified in terms that make sense to every owner of a video-recording phone...
... even those without much/any technical knowledge
... there is no responsible answer to this question.


(hastily written, but I stand by the sentiment if not the phrasing)


On Oct 19, 2010, at 12:17 AM, Steven Clift wrote:

> Thank you for the few private replies.
> 
> Is there not a good "101" starting point on liberation technology for
> technical novices risking their lives in conflict zones?
> 
> I hear a lot about Iran and China here and an enormous amount of
> high-level expert exchange, but what about resources that translate
> your cautions and passions into something accessible to someone on the
> ground in a conflict zone?
> 
> Imagine that you just took video on your phone of a tragic event. You
> feel compelled to share it with the world,  but you'd rather not die
> yourself. You've entered a cyber-cafe, where should you visit online
> to figure out what to do next that keeps you safer?
> 
> Steven Clift - http://stevenclift.com
>   Executive Director - http://E-Democracy.Org
>   Follow me - http://twitter.com/democracy
>   New Tel: +1.612.234.7072
> 
> 
> 
> On Sat, Oct 16, 2010 at 7:39 AM, Steven Clift <clift at e-democracy.org> wrote:
>> 
>> I just spent three hours with a number of amazing people involved with NGOs
>> active in Somali. Their bases of operations are here in Nairobi, Kenya where
>> I have been for the last week.
>> 
>> Much of what I speak about in terms of democracy building and civic
>> engagement simply doesn't apply in such a setting when it comes to identity,
>> basic assumptions about access to technology, your life being at risk, etc.
>> (We have are active in Minneapolis with the large Somali community and
>> public participation online - http://e-democracy.org/inclusion - so diaspora
>> online engagement is a greater fit.)
>> 
>> I was a guest of the US Embassy in Kenya and my other events were geared
>> toward the Kenyan context which has the freest press in East Africa and an
>> increasingly (mobile) connected population. Read up on Facebook Zero,
>> text-only version of Facebook available for free on some mobile carriers.
>> Wow.
>> 
>> So, I'd like to pass on your "starter 101" tips, links, and suggestions on
>> how these NGOs, media outlets (two radio stations that broadcast in
>> Mogadishu from the transitional government zone were there) , and others
>> might use the Internet/social media/mobile to make things better on the
>> ground in Somali while being safer to Embassy staff who liaison with the 30
>> folks who attend the session today.
>> 
>> So again, thinking "101" please share some text/links I can pass along. (I
>> highlight MobileActive.org big time, mentioned GlobalVoicesOnline.org
>> orally, suggested invited only use of online groups like this one for behind
>> the scenes communication ... but are their solutions for e-mail list like
>> tools where the loss of a laptop with past messages to wrong people doesn't
>> threaten people's lives months after a once quite exchange, etc.)
>> 
>> I was very cautious to say much of what I presented simply did not apply in
>> their situation and they were clear to say for all sorts of reasons they
>> can't and won't put their real name on things online in certain places, but
>> that via Facebook, YouTube, etc. youth with mobiles and some income were
>> taking risks to upload videos after bomb blasts, report on the number dead,
>> etc. There is also an opening to do more in Somaliland and Puntaland were
>> the security situation is better and a version of M-Pesa (mobile money in
>> Kenya ... Zaad is one version) is taking off in Somalia.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Steven Clift - http://stevenclift.com
>>   Executive Director - http://E-Democracy.Org
>>   Follow me - http://twitter.com/democracy
>>   New Tel: +1.612.234.7072
>> 
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