"Revolutionary electronic space" and global social movements

I came across a very interesting article the other day that looks at the relevance of web 2.0 communication technology and social movements - the labour movement is used as the main example.

According to the article - Social Movements 2.0 (by Brendan Smith, Tim Costello & Jeremy Brecher), there are five reasons why this revolutionary electronic space is especially relevant to the future of the global social movements:

1. Group Formation: New social networking tools, ranging from Facebook and Twitter to e-mail and listservs, make forming groups--and hopefully social movements--much easier.

2. Scale and amplification: With a single keystroke, social movements can now push information out to millions of people and lift up marginalized voices into national, and even global, spheres.

Working Capital Model Investing– Investing Rules Of Engagement-The QDI

Crash! The 2007 thru 2008 financial crisis halved 401(k), IRA, and Mutual Fund values in a matter of months. For many, retirement dates had to be pushed back; for others, new jobs had to be found. The tragic flaw? No income allocation in the investment program. Market value builds egos; income pays the bills.

Few employers cautioned Savings Plan participants that

401(k)

New labour movement Web 2.0 website

New labour movement Web 2.0 website -

I've just been informed of a new labour movement website that makes good use of Web 2.0 technology.

More specifically, it uses RSS feeds to bring together useful sites or resources that relate to the labour movement.

It's called Laborgeek.

Some final words from the organiser of Laborgeek:

As this site is intended to complement rather than compromise any of the great sites already discussing these issues, we don’t host debate or discussion at laborgeek itself.

If you want to comment, go do so at the site the link takes you to.

If you want to endorse or spread the word about a particular link, you’ll find a share this button on each post.

Cyber shopping means never having to say “Excuse me”.

This year I did practically all my Christmas shopping online. I never entered the mall. I never saw the inside of Wal-Mart and you never have to either in this electronic age.

This is really information that I should keep away from my sister, she is a professional shopper. We are seriously looking into a twelve step program for her. If she knew how easy this was I think it might be her downfall.

The joy of clicking through a website, be it eBay or the actual business’s website, and choosing exactly what you want. Then three days later, a truck shows up with your stuff. Better still, its gift wrapped. And you did it all in your bunny slippers.

No circling the parking lots trying to find something closer than Siberia. No ducking and weaving through hordes of people to try and find what you are looking for knowing there is every chance you never will.

The absolute best part of the whole thing is that there is no waiting in long checkout lines.

Some people enjoy that sort of thing during the holidays, the hustle, the bustle, socializing with others who are in the same crazy boat as you are. Bonding over the endless lines and people bumping into one another like bumper cars. “Excuse me”, “Oh Sorry, excuse me.” “No, no excuse me.” It doesn’t take very long before you really don’t mean it.

If you are like me and have a short fuse and even shorter attention span, you have to investigate the online alternative.

Now a lot of people say, ‘Oh, you need a credit card for that.’

Healthy Optimism featuring Roger Hamilton

Guest Post By Mike Southon - This is my column that will feature in Saturday’s Financial Times, which can be found in the entrepreneurship pages of the Money section. You can also find my columns on the FT web site here: http://www.ft.com/mikesouthon

You can listen to my free and full length podcast interview with Asif here:
http://www.beermat.biz/all-podcasts.php

I am always asking people for column ideas. My editor’s suggestion was to write something optimistic to counter the negative and cynical commentary currently rolling around the press, some even generated, sadly, by successful entrepreneurs.

Last week I was ideally placed to generate an upbeat column as I was at the Entrepreneur Business School (EBS) Masters in Bali, organised by the XL Results Foundation and run by Roger Hamilton.

Web 2.0 and GPs


A story in The Guardian on Tuesday suggests - "Ministers are planning to force GPs to improve their performance by posting patients' comments about them on an NHS website".

More details:

Ben Bradshaw, the health minister, wants to make it easy for patients in England to rate their family doctor's competence and bedside manner on bulletin boards on the NHS Choices website.

Officials have been told to have the appropriate software ready next year.

He hopes consumer power will make GPs offer a better service for fear that patients may switch to another practice with better website reviews.

See Patients to rate and review their GPs on NHS website (John Carvel) for more details.

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