Changes between Version 4 and Version 5 of apc_membership_app
- Timestamp:
- May 13, 2008, 6:04:05 AM (16 years ago)
Legend:
- Unmodified
- Added
- Removed
- Modified
-
apc_membership_app
v4 v5 85 85 Resource sharing is what would normally be called "services". In this are, MF/PL has been involved in Internet service provision for over 14 years making us one of the oldest "providers" in the world, certainly among the oldest politically progressive providers. But we are not a provider. Aside from membership dues, our members pay nothing for services. Our members collaborate on everything including provider "technical support". All our processes, including discussions about our policies and future plans, are transparently carried on on system that encourage participation by all members. 86 86 87 Activism. MF/PL works in coalitions of all kinds, participates in events, works on campaigns of all types. Most prominent among these is probably our leading work at the US Socia Forum of 2007 during which we organized and led the technology workgroup that provided for all technology (on and off line) at the event. There were 37 technologists working in the group from all parts of this country. 88 89 We've sponsored and/organized dozens of events over the last three years and are represented at public events in the United States virtually every month. 90 91 We are also the authors of the book "The Organic Internet: Organizing History's Largest Social Movement" which is available on-line (both for free in pdf format and also in print edition). 87 92 88 93 For each area or activity, please describe the outcomes you are working for, achievements and challenges experienced, and the people (beneficiaries or target groups) who you think have benefited, or will benefit, from your work. 89 94 90 Programme/Activity area 1 Description: Outcomes: Significant achievements: Challenges: Beneficiaries and target groups: 95 Programme/Activity Resource Sharing 96 Description: Described above, this is fundamentally the creation of an alternative to commercial service providers. Members pool resources to purchase, maintain and share all kinds of Internet resources. 97 98 Outcomes: Since 2005, our organization has doubled in size to about 250 members with over 400 websites and over 3,000 email addresses functioning. We also have members, like portside (the US-based progressive information list), whose work and impact is movement-wide and that impact has broadened during our collaboration with them. 99 100 101 Significant achievements: Probably the two most significant achievements are: 102 103 that we have survived and grown as an alternative Internet organization with decided left-wing politics and done so without any foundation money or grants of any kind. 104 105 that we have developed within our membership a group of technologists whose interaction with the rest of our members is based on a respectful, collaborative culture. 106 107 Challenges: The Internet is, in and of itself, a huge challenge because of its commercialism is deep (and powerful) and because the "gateway" to it is through several popular and highly commercial enterprises. The progressive movement is very much lured to this thinking still and our challenge is to move it politically through outreach, education and, of course, direct interaction in our work. 108 109 110 111 Beneficiaries and target groups: 112 113 Our 250 members are mainly progressive organizations, including some of the most active and prominent in this country. We target the activist movement and are really working hard to involve organizations of people of color and women -- groups that are traditionally "excluded" in many functions of the Internet. 91 114 92 115 Programme/Activity area 2 Description: Outcomes: Significant achievements: Challenges: Beneficiaries and target groups: … … 98 121 d). Please describe any services, support or assistance you provide. For example, provision of email accounts and web hosting, training in ICT skills, refurbishment/servicing of hardware, FOSS migration services etc. 99 122 100 Service/support area 1 Description: Beneficiaries and target groups: 101 102 Service/support area 2 Description: Beneficiaries and target groups: 123 Service/support area 1 Description: 124 125 web hosting -- provided to all members and any member can host as many websites as the member needs and wants. There is no "charge" for hosting or any other resource for members. 126 127 Beneficiaries and target groups: same as above 128 129 Service/support area 2 Description: email -- MF/PL provides email to over 3,000 people within our member organizations and to any individual members. Members may have as many email "accounts" as they want and need. As with web hosting, there is not charge. 130 131 Beneficiaries and target groups: same as above 103 132 104 133 Service/support area 3 Description: Beneficiaries and target groups: … … 110 139 e). What is your vision/concept of development and social change, and what role do ICTs play in bringing about this change? 111 140 141 We believe that the Internet is actually a movement, possibly the largest in human history. We believe it arises from the fundamental need of humanity to collaborate and empower itself democratically to assure its own survival by availing itself of the resources now available to us on this planet. We believe that humanity has everything it needs to create a just and peaceful world and that the only obstacle is outmoded forms of social, economic and political organization. Finally, we believe the Internet is humanity's way of getting the truth, spreading it and building real, powerful and productive relationships throughout the world. 142 112 143 f). How long has your organisation been working with ICTs to support development and social change? 113 144 145 People Link was founded in 1995. May First/People Link is a merger of People Link and some of the people in the May First TEchnology Collective which was formed in 2000. The merger took place in 2005. 146 114 147 g). Why do you have a strong emphasis on ICTs in your work for development and social change? 115 148 149 Because we believe the Internet is the most powerful expression of human collaboration and the one with greatest social and political potential. We believe that potential has been demonstrated countless times over the last decade. 150 116 151 h). What do you think is the role of civil society in social change and development work? 117 152 153 ? 154 118 155 i). Does your organisation work with other 'stakeholders' in ICT work? For example, government, inter-governmental agencies, private sector entities, academia etc. If so, please briefly describe which stakeholders you work with and in what ways. 119 156 157 We only work in coalition with other political organizations. We have no government or other NGO relationships; this does not fit in with our strategy at this point. 158 120 159 Stakeholder group 1: Stakeholder group 2: Stakeholder group 3: Stakeholder group 4: Stakeholder group 5: 121 160