Tech for Good

The annual UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP) will be held in Paris this year, it’s the 21st UN Climate Summit and this year they (once again) hope to come to a new international agreement to minimise global warming. Feeling deluded by the failed attempts at agreeing on very much over 20 years – in which time C02 emissions have doubled – instead of a COP, OuiShare and Open State banded together to propose a different type of meeting, a Proof of Concept (POC): “a proof of concept of the disruptive impact that collaborative production, open source and the maker movement can have on mainstreaming the means of sustainable living."

Ben Vickers is a curator, writer, network analyst, technologist and self described luddite. Currently Curator of Digital at the Serpentine Galleries, he co-runs LIMAZULU project space, and is a founding member of unMonastery, a new civically minded social space based on contemporary monastic principles.

In the first of a two-part interview, Jo Barratt talks to Ben about Digital Nomadism. Economic nomadism of one kind or another has been the norm for humans for much of the the last million years which may seem surprising. Ben discusses the reasons he chooses not to rent or own a home why he and others are choosing to adopt this lifestyle.

Produced by Jo Barratt
Music by Chris Zabriskie

This is the second in a mini-series of interviews curator and technologist Ben Vickers. Last time, we chatted with ben about his experience living nomadically. In this episode we are concentrate on the UnMonestary Project.

The unMonastery is a place-based social innovation is aimed at addressing the interlinked needs of empty space, unemployment and depleting social services by embedding committed, skilled individuals within communities that could benefit from their presence. Developed in collaboration with EdgeRyders, UnMonestary It is an EU funded project that aims to challenge existing dependency chains and economic fictions and it had now developed into an international, community-run social enterprise.

In this Podcast Jo Barratt talks to Ben about the aims of the project, how an ancient monastic tradition is updated for current age and where the project is headed.

Can an App Stop a Bullet?

Our latest podcast explores how groups are using tech to help build peace around the world. It is framed around a recent discussion (link to http://talkingpeacefestival.org/event/peace-talks-can-an-app-stop-a-bullet/) at Google Campus London (link to site), organised by International Alert (link to their site), one of the largest peacebuilding organisations in the world with over thirty years experience.

We talk to some of the leading people in this complex but promising new field, who are bringing innovative approaches to problems old and new, through improved communications, data and networks.

Chaired by Helena Puig Larrauri, co-director of Build Up and an International Alert Trustee, the panel included peace builders and technologists with John Ridpath, Head of Product at Decoded, Mariéme Jamme, co-founder of Africa Gathering and Nikki Philline de la Rosa, Deputy Country Manager, International Alert Philippines as well as a specially recorded response from Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia.

We hear from them about how tech can be used for good and bad. For example, it can often help create hidden biases, usually towards a privileged few - but used in the right way it can also recreate gender roles and empower women in vulnerable and violent situations.

Technology is not inherently violent or peaceful – it can be used for bad or good, depending on who uses it. As some groups are exploiting new technologies for violent ends, we finish by looking at the future - how might we use the same or new tools for a better, more peaceful world?

City Lab – in its third year following on from past events in Los Angeles and New York – took place last month in London’s city centre. Attending the 3-day event were city mayors, urbanists, architects and innovators from across the globe.

Taking a step back from the second day’s headline speakers including current London mayor Boris Johnson and former New York City mayor, Mike Bloomberg, Jo Barratt spoke with Elana Berkowitz, a strategic advisor to startups and philanthropic investors. Elana speaks about what City Lab offers in terms of behind the scenes technology and diversity among the litany of important speakers, buzzwords and data, smart cities and innovation soft talk.

In the latest podcast for Tech for Good TV’s series on homelessness we’re talking to journalist, filmmaker and activist Daisy May Hudson. Daisy, fell into homelessness when her family lost their house and it has been a formative experience. Daisy speaks about her time struggling with the system, and how she became on of Britain’s hidden homeless. We also discuss her filmmaking practice and explore the ways she uses technology, and her existing networks to get her message out and campaign for awareness of homeless issues.

Has the world of commerce encroached irrevocably on our civic spaces, and how much do we care? How much is civic exclusion growing because of what participation demands or expects of us? Civic Radio is on the road, seeking out the people and organisations that are exploring these topics in different ways.

In this episode we meet Zara Rahman.

Civic Radio is part of the Civic Shop and is published by Tech for Good