Category: civil society

civil society, ethics, management & leadership, privacy

Bad management, ethics and philosophy: what can we learn from News of the World?

The demise of a 168 year old (and reportedly profitable) newspaper in Britain called the News of the World (NoTW) gives us some valuable insights on a number of levels. Every day over the past few weeks we have been gobsmacked by the revelations about NoTW and assume nothing could be more shocking. But then there’s a new revelation about the way NoTW practised its business … Continue reading Bad management, ethics and philosophy: what can we learn from News of the World?

Kate Carruthers1 Comment
civil society, social innovation

Some thoughts on making change: it starts with us #gathering11

Since I’m in transit to New York to speak at the 140Conference about Twitter, Community & Social Innovation David Hood had planned for me to join in Gathering11 from a distance using the power of technology. However, due to what can only identified as #EPICFAIL on the technology front from both sides of the Pacific, that didn’t happen. In any case here are some of … Continue reading Some thoughts on making change: it starts with us #gathering11

Kate Carruthers2 Comments
civil society

Changing the world, ideas, action, rethinking reality & the rabble-rousing ways of @umairh

One of the people who is vocal in his calls for change in how we do things in our westernised societies is Umair Haque. His work is worth reading whether or not you agree with his perspective. Some of his recent provocative tweets include: Yes, really. You have the power to change the world. Consumerism, mass-made junk, greed? The fantasies you’re sold–so you never use … Continue reading Changing the world, ideas, action, rethinking reality & the rabble-rousing ways of @umairh

Kate Carruthers
civil society, privacy

Openness & transparency in Government – Microsoft Politics & Technology Forum #poltech

Just finished a dinner in Canberra with @IainDale @msgovtech @craigthomler @purserj @piawaugh @stilgherrian @peterjblack @nickhodgemsft @markpesce @gcarraro before the forum tomorrow. We had some really lively discussions about politics, society, transparency and government. With this group one must really fight to get a word in edgewise! But Iain Dale, who is presenting the keynote tomorrow, managed to hold his own with aplomb. Iain is an … Continue reading Openness & transparency in Government – Microsoft Politics & Technology Forum #poltech

Kate Carruthers1 Comment
civil society, social computing & social media

Social capital, karma and getting things done

I’ve never been a big fan of David Allen’s Getting Things Done® method – all that sorting and categorising of endless lists bores me. But I am a huge fan of getting stuff done. Many years ago after yet another time management course at work I realised that what helped me to get things done was to have a very short list of to-dos everyday. … Continue reading Social capital, karma and getting things done

Kate Carruthers
civil society

Protecting babies: whooping cough vaccination boosters for adults

Many people who were vaccinated as children do not realise that by the time we’re all grown up some of our protection no longer works. In the case of whooping cough, or pertussis, the protection can wane in as little as six to ten years. This means that many of us are wandering around at risk of catching whooping cough ourselves or asympomatically transmitting it … Continue reading Protecting babies: whooping cough vaccination boosters for adults

Kate Carruthers2 Comments
civil society

Findings of the UWS Challenging Racism research

Starting in 1998, a UWS research project has been in progress on the geography of racism in NSW. Key findings of the Racism project include: While racism is quite prevalent in Australian society its occurrences differ from place to place. These variations have been largely overlooked by anti-racism campaigns in Australia. Most Australians recognise that racism is a problem in society. Racist attitudes are positively … Continue reading Findings of the UWS Challenging Racism research

Kate Carruthers
civil society

Truth, transparency and consequences

Truth is said to be a double edged sword. Yet truth is only a problem if one is trying to hide something. The Wikileaks saga shows how difficult is has become to keep secrets in our hyperconnected world. In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. – George Orwell Amusingly I noted a newspaper article announcing that governments around Australia … Continue reading Truth, transparency and consequences

Kate Carruthers4 Comments
civil society

Democracy in action, civil society and political change

Yesterday in New South Wales there was a major shift in the state’s political landscape. We saw a significant shift in voting with enormous swings against the ALP across the state and especially in traditional heartland seats. The Liberals won seats in which they’d never imagined a serious contest. As election guru Antony Green noted: “It’s very hard to believe it when you see a … Continue reading Democracy in action, civil society and political change

Kate Carruthers
civil society, social computing & social media

#Digicitz 9: Politics & Digital Activism in the Social Age

Tomorrow night I’ll be hosting a panel for Digital Citizens on Politics and Digital Activism in the Social Age. The panel has a fascinating and diverse group of people: Penny Sharpe – Labor Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Roads John Bergin – Director of Digital News for Sky News Steve Hopkins – from Ai-Media Thomas Tudehope – Director of Engagement and Strategy for SR7 These … Continue reading #Digicitz 9: Politics & Digital Activism in the Social Age

Kate Carruthers