Month: June 2010

1 July @ Eyebeam – Re:Group / In Code We Trust – Exploring models of authorized participation through crowd sourced democracy in the 21st Century

Date: Thursday, 1 July 2010 from 6:30 – 9:30

Re:Group: Beyond Models of Consensus, an exhibition which examines models of participation and participation as a model in art and activism.

Re:Group proposes that with participation now a dominant paradigm, structuring social interaction, art, activism, the architecture of the city, and the economy, we are all integrated into participatory structures whether we want to be or not. The exhibition showcases work that subverts existing systems or envisions new alternatives to the ways in which individuals can take part, or choose not to take part, in social and cultural life.

“In Code We Trust” is the new motto for Government in the 21st century. Across the country, geeks inside and outside of government are developing a new participatory and transparent Federal, State and Municipal governments. Built upon open-source tools, open standards, and best practices, this panel will highlight authorized actors as they  practical examples of initiatives from private, public and government sectors.

Format:
6.30 – 7:30 – Happy Hour / Socializing / Viewing of exhibits & installations
7:30 – 7:45 – Introduction to the RE:Group show
7:45 – 8:30 – 6 Lighting presentations (20 slides at 6 mins 40 sec) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pecha_Kucha
8:30 – 9:30 – Question and Answers

Hosts:
Noel Hidalgo, New York State Senate
Beka Economopoulos, Not An Alternative

Presenters:
Sarah Kaufman – MTA New York City Transit, Projects Coordinator, Emerging and Intelligent Transportation Systems
Laurel Ruma – Gov2.0 Evangelist for O’Reilly Books
Daniel Latorre – VP, Digital Placemaking Project for Public Spaces
Phillip Ashlock – Open Government Project Manager at OpenPlans
Ben Berkowitz – Co-Founder of SeeClickFix

Hashtag & Twitter reference: #InCodeWeTrust and @Eyebeam_Org

An ugly paradox of the 21st century is that some of our elegant symbols of modernity — smartphones, laptops and digital cameras — are built from minerals that seem to be fueling mass slaughter and rape in Congo. With throngs waiting in lines in the last few days to buy the latest iPhone, I’m thinking: What if we could harness that desperation for new technologies to the desperate need to curb the killing in central Africa?

Death by Gadget in Congo

In a typical response from other military officials, one Army officer with multiple tours in Afghanistan expressed anger at the lack of discipline displayed by General McChrystal and his inner circle. But he warned that it was symptomatic of wider problems with Mr. Obama’s strategy and among his national security advisers. “They brought this upon themselves and embarrassed the entire military as an institution,” said the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid any punishment for criticizing his chain of command. “Hopefully, the president uses this as an opportunity to refine his policy and objectives, and also to shuffle the rest of his Af-Pak team, as well,” he said, using the abbreviation for the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. “McChrystal isn’t the only one who probably needs to move elsewhere.”

Obama Says Afghan Policy Won’t Change After Dismissal