Creating Technology for Social Change

Subversive Tech & Burma’s Struggle for Democracy

Recently, I have been working in partnership with the founders of Digital Democracy to plan an upcoming media literacy project with recently arrived Burmese refugee youth and their American classmates in two high schools in Indiana. The folks at Digital Democracy are also taking part in a talk next week which I thought I would repost here, since the discussion will be streamed live online:

In Burma/Myanmar, the military junta has ruled since 1962, brutally suppressing human rights and the flow of information. Yet in the fall of 2007, the military found itself challenged by Buddhist clergy and ordinary citizens who used nonviolent actions and 21st century technology to challenge the regime. Although the so-called Saffron Revolution failed to result in regime change, dedicated Burmese activists are continuing to risk their lives to work for change in their country. In a country of 58 million with less than 1% internet and cell phone penetration, how is technology being used to challenge a military regime?

Join us for an evening conversation on this topic, including:

— A presentation by Digital Democracy on the use of technology inside and along Burma’s borders.

— Footage from the Sept. 2007 Saffron Revolution, where tech such as mobile phones and the internet allowed protesters to coordinate and publicize the largest protests seen in a generation;

— A Q&A with “Stanley”, a Burmese computer programmer and chairperson of the All Burma IT Students Union.

Monday, April 27, 2009
7:30pm – 9:30pm
The Change You Want To See Gallery
84 Havemeyer Street
Brooklyn, NY
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NOT IN NEW YORK?
Tune in to a live-stream broadcast at http://www.mogulus.com/notanalternative.net and follow live-blogging on Twitter at @NAA_NYC and #thechange.