Francomenz

If you’re going to blog, why not blog for a good cause?  That’s exactly the thinking behind this initiative and why I’m writing this post about the wonderful and important work that Global Voices Advocacy does.  An offshoot of the amazing Global Voices Online, which basically is the go-to aggregator for blogs all over the world that may not otherwise be heard, the site Advocacy arm focuses much-needed attention on building “a global anti-censorship network of bloggers and online activists throughout the developing world that is dedicated to protecting freedom of expression and free access to information online.”

And in a world – particularly parts of the developing world – where processes that ensure freedom of speech are either non-existent or people are intimidated into keeping silent, this is important work.  Because the world belongs to its people.  Not governments.  Not corporate entities.  Not authorities.  People.  Including those – no, especially those – who may not otherwise have had a voice.

Which is why I’m voting for Global Voices Advocacy in this innovative campaign.  This blog post is part of Zemanta’s “<a href=”http://www.zemanta.com/bloggingforacause/”>Blogging For a Cause</a>” campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.

If you have a cause you care about, or wish to join me in supporting Global Voices Advocacy, and you blog (or tweet), it might be worth your while writing a post about it too!  Remember – you can make a difference!

Global Voices has two key arms that are doing magnificent work. Rising Voices, which handles citizen media outreach, is now accepting project proposals for microgrant funding of up to US $5,000 for worthwhile media outreach projects.

The idea is to fund projects that teach citizen media techniques to communities that need to be heard, but do not have the tools at their disposal to learn about blogging, video-blogging, and podcasting on their own. If you have an idea for such a project, start working on your proposal now – the deadline for submission is January 18th.

Previous projects have accomplished wonderful results – check out a few of them here, including the awesome FOKO from Madagascar, Colombia’s HiperBarrio, Nari Jibon, Repacted from Kenya, Voces Bolivianas and an outstanding initiative from Jamaica called Prison Diaries.

Rising Voices is changing the world – and the blogosphere – one project at a time. The next project could be yours, so get busy! Apply here and apply now!

In a world riddled by division and intolerance, there is an ever-evolving, shining example of how we can actually live. Global Voices. Started as a simple blog in 2005, GV is now a global family of more than 150 active volunteer authors and translators and more than 20 part-time regional and language editors. GV stories can now be read in a whopping 21 different languages and the organisation also does sensational work in advocacy and in extending the reach of citizen media to communities that most desperately need to be heard.

I became part of the Global Voices online community in 2006 and still never cease to amazed by the stories we cover, the voices we amplify and the bridges we help to build, simply by being committed to the concept of constructive discussion.

For all of us who have benefited from GV’s clear and reliable coverage in order to better understand global issues, it’s our turn to help. To keep the conversation going, Global Voices needs donations and they’ve made contributing very easy – just follow the instructions here.

I do hope that you’ll donate to this worthy and important cause. I know I will.

So thanks to a techie pal who will remain unnamed so as to avoid any additional pleas for tech support from all and sundry, the very cool Feed Blitz feature has now been successfully installed on my blog (directly under the calendar on the right of the screen).

Just enter your email address then click on the Subscribe Me button below it and you will get an email alert every time there’s a new post on my blog. It saves you from having to remember to check in and me from having to send mass emails to the “regulars”. All in all, a great time saver!

So there I am, surfing the net today via my new wireless router and Air Port Extreme Card (way cool and way faster!) and I happen to spot my blog listed under “Blogs We Like” on Caribbean Free Radio’s website.

Which is where the shame part comes in. This blog, which “they like”, has not been updated in close to a month! Sure, I was down with the flu, I have house guests, and yes, I’m finishing the end of my term as President of the Association of Female Executives of T&T, but my packed schedule is no excuse to slack off that much – especially since the producer of CFR seems just as busy, yet still manages to be prolific. (Check out the latest podcasts from St. Barts and downtown Port of Spain post-fire).

And in the meantime, I’ll try to be more productive…

To escape the media blitz surrounding the death of Pope John Paul II earlier today, I tuned in to a wonderfully creative and always entertaining podcast (possibly the first to come out of the Caribbean), called Caribbean Free Radio. It’s a great destination for lovers of all things Caribbean – from accra to zouk and everything in between! I recommend you take a listen. If “you likey” (in the words of Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw), take a few seconds to vote for it at Podcast Alley.