activefreemedia

Democracy Archives

We will only realize the true dream of democracy when all of us -- corporations, politicians, consumers, and private citizens choose to participate fully.

January 12, 2009

Where does our garbage go? - Letter to London City Council

For a potential project I am exploring, I searched online to try to find out where the garbage that I throw out in city garbage/rubbish bins goes.  The best information I could find was article in the Guardian called "Following the rubbish trail," but it was from 2004.  I wrote an email to the author Leo Hickman, but so far, no response (I'm sure he busy on new articles).

So I asked my housemate, a proper Londoner where she would look, and she pointed me to the city councils.  After a quick google search, I found the newly organized London Waste & Recycling Board, and sent the following letter to the contact person listed.  I'll let you know how it goes.

--
Hi,



Thanks for the work you do for the city of London.  I used to live in
New York City, and London is definitely a much cleaner city.  As
someone interested in environmental issues, I have become interested in
finding out more about the impact (positive and negative) that I make
with my daily life and choices.



One specific piece of information I haven't been able to find online is
where the rubbish is taken that I put into the public bins around the
city.  Do you know where I would be able to find out?  While I'm
intersted to know where it all goes, the buroughs I am more interested
in are my home burough of Hackney, as well as Islington, Camden and
City of London. 


Any information or contact information for the right person to contact would be very much appreciated. 



Cheers,

Colin

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October 19, 2008

Great Video - "Vote for Hope" by MC Yogi

Obama '08 - Vote For Hope from MC Yogi on Vimeo.

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October 5, 2008

Politics of Participation - Podcast with Robert Stromberg

The second 'active conversation' of the 2nd season of the activefree podcast is with another college friend Robert Stromberg, , who I knew as a media activist man of action back during college at Duke and more recently visited in Knoxville, TN during my Free Culture tour in 2005.

Our phone conversation, recorded back July through FreeConference.com (unfortunately the quality of the audio is less than ideal), covers some of his background working with the Barack Obama campaign on the ground in North Carolina, and why he thinks that the approach of the campaign, if successful, may result in more long term participation than previous campaigns.

Download from the podcast.

Photograph "Thinking Obama" thanks to cfrye6395 via Creative Commons Search.

Posted by Colin | Permalink | Comments ()

September 11, 2008

Beyond Lipstick, Please - Letter to MSNBC

Hi,

I am a concerned voter. It is 2008. This is a historic election where our country is facing major challenges about how we choose to take responsibility for ourselves and our people, how we interact with other countries and cultures, and how we choose to impact the current and future changing climate and ecology.

And yet again, the conversation on stations like MSNBC is spending nearly a full news day bringing guests onto national television to discuss a comment about lipstick.

Yes, there is sexism and racism in our culture. But this election should not be about catch phrases that Barack Obama or John McCain say, or who is looking like a better candidate to win this week. It should be a constructive conversation about what's important to our citizens and our country.

Today's conversation reminds me of what John Stewart said to Tuck Carlson on Crossfire a few years ago applies to you as well: "You're hurting America."

As a citizen and consumer of your content, here is my request to you. Please lead and take responsibility for the conversation that you create on your national television station that millions of citizens and families watch every day.

Thank you,
Colin

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August 12, 2008

Animation / Interview of John Lennon by 14 yr old

I like this. They say we're dreamers, but we're not the only ones.

Posted by Colin | Permalink | Comments ()