Forwarding the Conversation

This is a funny video, but in all seriousness I’ve been really perplexed recently as I’ve spoken to many of my friends who don’t think that voting is important. What I’d like to hear is WHY voting is or is not important to you. Please leave your thoughts in the comments section.

Visit www.maps.google.com/vote to find out more information about where and how to vote.

If you have an idea that you think can truly change the world, watch this video and then click on this link.

Take a look at Google’s philanthropic arm, google.org. A component of this arm is called Inform and Empower. Below is a description of the community engagement component the initiative:

Google.org supports efforts to generate accountability and “bottom up” citizen engagement to influence the quality of public services. We will support efforts to provide easily accessible information to people so that they can choose the best strategy for themselves and their community. We will use multiple modes of communication (such as media, mobile, e-kiosks and other technologies) to allow a broader range of people to access information and we will seek innovative methods for disseminating information. We’re focused on:

• Informing individuals and communities of their rights, entitlements, choices, and quality of public services
• Providing tools and information to increase access to and use of available services
• Supporting civil society organizations that strengthen links between communities and policy makers.

Does information alone really have the ability to empower? How does information empower individuals and how do those individuals use that informationt to empower their communities? How can information best be used to empower individuals? What more can google.org do use information in a way that truly empowers people?