So many changes! Josue and I are settling into our life in Toronto and I have to say that the city is treating us very well. So many amazing smart people working on incredibly innovative projects, with lots of ideas in the mix. The last article I posted talked about Toronto 2.0, and boy are we ever on the run. In the last half a year I have been blown away by the amount of cool internet applications from TTCUpdates to my new place of work as Community Evangelist with GetInvolved.ca. The thing that touches my heart is not just the technical talent embedded in this city, but the city's many artists and activists that are creatively forging ahead using the urban landscape as their canvas, from community mural projects to large festivals and conferences.

Not only is this city beaming with talent, it's beaming with opportunity. Collaboration is in the air, and when there is a will there is away. People are enthusiastic about supporting innovation be it social, creative, technical or otherwise. I really feel like anything is possible at this point, and that Toronto is rapidly challenging large American cities for supreme coolness. Will Toronto murals rival San Francisco's? Will our artists challenge NYC and LA as the top North American art market? Will we take over Silicon Valley with our startups, or should we leave that for Waterloo? Either way Toronto is kicking ass!

In a corner of his wife's office in the Centre for Social Innovation, in an old red pile on Spadina, Mark Surman is trying to find a spot quiet enough for a phone interview.

"Tonya, can I sit here or will I drive you guys nuts?" he asks above clattering keyboards.

"You'll drive us nuts, but we love you."

The space is a bit too open to afford much privacy. The centre is a buzzing hive of glass offices and wood beams with a movie-set quality to it; it's an open-concept home for dozens of social-minded groups. Tonya Surman, 39, is the centre's executive director. Her husband, also 39, is the new, Toronto-based executive director of the open-source Mozilla Foundation, the organization behind the popular Web browser Firefox.

"Open" is a hot item in Toronto these days. Mr. Surman is an evangelist for the cause of openness. It's not just free, open software like Firefox, built by a coalition of volunteers and paid staff. It's open ideas, open information, and now, open government. And activists like his wife are pushing these ideas into the realm of social innovation.

Nobody ever accused Toronto of being Silicon Valley North. But the ethos of open-ness has caught on, and it's starting to turn Toronto into a capital of a different kind.

The Surmans are in the midst of an emerging scene that's sprung from geek culture to embrace not only programmers and designers, but also wonks and activists and politicians, right up to the mayor's office. Social change and Internet ideals have gotten hitched, and the results are going to change the way Torontonians live.

If open culture is thriving in Toronto, it's in part because Toronto is a conspicuously connected place. It's not just its modest but vibrant Web-startup scene, or the fact that Google recently opened offices in Dundas Square, in the heart of downtown. The city is a perennial front runner in social-network rankings, most recently coming in eighth worldwide in a survey of Twitter users.

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This project is a working group for TakingITGlobal members who are interested in mobile communications. The aim of this working group is to share innovation in the field of youth mobile innovation, and to brainstorm projects and solutions for the TakingITGlobal platform. By sharing examples of mobile innovation, we can examine ways of building mobile tools that are compatible with the existing mobile platform. As well this group aims to tap the larger community's mobile practices by developing a Global Mobile Survey. By sharing our practices we can start to brainstorm questions, and a survey will be distributed to the over 200,000 TakingITGlobal members. From the data gathered an environmental scan will be written up to document mobile trends among TIG users and create a list of recommendations for future applications and services. Click here to get involved!

American cultural imperialism has a large effect on how youth construct their identities, creating hegemonic ideals of beauty, and most importantly defining cool for an entire generation of youth. Yet culture is not a one-way transaction, as much of global youth pop culture has been appropriated into the mainstream media, creating alternative reverberations. Gramscian notions of hegemony come into play, as we can observe how global corporations extract consent and incorporate dissent from global youth culture. Concepts around hybridity and mestizaje help to shape how we perceive these shifts, as marginalized cultures borrow from the status quo, and vice versa. Youth are targeted more than ever by the global cultural industry through television and advertisements. The culture of consumerism is not only affecting youth in developed nations. The Haatso Youth Club in Ghana articulates this phenomenon in their report to the International Youth Parliament (Heaven & Tubridy 2003):

Globalization has brought us a life surrounded by mass-production and mass-consumption. We are driven under enormous pressure, into a very consumerist lifestyle, stimulated by transnational corporations as well as commercial mass media. In contrast, we witness at the same time the stark poverty widespread in our region and the world. We see our own cultures giving way to a consumerist monoculture. There is an urgent need to revisit, appreciate and participate in the evolution of our own cultures, which are community-orientated, non-materialistic, eco-friendly and holistic in their worldview. We need to develop our capacity of cultural perceptibility towards creative interaction between cultures.

The art of the remix has infused itself into youth culture across the globe, as genres such as Hip Hop find themselves in Australia, and Punk Rock takes popularity in Japan. Hybrid artists such as M.I.A., and Up, Bustle, and Out have blended genres of music, sampling artists across the world to create a fusion of global sounds. New genres emerge out of the ashes of the old, as Reggaeton takes the stage, combining Reggae with Hip Hop, with a distinct Latino flavour. Television shows like Heroes take place across the world, and across time. The movie Babel marks a theme for this generation, transcultural narratives which weave through our lives, showing the invisible connections which we all share.

As cultures transfer, they take on different meanings, and risk hybridizing in ways which can be offensive and detrimental to indigenous cultures (Loomba 2005). bell hooks cautions us that (1992:21), "Within commodity culture, ethnicity becomes spice, seasoning that can liven up the dull dish that is mainstream white culture." When is hybridity appropriate, and when does it verge on cultural theft? Ella Shohat reminds us (1993:100) that in order to understand these concepts, we need to "discriminate between the diverse modalities of hybridity, for example forced assimilation, internalized self-rejection, political co-optation, social conformism, cultural mimicry, and creative transcendence." With these tensions in mind it is important to incorporate media education into the learning canon, preparing the youth of today for the challenges and opportunities of new media technology.

Lately I've been writing a lot about youth, new media, and social change. As a youth who uses technology in all of my work, I'm constantly on my laptop, or toying about with my mobile phone on the subway. I love it, live it, write it, research it-- yet yesterday when I was trying to type out my final Plan of Study for my Masters I froze up. This weird bizarre tingly feeling in my hands... no it's my wrist... fingers.... everywhere? It's been happening more and more lately. After over 20 years of exposure to computers, my hands are starting to give on me. Last year it was my finger joints, and now it's more of this radiated tingling that makes me paranoid as I try to bang off essays on how technology is creating a whirl of social change.

As I go into full thesis production mode this discovery is worrying. Google informs me that I'm not alone in my strange tingling. Others have experienced similar sensations. The conundrum is that I never felt like this before I had my iPhone. Somehow having a computer processor nested so close to my palm makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. As well, right after I announced my thesis project, Toronto Public Health decided to publish a study stating that teens should limit their talk time to 10 minutes a day.

So in diving into this world of mobile communications one comes across barriers. Now that the rose colours have started to fade, I find myself at a crossroads. First off, am I addicted to technology so much that I can't reduce my usage to improve my heath? And secondly, in covering the potential of mobile communications among youth activists am I in turn endorsing it as a solution for youth engagement? I think that as academics it is important that we explore all sides of the coin before jumping to conclusions but I think that it would be dishonest not to mention the health risks of such over exposure. The question is, is there any going back?

It’s been about a month or more since I’ve blogged, a month or more since I left Toronto, and a month or more that I’ve been traveling across Central America. Technically there is plenty to blog about, but I’ve found myself at a loss for time. In between planning travel logistics, attending the International AIDS Conference, and finishing off work contracts and school essays I’ve found myself short on blog time. As I set off for the International AIDS Conference last month with my iPhone clutched in hand I vowed to be a model global citizen and blog my experiences to the world. Now over a month later I can look back and acknowledge my idealism. The realities of being an AIDS Conference blogger are tough, combined with the forces of poor internet access, overwhelmed networks, and short bursts of free time that are arguably better spent getting to know the finer parts of Mexico City-- Tepito markets, luchador lockdowns, Volkswagen jitter bugs, rumbling metros with fresh literary treats, magnificent murals, and cafes con leche at the legendary Café Tacuba. Mexico City is one of my favorite cities in the world and it did not disappoint. I spent the majority of the time with my conference crew, some of whom had a better time finding time to blog, like Kate J from Unpacking Development. The conference was an incredible experience, and I attended a number of amazing workshops that are worth mentioning. Focusing my time mostly on youth and harm reduction streamed activities, I learned about the struggles of convincing governments that needle exchanges actually work, the tribulations of providing services for the youth who are most at-risk, convincing youth that harm reduction and peer-education are cool, and the various ways that NGOs are working to change that. I met some pretty amazing dedicated activists and researchers, and it was great to connect with people from Toronto who are usually too busy to hang out.

From the conference Josue and I ran off to some tranquility to try and pound through some work, mainly final subtitling videos and updating the VIVA! Project’s website. Drupal has been a journey in itself (as you can see yourself as an unlogged in anonymous user), but we are finally getting somewhere and the site should be running fine by the end of the month. Between traveling south and finishing off work somewhere on the coast of Oaxaca I get this email from Helena telling us about a conference coming up in September for Ignite the Americas. I had gone to the Ignite Youth Arts Forum last year and it blew me away. I immediately forwarded it to Josue and now weeks later he received his acceptance. Bouncing from one conference onto another, it’s hard to find time to blog, but now we’re finally back in Costa Rica for a week enjoying our home here for the last stretch. After passing through so many countries on our bus journey from Mexico to Costa Rica, I can honestly say that this feels like home and is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. Yet I have to say goodbye for now, as grad school is calling. Better get back to those papers, including finishing up my work on new media on mobilerevolutions.org.

Growing up digital has heavily influenced the course of my life. The first computer I used was an old Macintosh at age four years old. From then on it was love. When I was eight I taught myself Photoshop, and was always playing with programs like Kidpix. As a teenager I kept a website, found free hosting and got donated a domain name by a fan and made awesome mashup art. It was in the days before blogging, and things like message boards and IRC were hot.

Right from the start of my digital education, I have been self-taught. In the spirit of the open knowledge commons that are embedded in the internet's founding principles, anything that I didn't know how to do on a computer I could find a tutorial on. Growing up with the internet has taught me to conceptualize knowledge in a different way. I see knowledge as networked, with every issue connected. I also see solutions in terms of networks, looking at how we can work together and share knowledge to empower our communities.

Looks like the iPhone hasn't come far. Faster internet, more contracts, a few new applications that don't really rival the ones that us Jailbreakers already have. Many of the applications did blow me away I have to admit. The blogging app was very impressive, as well as Loopt, an app that networks friends through a mapping system, and allows users to exchange Twitter-like messages based on their locations. Associated Press has done some cool stuff as well, with mobile reporting systems and locative reporting. Music software Band was pretty cool, but the lowest of low, was Sega's Super Monkey Ball.

Yet what I really wanted from iPhone wasn't a whole bunch of apps created by multimillion dollar start-ups and corporations, but more innovative apps that push the boundaries and serve as tools for social justice. What I really wanted from Apple were things as simple as having a rape whistle app. With one push of a button, your phone emits a loud scary noise, and instantly sends text alerts with your location to your emergency numbers, including the police.

Just one idea out of many of social applications to create more dynamic software. I'm sure these types of applications will emerge out of the woodwork the longer the SDK program is running. I can't wait until all the beta apps I've grown to love have developed into mature adults, yet I hope that the beta innovation of the web 2.0 era will prosper, creating new cutting edge innovation.

What Apple needs to remember is the root of the philosophy of the internet, creating an environment where the individual is not controlled by the network with open application development for unlimited innovation.

So, I must admit, this is the second post I've made from a mobile device. It is definately a challenging and doable feet. More and more frequently activists and NGOs are harnessing these technological devices in order to coordinate everything from large scale mobilizations to healthcare revolutions. Mobile phones are now even being equiped with polution detectors with allow bike curriors to collect and share data. 2008 is the year of the cellphone, as there is now one mobile device for every two human beings. Billions of humans have adapted this telecommunications technology in less than 30 years.

Recently I have been diving into the work of Nokia's Open Studios research team. Jan Chipcase and Younghee Jung are masters of global ethnographic research, visiting urban slums to capture glimpses of how technology affects the lives of everyday people. Just as fishermen are using cellphones in African villages to negotiate better prices, young activists are starting to use these technologies for social change. Through capturing and exposing human rights abuses, organizing spontanious smartmobs, youth are using mobile devices as a form of what academic/yborg Steve Mann calls sousvielsnce. While survielance signifies watching from below, sousvielence signifies from below, i.e., the grassroots.

This phenomenon is fairly recent as the field is ripe for study. I am looking for other interested parties that will be interested in collaborating on research. It would be very interesting to do a study with data from TIG users on how we integrate mobile technology into our organizing.

David Gray from XPLANE blows our minds once again. With a world now approaching more cell phone users than literate people, it is vitally important that we begin to explore new ways of communicating in the digital age. Interesting fuel for your mind!

I just got back to Costa Rica this week and I finally feel like I am home. A strange feeling to feel when I am supposed to be leaving in a months time. Josue and I have just moved into a huge house with a beautiful garden full of fruit trees. We have noni, guayabana, manderinas, and mangos all in our backyard. We live in a quiet neighbourhood just a 10 minute walk from downtown Turrialba. The town itself is tiny but has plenty to do, including a range of cute bars, restaurants, and cafe's equipped with wifi. All around us are mountains, rivers, and farm fields.

I must admit I don't want to leave. My instincts tell me to settle down, find a cool job, and finish my masters desde aquí. It is possible, but I feel like I'd be letting people down if I stay. I think the most important thing is to concentrate on the work ahead and do an awesome job. I still have to finish working on a few websites and I have a pile of translation and subtitling to do.

Other amazing news is that before we left Panama I invested in an iPhone! I have been waiting all year for this, and it was totally worth the wait. Jailbroken, it is the most magical piece of technology I have used yet and I believe that it symbolizes a revolution in mobile communications. The digital divide may not be bridged with one laptop per child, it is already being formed by a huge network of cellphone users. The trick is to develop applications compatible with existing technology.

We went to the Kuna Yala region right before leaving panama and our guides got so excited when we mentioned that we were web designers. They told us that they had just got Internet access and they wanted to figure out how to download free video games and music. Yet both Josue and I were short for advice when they explained that they wanted to do it on their cellphone! They also told us that the local school also wanted Internet, but on an island that is short on power and telephone lines this could only be possible through satellite (preferably solar powered). Any social entrepreneurs interested in a digital divide startup, there is definitely a need for solar powered satellites and the development of better cellphone applications!

Social Networks have moved from being a buz word, to an essential element of global pop culture. From India to Brazil, youth, artists, musicians, businesses, politicians, and not for profits are embracing these new technologies in order to spread their influence and reach new audiences. Yet as Social Networking becomes more popular, the array of choices are starting to flood the average user. What do you pick with so many new options popping up everyday? Obviously, you pick what your friends are using, or in the case of NGOs, what your supporters and clients are embracing.

For Canadian NGOs, it is pretty hard to ignore the resounding influence of Facebook. International NGOs such as Greenpeace and Amnesty International have embraced multi-media sites like YouTube, and of course we cannot fail to mention the powerful networking platform TakingITGlobal has provided for youth leaders around the world. Yet there are some agencies that are going the extra mile by producing their own networks, such as the Ontario Ministry of the Environment's site obviously.ca. Youth Action Network has tried to embrace all of these technologies, by having both a Facebook, MySpace, Flickr and TakingITGlobal profiles. Some sites are more popularly used than others, as you can see that our MySpace account is rarely used as it has gone way out of style with Canadian youth. With all these subscriptions, our most popular network is through our website itself and our individual members. Our website gets over 50,000 hits a day, and our toolkits and web publications are some of our most popular downloads. Really it is not the amount of networks you are signed up to, but the quality of content and programming that your NGO provides which makes it the most succesful!

Yet as new sites are popping up everyday, how does a NGO determine where to put its resources into? Is it worth it to construct your own site? I think that it is worth it to invest in independent social networking infastructure in order to provide a focused space for conversation, networking, and idea generation. In big sites like Facebook and MySpace, your project can get lost in all the chatter. MyBLOC.net does a great job in this regard, as they have carved out a specific space for youth activists of colour to engage and network on the issues that concern them. Yet it is also important to have a networked presence in these sites as well if that is what your target audience is engaged in daily. The trick is to find a ballance, and to also find ways to integrate existing online platforms.

As I am finishing up my semester it means that I have to turn into an essay machine, something that I have been avoiding as of late. I have been up to my ears (as they say in Spanish) with work on CEAAL's new website.

Finally I have a chance to breath a bit, and go back to the theory. Looking through the reading lists I was assigned for this term I have found a huge amount of enticing information online. Comunicación Popular is Spanish for what we call Grassroots Communications in English. Now days it is better know as Citizen Media, an updated term that reflects both past and new media technologies which alow everyday people to publish and distribute media independently.

Popular Communication is the process of integrating the voice of the people into communications media, thus finding ways to make media production more independent and accessible to the general population. Some traditional examples of this are Community Theatre, Radio, Television, and Newspapers. These types of media have all been used as tools for democratic participation of civil society, and have been used in a variety of ways depending on the populations. Another example of popular communications in a Latin American context is Diablos Rojos, public buses which are painted with a number of images and slogans which reflect the popular culture of their owners. Popular communications always reflects the culture of those engaged in it.

Some more contemporary examples of popular communications are media like eZines, Blogs, SMS Networks, Participatory Video and Online Communities. New technologies such as the Internet and mobile phones are changing how we conceptualize hegemonic media landscapes.