Oct

15

Blog Action Day

October 15, 2008 | | 1 Comment

Today is Blog Action Day – the day bloggers unite to publish posts that discuss poverty in some way. By all posting on the same day we aim to change the conversation today, to raise awareness, start a global discussion and add momentum to an important cause. Blog Action Day is a nonprofit, grassroots movement of thousands of individual bloggers coming together for one cause.

The big question is why should we care about someone else’s problem? It’s not our issue, right? Wrong! If you’re asking yourself that question then no need to read on…..

Next question: How can technology be used to fight poverty?

In many cases it can’t! The worst kind of poverty means that you have no food, clean water, shelter and/or medical care. There are many wonderful organisations that help relieve these shortages.

However, information poverty is another form of poverty that we can address. Information empowers people – videoconferencing, computers and the internet give access to information.

So what can you do?

  1. Why not volunteer your computer skills to a local charity that helps relieve poverty in your area (yes poverty does exist just round the corner from you!)
  2. Become involved in videoconferencing with the Global Nomads Group.
  3. Contribute to the One Laptop per Child Foundation.
  4. Donate your old computer and mobile phone to an organisation like Computer Aid International.
  5. Through Kiva, make a microloan (as little as $25) to help entrepreneurs in developing areas lift themselves out of poverty.

If one of these doesn’t appeal to you then do your own thing & be proud. Oh – and how about giving us some more ideas about fighting poverty through technology – use the comments box.


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1 Comment so far

  1.    Sagee Ben-Zedeff on October 16, 2008 6:53 pm

    I’ve written a post on my blog entitled “chnology Can Overcome Poverty. Ask Me How!” (http://blog.radvision.com/videooverenterprise/2008/10/15/technology-can-overcome-poverty-ask-me-how/).
    It discusses technology and the fight against poverty, with a few connections to video conferencing technologies.
    I guess with more tech blogs joining in the fight, we might have a chance of beating poverty.

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