The EU’s communication strategy has been under the spotlight since the French and Dutch “No”s to the EU’s Constitutional Treaty. The new ‘Reform Treaty‘ in the offing and the European Parliament elections scheduled for Spring 2009 will be major political debates.

Un intéressant billet de Michael Malherbe à lire sur 

http://www.lacomeuropeenne.fr/2011/11/16/policy-politics-la-politisation-de-la-communication-europeenne-en-question/

Next week, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies will change the way they interact with consumers on Facebook. These changes are occurring, not based on new communications strategies or industry regulations, but because Facebook itself is changing its policies. On May 17, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device company Facebook users were notified via email of [...]

This Semester, I began a new experiment in the use of digital technology in the classroom. At the beginning of this class, I decided that students would open a Google Docs account. I stressed the point that if they already had a Gmail account they might consider having a separate account just for class. Why use Google, and not what the university provides. First, I am an adjunct and the systems such as blackboard can be intimidating for students young and old. That and it is not always easy to remotely connect. Secondly, as an adjunct, I felt that it was a way to have a semi-closed community for class. In this manner, an adjunct could share with the class power point presentations, and other assignments without the worry of cross pollution in other classes. Finally,it provided a way for students to present their materials in a timely manner and not worry about losing their assignments.

One of the main reasons I chose to use Google was its simplicity. Google easily integrates all the services for the student and the instructor. At the beginning of the class, I stated that students must have a Google account, and that all materials submitted in writing in class must also be uploaded and shared with me via Google docs. This allows the instructor to offer criticism on writing assignments in a timely manner and keeps the privacy of both student and instructor intact. For some students who may issues with technology, it is important to put students at ease right from the beginning to reassure students that they will be submitting their papers both online and in class. As time progresses, this may not need to be the case. One must also emphasize that students need to write their papers and save them as either a word doc or a pdf file to allow the up load in Google to convert their papers to the Google formant without changing any of the format.

Secondly, as the instructor, one has the control of access to documents that you create. Hence, students need to understand that if they want feed back they will need to share their documents with you and allow the instructor editing privileges. In addition, group assignments can be presented and shared among students. For the history class, students had to write several questions for discussion sessions to be given over specific chapters of the book. Hence, I created a Google Doc that would have the questions written upon and then shared that document with the designated students. This offered the ease of students writing their questions as they read the chapters in question and eliminated the need for a turning in a separate piece of paper. At grading time it was also easier to make sure that students had followed through with assignments. It also allowed students to coordinate their material for their designated discussion. This allows students more time to develop questions and less time they feel they need to meet with other group members. It also allows instructors to gage the amount of work each group member places on the project at hand.

in the end, the instructor has the ease of control under the Google system. It had a friendlier interface for students and appears less complicated that institutional systems. Instructors can share their PowerPoint presentations with students both in class and after. in this manner, students can review the presented materials in class along with their notes. Also, if a student misses a class, the power points can help students catch up quicker. At the same time, instructors can give feedback on materials such as course papers and exams. Indeed, one can share comments with students on their paper and keep those comments private between instructor and student. And, if you have very bad writing, it allows students to read your comments, whether they want to or not.

in the end, I find that the Google system had great potential for class. I highly recommend its use and the use of the new Google plus part of the account. This will have some use in classes the require social interaction and research on current events and historical materials. This is the next test. Nevertheless, the system as it stands presents a good method to provide good material to students, and allow students the ease of turning in assignments with little worry that they will get lost. At the same time, it provides students a good way to interact between student and instructor. Students can chat with the professor online, get feedback on written assignments and offer easier access to the instructor. For adjuncts, I think this is a great way to interact with students and put them at ease with technology.

President of DIGITALEUROPE, Dr Erkki Ormala, writes about the European Digital Agenda for neurope: Europe is at a cross road. In the climate of a continuing fiscal crisis most of our energy is focused on short-term fiscal consolidation. This issue must be resolved in an appropriate way to restore macroeconomic stability which ultimately is a precondition for growth and prosperity in Europe. At the same time a digital revolution is sweeping societies and businesses across the globe. Countries which have been quick to respond are enjoying the benefits and making their way to the top of world rankings. Emerging economies are a case in point; their impressive positive growth figures can be attributed to their willingness to embrace this digitally driven revolution. Europe too has a window of opportunity to capitalise on the growth potential embedded in this digitally driven revolution. Investing in innovation is a prerequisite for harnessing Europe’s growth potential and ensuring macro-economic stability. DIGITALEUROPE applauds the European Commission for its foresight in responding to this need through flaship initiatives like the Innovation Union, a highlight of the Barroso II Presidency. The Innovation Union acknowledges that the creation of a competitive innovative ICT industry sector is a corner stone of job creation and long term economic dividends in the EU. DIGITALEUROPE shares the European Commission’s view that there is a need to focus EU innovation on the Grand Challenges, but we are also conscious that the greatest challenge of all in Europe is to restore economic growth. Please follow this link to read the full article about the European Digital Agenda.

As a regular user of internet services as well as a content provider, I was very interested in last week’s e-G8 summit. The idea of bringing together the chieftains of the internet industry and the world’s most powerful political leaders seems a step in the right direction. The internet as a platform and applications such as social media have an awesome power to help people network,educate themselves and even promote major political change, as the unfolding events in the Arab world illustrate. As always, however, along with great power comes great responsibility. If during the ’90′s hopes of a new frontier in business development via e-commerce have somewhat evaporated in the wake of the dot com bubble, academic research, political awareness or activism and some areas of the mass-media have benefited enormously from the IT revolution. This is not to say that all is well in the virtual world. The relative absence of adequate regulation protecting personal data and the confidentiality of communications / business transactions is sapping users’ confidence. The fact that executives of internet companies resist the introduction of minimal norms and regulations governing further development of services proves that neoliberalism is still affecting the mentality of many – albeit not all – in the business community. J.A. Schumpeter, the noted Harvard economist otherwise known for his professional admiration of American corporate achievements, was nevertheless in favour of the introduction of laws and regulations governing innovations and business development in general. To make his point, he used an analogy from the car industry, demonstrating that automobiles have been able to reach ever-increasing speeds only after being equipped with adequate brakes and safety features, which had to be developed first. As matters now stand, however, intellectual property rights are trampled upon by “content farms”, children are exposed to pornography, and governments, from the US on down, can unlawfully obtain data from personal emails and have access to confidential files on a regular basis. As a consequence, the cyber world looks more as if it were governed by the laws of the jungle than those of civilised states protecting their citizens from harm or legal abuse. One issue that has not been discussed so far at e-G8 is the hegemonic position achieved by the United States due to its status as the global communications hub. In the long run this has to be addressed in a way that could relieve the national security concerns of European, as well as Asian governments. As the recent financial crisis has shown, America’s position as the centre of both global finance and global communications by no means guarantees the integrity and smooth functioning of the two systems, on the contrary. The EU’s political leadership also has to investigate why the invention of the internet by local specialists was not followed by a development of applications for it. Lack of technological savvy is surely not one of the reasons. It’s a sad spectacle to witness the fact that even the most mundane applications such as operating systems for PC’s and leading edge word processors, not to mention search engines or efficient email services come from the United States. Instead of endlessly dragging Microsoft through the European courts, it might prove a better idea to provide financial and tax incentives to interested European e-entrepreneurs or existing IT corporations to develop home-grown IT products for the 500-million strong European market. From an international relations perspective, “the real problems of the post-cold war world would not be challenges for hegemony, but the new challenges of transnational interdependence” (Joseph Nye Jr, The Changing Nature of World Power). The political leaders of the G8 proved that they are aware of this fact. It is now up to the executives of the internet industry to grasp it and live up to their many responsibilities. (sources: Dow Jones newswires, WSJ, France24)

Over the last months the social conditions in the Arab world and in Europe have forced people to go out on the streets to express their frustration, their indignation, to all things that deprive them of a better life. Within this period we have witnessed the birth of cyber-activism; activism that occurs on the internet, on the cyberspace, utilizing the means of modern technology, those being social networks (twitter, facebook, etc.) and blogs (blogger, wordpress, etc.).

We have thus been witnesses of demonstrations and mobilization of peoples that have been initiated by the people using these means. The massive gatherings of frustrated people in Tahrir Square in Egypt, in the Puerta del Sol in Spain and in Syntagma Square in Greece are only a few of the examples. The people joining these demonstrations have different backgrounds, both ideological and social, implying that their understanding of the events is probably different from others sitting next to them. Nevertheless these people, with their diverse world-views agree on the basis of changing the political status quo, that denies them of a respectable standard of living.

I have been one of those people who has supported these initiatives, as I see in them the power to make people active and aware of the forces that affect their lives. Furthermore, as part of an observational study I find in these cyber-revolutions (they are called revolutions – whether they actually are is another issue) the power the sentiment of uncertainty has. But supporting these movements should not imply that I also believe that they can actually change the world significantly as real revolutions do. I just support them because they are better than nothing.

The reason why I am writing this article is to cynically point out the flaws of these cyber-uprisings and why they will not change anything in the long run and most of all to send a message to my friends (the cyber-revolutionaries) who in the delirium of getting out of their bed think that they will change the world. Being a revolutionary is a way of living and not a spontaneous reaction, that has no clear-cut objective, no ideology and no well-defined strategy.


So what did the Egyptians achieve? They still have a military regime that has “promised” transition to democracy. Let us assume that this transition will indeed occur (which is not sure). But towards what sort of democracy? Who will control the natural resources of Egypt, how will power be distributed and to which classes of people? What sort of authority will the various institutions have? And what kind of traps will exist in the new constitution? Have the cyber-revolutionaries in Egypt thought of such questions, or do they really think that by walking on the streets you gain your freedom? I do not know the answers but I only put these questions down to make you aware of the severity of a struggle. It is not like going for a promenade and having fun.

My friends in Spain… I know it is still early to judge the outcome of their actions. But again I need to ask if they have worked out the ways through which their demands will be materialized? And after all have they worked out in detail those demands? Do they really know in full what they are asking for? Or do they just go on the streets because of despair? Because I have to say that if despair, fear and frustration prevail over reason, clear-mind and knowledge, then nothing is achieved, as those who have power will find the ways to infiltrate the gatherings and disintegrate the demonstrations.

As for my fellow Greeks. I am empathic towards your situation, I am no better-off after all, but I am afraid that you are losing your time. Now that the dust of enthusiasm has gone down, I see that you have no idea what you are asking for. Or do you? Do you have any proposals against the interests of the banks? Do you have any proposals regarding the European Safety Mechanism and the ways in which Greece can escape from the economic crisis? Do you know anything about the euro and the drachma and which one to choose in the transitory period? Do you ask from the Christian Orthodox Church to give up its immense property (and its greed) to save the country? Do you know how to change your world? What are you expecting mates by demonstrating in the way you are? That those politicians who brought the country into this miserable conditions will suddenly be “enlighted” by your actions and change their policies? If you believe in such things and if you do not know how to change Greece then you are fooled to believe that your gatherings will have any real effect and you are doomed to failure.

I am not writing all this to oppose you dear cyber-revolutionaries. To the contrary, I am writing this to make you aware of the importance of what you are doing and to make you understand that you must do it correctly if you are to succeed and see real change in your lives and in your countries.

I am writing this because I have seen that you are “indignant” (that is the word they use) and that is why you revolt. Sentiments have no place in struggles my friends. Revolutions are the end-product of deep intellect and of solid, clear-cut demands.

Keep that in mind the next time you go out for your afternoon walk in the city square where your fellow cyber-revolutionaries are gathered.

Are cyber-revolutions real Revolutions? The answer of a Cynic | Protesilaos Stavrou.

Le déve­­lop­­pe­­ment dura­­ble est le plus grand enjeu de civi­­li­­sa­­tion de notre siè­­cle et pos­­sède en France un fon­­de­­ment de valeur cons­­ti­­tu­­tion­­nelle pour la défi­­ni­­tion et la mise en œuvre des poli­­ti­­ques publi­­ques. Sa prise en compte est désor­­mais une néces­­sité qui s’appli­­que à tou­­tes les déci­­sions.

Le sport n’échappe pas à cette réflexion et se doit de prendre en compte ces considérations. Tel est l’enjeu de la Stratégie Nationale de Développement Durable du Sport 2010-2013 présentée par Chantal Jouanno mardi 3 mai 2011.

Les acteurs du sport se sont enga­­gés col­­lec­­ti­­ve­­ment depuis plus d’un an pour élaborer une stra­­té­­gie pour un déve­­lop­­pe­­ment dura­­ble du sport. Les Assises du sport et du déve­­lop­­pe­­ment dura­­ble orga­­ni­­sées par le Ministère des sports, en asso­­cia­­tion avec le CNOSF, ont per­­mis de mobi­­li­­ser 2 000 per­­son­­nes issues des ser­­vi­­ces de l’Etat, du monde spor­­tif, des col­­lec­­ti­­vi­­tés loca­­les, des milieux économiques et envi­­ron­­ne­­men­­taux. De ces tra­­vaux résul­­tent 234 leviers d’actions et 12 prio­­ri­­tés qui enga­­gent le sport dans une démar­­che ambi­­tieuse de déve­­lop­­pe­­ment dura­­ble, autour de 9 défis.

Plus d’informations sur la Stratégie Nationale de Développement Durable du Sport

 

Dear President Barroso and Presidents of European institutions, Today 18 April 2011 marks the sixtieth Anniversary of the foundation of European Democracy. It is also the Birthday of the Commission although the Commission together with the other institutions that were also created that day refuse to acknowledge it. Not even a press release was published.

This is the sort of post which could get me into trouble for a number of reasons. Particularly as I’m going to comment on the celebrations to be enjoyed next month at the Festival of Europe, where one can do everything from “seeing the political groups at work inside the European Parliament” to “experiencing a festival of Europe´s regions and cities at the Committee of the Regions”.

Should European fighter aircraft be bombing and strafing tanks and killing soldiers across the EU’s southern borders? Is there a better way, a way to peace? Can Europe’s greatest success be applied across North Africa? The greatest event in recent European history — perhaps in all of European history over the last recorded two thousand years — is that Europe is now at peace.

“What are the prospects for participatory democracy in Europe?” This was the question discussed by the European Economic and Social Committee last week.

Almost halftime of the ‘Robert Bosch Journalism Fellowship Program’ for me – a good time to review and let you know how the work as a journalist in the area of Place Schumann and Place Luxembourg, in the triangle of the Commission, the Council and the Parliament looks like.

A few weeks before the Hungarian media storm broke late last year, the BloggingPortal editors were contacted by the (then upcoming) Hungarian Presidency team, seeking ideas for how they could cooperate with the Euroblogosphere. Being a loosely-at-best organised gang of volunteers, it took us a while to respond.

The new Hungarian constitution will be ready on 15 March and will be adopted a month later, its main author MEP József Szájer, who wrote part of it on his iPad, told me in an interview.

A while ago I posted (Not losing sight of the basics) the idea that EUROPA could suffer if the EU Institution’s limited online communications resources were refocused on social media. While social media offers the EU a great deal, this could be a serious problem, particularly given EUROPA’s importance to any EU social media strategy.