Yesterday I linked to a TED presentation by Clay Shirky that gave some background on how and why new media are so powerful and effective but you may not have read to the bottom of the post so here it is. If you do nothing more online today, check this. (Sorry but you probably need broadband or time for a long wait)

And remember that, although he is talking about Governments trying to control their message and failing, its also about your organisation's message and your ability to control it.

Short version, you don't have any control.

Do you have any experience of that loss of control? How did your organisation deal with it? Comments are open for your story.

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The Social Justice commission has set up a website in the style of a newspaper, encouraging Kiwis to give up the extra they'll receive in their pay packets thanks to this month's tax cuts — Give It Up:

Generous Kiwis offer fair go with spare change.

This year the government announced tax cuts for the first time in years. They will start to come into effect October 1st. But what will we do with that extra money in our bank account? The $12 to $28 a week individuals will save on their tax bill is not a lot of money, but it can make a real difference.

For some of us that extra $12 to $28 a week will really help make ends meet, but many of us could get by fine without it. If you could, our suggestion is simple - give it up!

By giving it up to those who do need it, and those working to make a real difference, we can all take an active part in changing our nation and our world into more of the kind of place we, and our children, might like to live. It’s time to take power for change back and make a real difference, right where we are.

Watch the embedded video on the front page to see how 'people on the street' plan to give their extra to organisations and activities.

Or click through to read stories submitted to the site about how people plan to spend the extra. Add your story through the comment form, and if you'd like some regular inspiration and cheering up, subscribe to story updates via email, or through the RSS feed.

Nice use of WordPress there folks!

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Jayne Cravens and Coyote Communications have information, links and explanations about using video in community organisations:

Video is a great way to further support your volunteers, and your computer probably already has all of the tools you need to make a video, or to engage in a live video conversation with others. The majority of computers sold today come with built in microphones and cameras, as well as the software you need to make a video -- and even older computers can view most video platforms. In addition, older computers can also run a lot of live event software, such as iVisit, allowing for live video streaming and two-way video conversations.

Video isn't something to use only with online volunteers or remote volunteers (those providing onsite service at a different location than yours). It's also a tool you can use with new and current volunteers. And, in addition to an organization producing videos for volunteers, it can also work the other way around: volunteers can produce videos for organizations.

[Via : Using Video Communications With Volunteers.]

There's a lot of information there, so set aside an hour or two. Also be sure to watch Jayne's YouTube video.

This post suggested by Ted Zorn.

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If you have broadband it's absolutely worth keeping an eye on the TED Talks, maybe even subscribing to the feed in iTunes.

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design.

The annual conference now brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes).

The talks available through iTunes are almost always interesting, thought-provoking, engaging. The theme is generally about how to make the world a better place.

Speakers have included not only many people I hadn't heard of before, but famous people such as Stephen Hawking, Jane Goodall, Billy Graham or Al Gore.

Dave Eggers spent 25 minutes (an 85Mb file) showing and explaining in a very entertaining way how and why he set up an after school homework programme offering one-on-one tutoring to local kids. He explains how they got off to a bad start — no kids attended the programme for weeks — and then how it became not only successful, but such a success the programme spread to other cities, other countries and broader concepts.

With spellbinding eagerness, he talks about how his 826 Valencia tutoring center inspired others around the world

Visit : Dave Eggers makes his TED Prize wish: Once Upon a School | Video on TED.com.

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Derek Miller, an Internet friend and musician in Vancouver, wrote about a new Flickr service — Flickr does video. I haven't been able to test it out yet, but since Derek said everything I would say anyway, I bring you his entire post, with permission:

The new video sharing features of the formerly photo-only site Flickr are different: the designers obviously thought a lot about how to implement video without just cloning how YouTube and everyone else does it.

The key thing is that videos uploaded to Flickr must be less than a minute and a half long, and no bigger than 150 MB. That's a limitation, but also a gift. It forces you to think about what to upload, and if you have a longer video, to edit it down to its essence.

My first video upload there is a good example. I had to take a video of my band that was already only a few minutes long and make it even shorter. I had to cut out non-licensed music and any other extraneous bits. In the end it's only one minute, but it still gets the point of our act across, even without any singing at all.

I think the time limit will generate some creativity in the Flickr community, as well as avoiding those interminable videos that take forever to get to the point. Even if a video is bad, you'll only have to waste 90 seconds on it. We'll see what happens within the well-imagined constraints.

[Via Penmachine words music comment: Flickr does video.]

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