The Digital Aftermath in Japan

Posted on April 16, 2012 by admin | Permalink 0

Over a year after the tragedies that hit Japan including the earthquake, tsunami, and the nuclear disaster communities are still forming in the digital sphere. Many of the social media projects are crowdsourced productions that focus more on how life has progressed in Japan since the events.

In commemoration of the year anniversary director Ridley Scott joined forces with Fuji Television Network to create a montage of videos. The project, called Japan In A Day, involved asking people to send videos detailing their lives. The purpose was to document the everyday activities to show how the country is rebuilding itself.

Mirrored after Ridley Scott’s Life In A Day, there were no prerequisites in terms of having to recount something specific related to the disasters. The public had twenty-four hours to present their videos that can now be found on their own YouTube channel titled Japan In A Day.

The following trailer shows a glimpse of the dimensions of Japan In A Day.

Yet another cool project is Tsunami Stories, created by Voice of America. Tsunami Stories is about telling the stories of survivors from their own voice. It is a Tumblr based website that has also relied on crowdsourcing for all of its content.

With the theme of “How a nation heals from invisible wounds” the site promotes the sharing of how people are managing with all that comes with the aftermath of such a massive natural disaster. Adding the hashtag #tsunamistories has inspired many to submit links, videos, text, and pictures.

The following clip is an example of a submission illustrating how a cute invention is brightening the lives of many senior citizens.

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Disaster Relief Redefined

Posted on April 15, 2012 by admin | Permalink 3

The world of social media has developed several tools to help manage disasters. In 2005 Google launched its Crisis Response  page and helped the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Google’s crisis response not only creates a resource page listing up to date emergency information, but also hosts a crisis map that includes crowd-sourced geographic information

The Google Person Finder tool works with the U.S. State Department to help share information and find people affected by disasters. This system played a vital role in the earthquakes in Japan, Chile, and New Zealand.

In response to the earthquake in Japan Facebook implemented a Global Disaster Relief page that now has 697,000 likes. The page allows people to learn about the disaster and relief efforts. In addition travelers also began to use this page to learn about current, detailed information.

Facebook users themselves initiated a page in response to the tornadoes of 2011. The purpose was to post pictures of items that people lost to help them claim their personal belongings that were scattered over a vast area.

Crisis mapping adds yet another dimension to reacting effectively in natural and humanitarian disasters. Ushahidi is a website and software program that uses data from a variety of sources to create a map of information. Founded after the 2008 post-election violence in Kenya, “ushahidi” means testimony in Swahili.

Women Under Siege Syria is a great example of how crowdmap.com provides communities with the ability to map crowd-sourced news.

All of these tools allow greater interaction in disaster relief efforts which helps produce better results. In the constantly evolving world of social media, it is inevitable that we will see the tools used in times of crisis continue to change.

 

Nonprofit

Using Kids to go Viral

Posted on April 14, 2012 by admin | Permalink 0

In a desperate plea to ask Mexico’s current presidential candidates to end the violence, corruption, poverty, and insecurity a video using child actors has been released on YouTube.

I have to thank my fellow blogger from, Media Almighty, for sending me the link to this video. Whatever your opinion is on using children to deliver a message, this video’s impact is resonant. Although the video is in Spanish, it is unlikely any non-Spanish speakers will need much translation.

The child’s voice heard speaking towards the end when entering the jail states, “If this is the future that awaits me, I do not want it. Enough of working for your political parties and not for us.”

The girl at the end of the video addresses the current presidential candidates Josefina Vásquez Mota, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Enrique Peña Nieto, and Gabriel Quadri. She tells the candidates that the time is up for Mexico since it has reached rock bottom. The video ends with her asking them if they are solely interested in their career as the future President of Mexico or whether they truly care about the country’s well-being.

Grupo Nacional Provincial (GNP) paid for the making of the video, which has received over two million views since its release on April 9. The insurance group giant defended its choice of using children to show graphic scenes by explaining that had they used adults the video would have seemed like a clip of the evening news.

The company recently started a campaign called Nuestro México Del Futuro with other Mexican companies and organizations to help generate ideas to improve the future of the country. This next video is also part of the campaign and they ask for the feedback of the actors from the previous clip.

The child actors answer the question “what would your vision be for the future of Mexico. There answers include having police that actually protect us, no more drugs or drug violence, no kidnappings, no murders, better schools, jobs, more hospitals, less traffic and smog. One girl poignantly answers that she would like Mexico to become a country where children like herself are not afraid to go outside to play.

In true Mexican politician form, there has been backlash regarding the videos. A group of politicians has even gone as far to launch an investigation by Mexico’s National Commission for Human Rights, Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, to examine whether any of the children’s human rights were violated during the filming.

Ángel García Granados, a deputy in Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies, criticized the campaign’s efforts by stating that Mexico’s problems will never be solved by sensationalism or journalistic manipulations. Other politicians also claim that the campaign is manipulating the public by using children and that there is a political agenda behind the efforts.

Free from any political opinion or agenda I do believe that videos like “Niños Incómodos” have become a necessity in Mexico’s current state. With over 48,000 dead in the last five years in Mexico drastic measures are imminent. As the GNP declared in defense of their use of children in the video, they are Mexico’s future. Perhaps everyone needs a reminder that there are millions of under-age reasons to fight for a better Mexico.

 

 

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Brief Overview of Mexico’s Reality

Posted on April 12, 2012 by admin | Permalink 1

Many of my posts focus on the use of social media related to the violence and corruption in Mexico, but I wanted to give a few links to offer some background. The largest misconception about the brutality that occurs in Mexico is that the United States is not directly affected or involved.

As this CNN article explains, cartel violence is predominant in the U.S., but cartels are even recruiting at American high schools.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/15/world/mexico-drug-war-essay/index.html

The following link is yet another interesting read from a different perspective. It discusses the current dynamic with various parties using social media in Mexico’s drug war. One of the authors is a current LAPD lieutenant.

http://www.mexidata.info/id3288.html
This video demonstrates a brief glimpse into one operation against one cartel in Mexico. Not only does it show the reality that the media, government, and country has to deal with, but we get to hear from Jorge Castañeda Gutman. His knowledge is respected around the world as both an insider and academic.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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Map of Threats

Posted on April 10, 2012 by admin | Permalink 0

The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas created a map demonstrating the threats against journalists in Mexico in 2010 and 2011. The center, founded as an outreach program in 2002 for journalists in Latin America and the Caribbean, has developed training programs to help promote the ethical standards in these regions.

Map of Threats

http://knightcenter.utexas.edu/

The map shows the widespread violence against journalists throughout the country, causing much of the reporting to move to social media. The method that the public receives the news in Mexico is constantly changing, but, the violence and intimidation from the cartels is also changing form.

It is certain that the role of social media will increase in relation to the violent current events in Mexico. The new wave of brutality related to posts on social media sites, however, was an unexpected result. Now that everyone has a voice on the internet the hope is that there will be greater transparency which will help end violent attacks against the media.

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Social media in crisis

Posted on February 7, 2012 by admin | Permalink 3

My interest in the various methods that social media is used in times of crisis took an odd turn last fall. I had heard of the prevalent use of Twitter and Facebook in various parts of Mexico as a form of communication during acts of violence between drug cartels. People posting updates to warn others that it was not safe to go outside became a protection mechanism in a country where law enforcement is generally questionable.

Last September, however, was the first time I, as a lay person, had heard of attacks against those informing the public about acts of violence. Nuevo Laredo saw four killed from September through November of last year with the utmost brutality, definitely attempting to deliver a very clear message. All four bodies, including that of one woman were found decapitated with handwritten notes warning of their social media postings. The woman suffered torture and disembowelment. These people were not trouble makers, but rather community members with a social conscience. It’s crazy to think that drug cartel members monitor blogs and Twitter feeds.

The translation of the note left next to the hanging bodies.

The gruesome image of the disemboweled woman and man who posted their observations online.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aside from raising concerns about humanity, the media, and violence in Mexico this incident also brought me to two realizations. First,  I began to feel a bit of fear and intimidation upon reading the horrific details regarding the torture and barbaric execution of these individuals. Secondly, there is so much going on in the social media realm with each crisis that occurs around the globe that these situations are rarely given the attention. So my intent with this blog is both to explore and raise awareness about communications in social media of crises.

Although the drug war in Mexico is nothing new, it elevated to critical levels with President Calderon’s pledge to bring the cartels down. Over 40,000 have died since 2006. Intrigued by these social media vigilante sites I decided to check a few out. The blog mundonarco.com reads more like a news site reporting on the most recent events related to the drug war on a state by state basis. I read more information about what is really going on in Mexico in five minutes than what I have been able to find in newspapers in the US in the past few months.

The main difference between this site and a news site is, however, that you would never see the raw, graphic content from the site in mainstream media. There are a lot of videos. Executions. Torture. Interrogations. Decapitation. Nothing is hidden from the public on this blog. The site has a twitter account with over 29,000 followers. You can tell this is an interactive experience with a 100% guarantee listed that all information and tips remain anonymous. If you “collaborate” with the blog it says that you will be helping to build a “better Mexico”.

Another site that has created some controversy in targeting innocent victims in the Nuevo Laredo region encourages regular citizens to post anonymous tips. Users are asked to create nicknames to protect their identity, but there are strict rules surrounding these screen names. No one can use drug, cartel, or violent related words for their names. The site also prohibits the topic of sex or any form of threats. Only the site administrators and moderators can confirm the validity of alleged cartel violence reported. A contributor to the site was one of the victims last fall and although the administrators claim that the only way for identities to be revealed is when those posting disclose personal information these events make me wonder is this is true.

In my further exploration of the use of social media in crises I will look at privacy issues especially in compromising situations. It will possibly be unknown to the public how these innocent victims identities were discovered, but it will be an interesting to look into how dangerous or safe it is to post on such vigilante type social media forums.

I hope to delve into the use of social media as a form of communication in different types of crises around the world with a special emphasis on Latin America. My main goal will be to map out the benefits and disadvantages while observing the social impact this form of communication has on the crises themselves. More to come…

 

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Tweeting is a crime

Posted on February 8, 2012 by admin | Permalink 0

The reality is that in a country with over 4 million Twitter users, Mexico uses the site as a tool. The public cannot depend on the press since most members of the media fear the consequences of reporting on the cartel violence.

This tweet states that a homicide occurs every 18 hours in Torreon, Coahuila.

The underlying reason average citizens have resorted to posting real-time events on Twitter and Facebook is much like the  cause of the violence. No one that is in a role of power in Mexico cares about the safety of the innocent public as much as the people themselves. Law enforcement is either too scared or working for the wrong side. The media has done little to nothing despite having the means to do so much.

People have turned to Twitter as a survival mechanism to warn others to not pass by a certain area to prevent more innocent victims. In an unfortunate turn of events for those using the site as an online sort of neighborhood or city watch, doing so could land some in jail.

Posting on Twitter could land you in jail in the state of Veracruz. After two people started a false rumor about schools under siege by cartel violence, they charged them with terrorism. The incident caused a crisis itself with concerned parents rushing to reach their children causing mayhem in the streets.

Even though this legislation is to prevent false reports from creating more havoc, with so much violence occurring on a regular basis it will be difficult to track real events. I think there is too much gray in the underworld for the judicial system to actually be successful at deciphering this. Fear and corruption will also make this a challenging task.

The governor of Veracruz decided to free and pardon the two Twitter terrorists. He delivered the news on Twitter. The state of Tabasco is considering implementing a similar law.

 

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A Valentine’s Night Crisis

Posted on February 14, 2012 by admin | Permalink 0

Being one of the few mortals left who does not celebrate Valentine’s Day, I thought I would humor the rest of you with a different kind of post today. While the Teleflora ad featuring Adriana Lima may raise a spark in sales (more to come on that next week perhaps) it has already created a PR crisis for the company.

Immediately after the commercial first aired on Super Bowl Sunday the response on twitter was #NotBuyingIt. This response extended to GoDaddy’s “Body Paint” ad as well. So let me get this straight, if a man buys his girlfriend flowers she will in exchange give him sex. It’s that easy. I watched Kathy Lee & Hoda interview Adriana this morning and when they asked her about the implication that women will respond to flowers by having sex she giggled and said they could also respond with gifts. Right. That’s exactly the interpretation the company was going for.

GSD&M posted an eloquent and interesting response to both the GoDaddy and Telefora ad on their blog, curiosity. Aside from the possible violent repercussions the studies suggest the lack of any social responsibility these companies display is most disturbing. From a business perspective they have alienated a massive female segment of the population. The discontent is clear on Twitter and the passion against Teleflora is rising.

The Teleflora backlash is also on Facebook with pages like the non-profit organization Miss Representation creating a forum to discuss offensive commercials. It will be interesting to see if this crisis will hurt Teleflora in terms of sales. I wonder how their Mother’s Day commercials will be…


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#RIPChrisBrown

Posted on February 16, 2012 by admin | Permalink 0

It’s no shocker that Chris Brown is not the most loved entertainer. After the infamous pictures of Rihanna’s beaten face showed the world his darker side, it was unlikely Brown’s career would not suffer. And then there was the Good Morning America incident.

Performing and winning at the Grammys on Sunday was a huge step for him- a PR dream.

The night of the Grammys Brown received notoriety under the trending topic #wifebeater. After responding to the backlash from other celebrities questioning the Grammys’ decision in selecting him to perform via disturbing tweets, his career is in crisis. In his latest public relations disaster Brown managed to upset so many that #RIPChrisBrown has been trending in Twitter.

In an attempt to manage the crisis almost all of his tweets were deleted leaving many to say Chris Brown is dead on Twitter. After demonstrating his violent side in multiple ways after the domestic violence incident, it is difficult to predict how his advisors will save his career. It is highly unlikely that any apology or explanation will help at this point. I tend to think that he needs to lay low for a while. It is clear he always has an excuse for his actions so why not just give it a rest for now?

Celebrity

A race to manage the crisis

Posted on February 16, 2012 by admin | Permalink 9

The interesting thing about using Twitter in crisis management is how quickly you may face having to either retract your tweets or simply contradict them. Susan G. Komen, for example, apologized for its previous communications and withdrew its decision a few days after posting many tweets defending their action.

It’s pretty incredible an organization that has invested so much in its brand image would allow so much damage to occur in a matter of days. The foundation is building a track record of questionable motives in each crisis it experiences. With its “pinkwashing” fundraising efforts promoting products with cancer causing agents it now operates more like a corporation and not as a nonprofit.

In 2008 the Yoplait partnership brought controversy to Susan G. Komen after the discovery that Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) was present in its yogurt. After a great deal of negative press the company decided to stop using milk from cows treated with rBGH shortly after. The 2010 “Buckets for a Cure” campaign with KFC created a PR debacle since consuming fried chicken is not exactly ideal in preventing cancer.

 

 

Enraged by the hypocrisy the masses revolted on various social media platforms. Twitter feeds protested the organization’s move with harsh words and deep disappointments voiced against Komen. A “Planned Parenthood Saved My Life” feed began on Tumblr in support of Planned Parenthood with countless first hand accounts of its extraordinary benefits. The Komen foundation began receiving 20 negative posts per minute on Facebook with many using the slogan “Tell Komen Not to Throw Planned Parenthood Under the Bus”.

The foundation used Twitter to broadcast the announcement they would reverse the decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood programs after the organization’s numerous tweets defending their original decision.

“We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive and not political … We want to apologize for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives.”

Although reversing the decision is a step towards admitting their original decision was wrong, the foundation’s reputation needs a great deal of work for it to be restored. The public expects organizations like Susan G. Komen to look out for the good of those who are in difficult situations. The fact that they have a political agenda strips them of all credibility. The immediacy that social media offers works against companies and organizations when they fail to see how disastrous their decisions are.

 The problem is in that once Susan G. Komen realized the gravity of their actions, it was too late for reputation management. In addition social media could not help the organization since the announcement to reverse the decision came days after the original plan to severe its relationship with Planned Parenthood.

Since this last incident was the last in a series of hypocritical decisions that imply a rather biased agenda, it will definitely take time to restore trust in the foundation. A positive, engaging campaign on social media could perhaps start to repair Susan G. Komen’s reputation.

Nonprofit

Carnival disaster

Posted on February 26, 2012 by admin | Permalink 0

The Carnival example shows how having a presence in social media sites can help destroy a brand. In the case of the cruise ship company, it was the lack of action that created yet another crisis for the brand. After the horrific disaster, Carnival was clearly overwhelmed with its communication to the public. Several days after the ship capsized the cruise line’s Facebook and Twitter pages operating as if the incident had never occurred.

Consumers and fans frequent social media platforms to feel closer to the brand, company or celebrity. They make the effort because of their desire to engage. Carnival failed to realize this in the most inopportune moment. Posts on their Facebook page continued the “business as usual” theme by focusing on promotions and positive updates about other cruise ships. Their downfall was increased when loyal followers and interested members of the public started posting comments of the catastrophe. In many cases people asked the company questions about the Costa Concordia. The company’s silence on the incident became even more obvious with posts expressing sorrow and asking Carnival for more information.

Micky Arison, Chairman and CEO of Carnival, as well as owner of the Miami Heat changed his tone on Twitter. Normally an avid, energetic participant on Twitter, Arison posted a tweet stating he would be taking a break from Twitter to focus his time on the crisis. The same day the Carnival Facebook page also issued the following statement explaining they would not be as active on Facebook:

Hi, everyone. Out of respect for all those affected by the recent events surrounding our sister line, Costa cruises, we are going to take a bit of a break from posting on our social channels. We will still be actively listening and answering any questions you have about your past or upcoming cruises, but for now, the majority of our time will be spent focusing on all those affected by this event. We thank you again for all your support. January 19 at 8:41am ·

The company received over 5,000 likes and 850 comments from this post. Five days later once Carnival announced they were returning to normal communications on all social media platforms. This was not well received by the public a new problem developed. The company had its regular information regarding ships, deals, and contests surrounded by negative comments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The move made to suspend social media communications was admirable in theory, but disastrous strategically. Companies are supposed to increase customer engagement by creating a deeper relationship with their audience through transparency. The relationship became severed in Carnival’s case because the public felt shut out. They wanted to take part in the investigation to see for themselves that Carnival could be trusted. While the long-term consequences of the Costa Concordia itself are still unknown, the social media fiasco damaged the brand. This would have been the perfect opportunity for Carnival to regain some of the faith many lost in the company. Although the company should promote transparency on its social media platforms, they will have to regain the trust of many before the decide to follow the company again.

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Social media in the Sierra Madre

Posted on February 28, 2012 by admin | Permalink 1

Mexico’s Sierra Madre mountain range is home to the indigenous tribe, the Tarahumara. They are most notably recognized around the world for their extraordinary, barefooted long-distance running.

 

 

 

Mexico’s most severe drought in 70 years has brought attention to the tribe since they have been among the most harshly affected. The Tarahumaras’ crisis is especially problematic because of their geographic location. Not only is it difficult to reach many due the tribe being spread out through a vast mountainous terrain, but much of the region faces drug cartel violence. This infiltration has isolated the community from government aid and support.

 

The Tarahumara tribe is known in Mexico for being resilient and independent. With a community estimated at 250,000 the tribe lives true to its traditions including speaking Raramuri, their native language. Because Mexicans recognize the physical and spiritual strength of the Tarahumara, a recent report of mass suicides was not taken lightly. Ramon Gardea, Carichi council secretary, made the claim on camera and the video went viral.

 

Despite government officials denying the validity of the suicide report, the response was overwhelming from the public. Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube all became platforms for concerned Mexicans wanting to engage. The response from private citizens was positive and effective, unlike the government’s. The Mexican Red Cross, however, is concerned that the donation efforts are a short-term fix to a larger problem. While the fate of the Tarahumara is unknown with the ongoing effects of the drought, it is clear the power of social media can reach even the remote community burrowed in the Sierra Madre mountains.

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Mexico City gets smart

Posted on March 6, 2012 by admin | Permalink 3
Hotel Regis 1985

Hotel Regis Mexico City earthquake

Dealing with natural disasters is a crisis in and of itself. The magnitude of disorder that can arise in third world countries with a major catastrophe is so great that the effects can last decades.

In an effort to help prevent greater misfortune, Mexico has implemented an earthquake warning system that will warn citizens via social media sites including Twitter, and Facebook. Text messages will also be sent out via mobile devices. This innovation will be a welcome improvement to the earlier radio and siren warning system. The ineffectiveness of the old procedure lied in the fact many complained the sirens did not always function and were not heard by all.

 

The alert system launched on the 16th anniversary of the 1985 devastating earthquake that killed over 10,000.

 

 

Mexico City residents are enjoying the benefits of the system for regular communications as well. Mexico City Mayor, Marcelo Ebrard is using the system to inform his constituents about local flooding and other news that could pose danger to people. As a contender for the 2012 presidential election the implementation of this procedure will greatly benefit the city and his popularity. Ebrard also uses his Twitter page as a platform for notifying the public about local and government updates.

 

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Crisis mapping

Posted on March 14, 2012 by admin | Permalink 0

 

The international community of crisis mappers consists of volunteers, researchers, policymakers, journalists, and experts aiding humanitarian efforts responding to crises around the globe. The effectiveness of this organization and crisis mapping in general is the use of multiple forms of technology to communicate vital information. Time is essential in moments of crisis and digital communications help deliver a rapid response.

With over 3,500 members, Crisis Mappers is responsible for work in over 194 countries. The practice of crisis mapping became recognizable to the public after the earthquake in Haiti motivated volunteers to text messages to a centralized response unit. By using Openstreetmap a virtual community was formed days after the earthquake hit. It allowed volunteers to update progress in a virtual forum helping to better address immediate needs. The flashing on the map is representative of the most recent edits and it displays the amount of  progress that has been made since the earthquake.

Crisis mappers has over 5,800 followers on Twitter and its efforts range from the Sudan, to Syria, to Japan. The community and its resources set up an imminent connection between information, emergency response, and humanitarian aid. In future posts I will explore the various forms of crisis mapping and crowd sourcing related to humanitarian crises and social revolts around the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Kony 2012: redefining crisis communications

Posted on March 16, 2012 by admin | Permalink 2

Taking communications viral in a crisis has never been done like Invisible Children’s Kony 2012 video. It is now the most watched viral video watched in history, with notable results immediately evident. The total impact has yet to be seen, however, since the campaign has just started. The video has revolutionized how grassroots campaigns can deliver messages that effectively reach and inspire the masses. With over 79 million views, people from all over the world feel compelled to take action. The issue of capturing Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, can now be seen on Pinterest boards, Facebook, Twitter, emails, and blogs.

Despite the tremendous success of the Kony 2012 video, critics have made their backlash against Invisible Children known. The criticism includes questioning the group’s strategy of simplifying the issue as well as their use of funds raised. Many Ugandans expressed outrage upon viewing the video, however, Invisible Children maintains that the video was created to reach “Western” audiences and that it has been taken out of context. Ugandan multimedia journalist, Rosebell Kagumire, raises her issues with the Kony 2012 video in the following clip.

The blog, Visible Children, is the loudest voice speaking out against Invisible Children by openly criticizing how the organization manages the funds it raises. According to one of the film’s creator’s, Jedidiah Jenkins, 37% of the money the organization raises goes towards “central African-related programs”, 20% is allotted for salaries/overhead, and 43% is used to address spreading awareness. The organization states that its primary goal is not to supply the region with aid, but rather to ensure the safety of innocent children through Kony’s capture.

Regardless of how you feel about the tactics behind Invisible Children’s fundraising and film making, it is indisputable that the power of a compelling cause going viral is immense. There are incredible implications for current and future humanitarian crises as well as natural disasters through the use of viral videos.

We still do not know the final impression of Kony 2012. Where will you be on 4.20.12?

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PR crisis for Invisible Children

Posted on March 17, 2012 by admin | Permalink 0

In an unexpected turn of events for the Kony 2012 campaign, Invisible Children co-founder James Russell was detained for seemingly lewd behavior in public. Reports claim he was masturbating in public, vandalizing cars, and was intoxicated. Although there was no arrest made, he was later hospitalized. The following footage filmed by paparazzi contains nudity and violent content.

Russell is the voice behind the Kony 2012 viral video. His bond and promise to Ugandan former child abductee, Jacob Acaye, created a heartfelt story within the video. Russell’s son Gavin also gave the film a personal feel demonstrating the level of commitment from the film makers. With the recent criticism surrounding how the organization spends the funds raised, it will be interesting to see if Russell’s performance adds to the negativity thus hindering the campaign.

In a statement released by Invisible Children CEO, Ben Keesey, the organization attributes the meltdown to the tremendous pressure that Russell has suffered over the last few weeks. The press release also implies the group is maintaining the stress affected Russell in a physical state thus provoking the irrational behavior. With over 80 million views now, it remains unseen whether Russell’s credibility will impact the Kony 2012 campaign. The possibility also exists that because of the passion Russell has demonstrated for the cause many will be more sympathetic regarding his emotional and physical breakdown.

Invisible Children co-founder Jason Russell

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Online Gang Violence

Posted on April 8, 2012 by admin | Permalink 2

The daily newspaper of the state of Sinaloa, Periódico Noroeste, has an area for its online readers to voice their opinions below each article. Although this has become a common practice for most online news sources, what sets Noroeste apart from many other publications is the subject at hand. The drug cartel related articles not only get more comments, but they also receive commentary from members of the cartels themselves.

Decapitated body found in Sinaloa

The posts get heated and offensive as rival gangs are now addressing each other in this online forum. The newspaper has lost control over this area of its site with cartels threatening rivals gangs as well as innocent readers.

Managing this situation is quite difficult for the newspaper in part because of the content and audience. If they remove inappropriate comments made by the cartels they face direct threats. When a recent comment was recently deleted the following threat was posed directly to one of Noroeste’s editors:

“You did not publish our message. We know who you are. And we know where your wife is. Watch out.”

The message went on to accurately describe the editor’s wife’s recent actions. Journalists in this region of Mexico know all too well to tread lightly, but they also recognize that the current situation is not ideal. The 500 employees at the newspaper and its readers are being victimized by the cartels online.

 

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The Last Call At The Oasis

Posted on April 3, 2012 by admin | Permalink 0

The same filmmakers that brought us An Inconvenient Truth, Participant Media, have created a new documentary focusing on the global water crisis.

At the core of Participant Media’s mission is to entertain while ultimately inspiring social change. Each of their films, including Charlie Wilson’s War, The Help, Darfur Now, and Food, Inc. have a call to action for the audience. In addition to providing the public with viable methods of how they can get involved on their website, the company’s digital branch promotes current campaigns related to films.

The following clip is the trailer to The Last Call At The Oasis, the new documentary on the world water problem.

As part of their campaign related to the documentary, Participant Media also plans on releasing an iOS app that will calculate how much water is used for everyday activities. The goal is to teach people the quantity of water consumed in unexpected functions and to inspire them to use the app before making decisions thus minimizing their usage.

Another tool the company added to encourage the campaign address the global water crisis is SMS. By texting “WATER” to 77177 people can receive instant information on how to take part in the efforts to help the water emergency.

The Last Call At The Oasis will be in theaters in select cities beginning on May 4.

Participant Media not only uses films to compel social change, but also uses social media to help endorse their films’ message.

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Social media response in Japan

Posted on April 5, 2012 by admin | Permalink 0

The earthquake in Japan caused many power outages and affected electricity supplies, but the internet remained intact allowing a support system to arise from social media sites. Most importantly, people were able to reunite with their loved ones through the use of social media.

Even the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo encouraged Americans living in Japan to use social networking sites and text messaging to reach out. The message also recommends  Google’s Person Finder as well as the Red Cross’s Family Links website as a resource.

One of the most effective and astounding responses to the earthquake in Japan happened on Twitter. With over 1,200 tweets per minute in Tokyo an hour after the earthquake, according to Tweet-o-meter, Twitter made the largest impact in terms of delivering news efficiently around the country and globe.

Facebook also proved as an efficient method of communicating amid the disaster as well as after. The social networking site also offered a unique way to help the situation. By purchasing virtual goods in Zynga games, users can give money through Save the Children or Facebook. This partnership between Zynga, Save the Children, and Facebook allows aid to reach the earthquake and tsunami victims via the American Red Cross and Save the Children.

This is an interesting view of the 4.5 status updates that brought up Japan, the earthquake, or the tsunami last March 11.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150119188069936.290029.250083749935

Japan

Global food crisis information

Posted on April 30, 2012 by admin | Permalink 0

In the spirit of supporting the GROW campaign the following links are great resources to learn about current events and background related to the global food crisis.

Food Security Risk Index 2011

In trying to give you the complete picture of the global food issue, I wanted to include a response to criticism against Oxfam and the GROW campaign.

Responding to some of the criticisms of GROW

These pictures from Oxfam’s Flickr album illustrate the beautiful people and places afflicted with acute hunger and rising food prices.

These infographics show statistics related to how governments contribute to the problem as well as a break down of areas of mal-nourishment and the monopoly the food supply in the world.

 

Blogs, websites, Flickr, YouTube, and crisis maps are all great resources for any global crisis. The GROW campaign is using them all to inform the world and motivate us all to take action.

 

 

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Ending the Global Food Crisis

Posted on April 30, 2012 by admin | Permalink 0

The non-profit Oxfam International, has taken its GROW campaign to new levels throughout social media platforms.

GROW hopes to promote engagement on a global level to help address the many issues related to the global food crisis. The organization lists “a broken system” as the primary reason roughly a billion people suffer from hunger. By promoting sustainable farming, addressing inequality issues, and reforming corrupt policies the growing hunger issue can be stopped.

Oxfam is using social media platforms to get more people involved. The different platforms offer options for people to interact with the campaign and the issues at hand. In the following, brief video from Oxfam, the organization delivers their message of the need for greater participation and change in an upbeat way.

The organization asks it followers to simply share the video with contacts, friends, and loved ones to help promote the GROW campaign.

Oxfam also has a crisis map called the Food Price Pressure Points Map that shows what countries are in greatest jeopardy. The red exclamation points shows the area’s food issues, including what the causes and effects are. The stats link is really interesting because it shows each country’s percentage of mal-nourishment in addition to their dependence on imported food. The photos link illustrates poignant pictures from locations on the map. The act now link takes users to the campaign’s website offering different ways to get involved.

As a blogger myself, I was intrigued by the campaign’s appeal to have supporters blog about the cause. The GROW campaign has its own blog, but they also urge supporters to start their own blog to help combat the world food crisis. I am a big fan of organizations asking for participation that involves more thought and effort than just donations and this really inspired me.

The campaign is not only using social media to help stop the food crisis, but it is also encouraging the public to use these same tools. Using social media to fight the global hunger disaster is particularly important because the issue is more complex than what is generally perceived. Anything from corruption, extreme weather, violence, or a lack of action from local governments can cause food prices to increase. According to Oxfam, the world is experiencing record level prices for food since 2010. Oxfam also believe that the number of those afflicted with hunger will surpass the one billion mark very soon.

The hope is that more people will learn about how serious the world food crisis is through the campaign’s use of social media.  Examples like the case of Yemen’s several hunger problem can shed some light about how quickly food prices can escalate. Oxfam states on their website that the cost of wheat flour increased 117% from May 2010 to May 2011 in Sana’a. With a third of the country already suffering from hunger, this increase has disastrous implications.

By showing support in any small way through social media anyone can help. Informing those that may not know how serious the global food crisis is can also motivate many to interact with or donate to the campaign. Click on this link if you want to participate.

 

 

 

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Niños Incómodos Aftermath

Posted on April 27, 2012 by admin | Permalink 0

After severe backlash from Mexican politicians the Our Mexico of the Future campaign removed the Niños Incómodos video from its YouTube channel. The criticism can mostly from members of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), who claimed that the use of children depicting scenes of violence was highly inappropriate. They launched an investigation as to the possible violation of the human rights of the children.

The PRI’s presidential candidate, interestingly enough, is the favored candidate to win. The video as well as the Our Mexico of the Future campaigns are both directed towards the candidates in trying to motivate them to actually change the country’s reality.

Despite the characteristic intimidation tactics forcing the removal of the video, its short-lived existence was successful. Over 2 million viewed the video in less than ten days and most importantly the campaign received 10.6 suggestions from Mexican citizens on how to improve the country. The submissions, entered on the Our Mexico of the Future website, are being compiled into a book that the movement plans on publishing.

Now two months away from the election the video and Our Mexico of the Future campaign created an open dialogue about the major issues everyone in Mexico faces. The only human rights violation is that children, like the actors in the video, have to live in fear of going outside to play or losing their parents to the everyday violence.

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Arab Spring’s new site

Posted on April 24, 2012 by admin | Permalink 0

A new website called Lulu Live developed by the news site, Middle East Voices documents film from many of the Arab Spring protests. The site went live on the year anniversary of the February 14 Bahrain demonstrations.

The site was named after the main square in the capital of Bahrain, called Lulu. Manama’s main square became a focal point for many of the protests in the last year. According to the managing editor of Middle East Voices, Davin Hutchins, they launched the site with Bahrain’s demonstrations because Bahrainis are extremely knowledgeable of social media and have followed the Middle East Voices site more than any other country.

The posts show raw footage that is not edited and the site has become so popular that one post received over 50,000 views in one weekend. At least two-thirds of the visits and videos reach the site from iPhones according to Hutchins.

Lulu Live is a necessary part of the Arab Spring revolution. The aesthetic of the site  compares to Pinterest. Interestingly enough despite having a more serious topic, Lulu Live is in essence about sharing images much like Pinterest.

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The Digital Implications

Posted on April 21, 2012 by admin | Permalink 0

The following op-ed explores the implications of living in a digital world by taking a closer look at last year’s crisis in Norway.

Does the Internet Breed Killers?

Regardless of whether you agree that the internet is helping to promote violence, it is clear that just as communities form in today’s digital sphere, isolation is also increasing. We can broaden our connections thanks to the internet, but for some constant digital stimulation can augment or spark a propensity to get carried away.

I don’t agree that the internet or video games alone can be blamed for creating serial killers, I do see the point that the social network realm does promote narcissism. In the today’s world of Twitter followers, Facebook friends, and Klout it seems we are taking self-promotion to a new level.

Perhaps the digital world “can corrupt our grasp of reality”, but if we recognize the threat potential tragedies will be prevented.

 

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