Activism Unit: Research Activities

Issues and problems affecting the immediate community can go underground unnoticed. The bureaucracies or governments and other interested parties tend to curtail any awareness that will change the status quo. Information technology solutions have in the recent past been used to change the leadership of oppressive governments and alter what seem to be serious issues for change in communities. Different technologies have been used popularly to communicate ideas, create awareness to issues in the society. These technologies can be used to inform, to persuade, and even to spark awareness. With the many current IT related technologies, our messages and stories can be told with more clarity, emotion, and with impact. Read the article below http://en.reset.org/knowledge/digital-and-online-activism http://www.meta-activism.org/2012/02/digital-activism-101-the-5-activist-functions-of-technology/ Which digital tools are more effective and why? http://www.washington.edu/news/2013/11/20/study-shines-light-on-what-makes-digital-activism-effective/ What make digital activism effective? http://mashable.com/2011/07/15/online-tools-activism/ Attempt to use the listed online tools? Give your opinion on any of the tools. Social Media and Activism Read the following news article titled: Russians use Facebook to protest alleged election fraud http://www.zdnet.com/blog/facebook/russians-use-facebook-to-protest-alleged-election-fraud/5975 Why did the protesters use Facebook? Videos for Activism Read and watch any video if possible on the topic titled: 5 Great examples of Activism through web video http://socialtimes.com/5-great-examples-of-activism-through-web-video_b15316 Why do you think in the activists the above articles opted to use a video to highlight their issues? Website for Activism Study the following website for activism Free Child project http://www.freechild.org/youth_activism_2.htm Clean water http://www.emergepovertyfree.org/donate/clean-water Cruelty against animal http://www.woaw.org.au/14andOver/cruelty-prevention/?gclid=CLT4nMi96rECFUR76wodyGYAsA Analyse the above websites in terms of their effectiveness and shortcomings. Animation and Activism Watch the following animations designed for activism share the reason animations where used in this case Universal declaration of human rights http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTlrSYbCbHE An Environmental Activist Aniboom Animation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AagOjHpHJ0k Violence against women. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCwK8Y1Unr4 What are the strengths and limitation of using animations solutions for activism? Music for activism https://www.ssyoutube.com/watch?v=2RyYzMdPlUA