MetaFilter posts tagged with organizing

Astro-turf from Walmart?

longsleeves — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:25:17 -0800

Ernest Kirschner, a 61-year-old business owner from East Haddam, is among thousands of Connecticut residents who may become the new voice of Walmart. When the Benton, Ark.-based retailer formed its own "support group," the New England Customer Action Network, Kirschner signed up eagerly. "I would stick up for Wal-Mart as strong as I can," said Kirschner, a frequent shopper. "I really think they've gotten an unfair shake." Wal-Mart Forms Customer 'Support Group' To Counter Opponents "Here's a giant retailer doing community organizing instead of selling cheap underwear and bananas," Norman said. "A lot of people signed up for this group, thinking they were going to get information about the next sale." Wal-Mart hired an outside company to do the recruiting, and those people were able to say they were not Wal-Mart employees. That, Norman said, led many customers to believe CAN was an independent group, not run by Wal-Mart itself.

An environmental movement for the Internet ecosystem

parmanparman — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:39:05 -0800

Time Capsule: the internet and E-democracy. “Peoples’ lives now are as dependent on the Internet as they are on the basics like roads, energy supplies and running water. We can no longer take that for granted and we must advocate for the Internet politically, and support its vitality personally.” - Susan Crawford, University of Michigan School of Law. In recognition and memory of the beginning and continuation of the political internet, they have organized a Time Capsule of e-democracy's beginnings - everything from using e-mail to plead your friends to vote to flash animations that set the web alight. It is to be sealed on September 22. Help tell the story of internet politics.

The People's Singer

digaman — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:29:16 -0800

"If Communists liked what we did, that was their good luck," said Lee Hays, founding member of the Almanac Singers. A fascinating portrait of one of the linchpins of the politically engaged folk movement of the '40s and '50s. Hays sang beside the more celebrated (and, on one important day in Bob Dylan history, infamous) Pete Seeger on such classic Almanac albums as Talking Union. [Listen here.]

power comes in two forms–money and people

generalist — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 08:34:14 -0800

1972 Playboy interview with Saul Alinsky

Creative Housekeeping Tips for the Well-intentioned Slob

taz — Sun, 01 Jun 2003 03:21:48 -0800

Are you a reluctant slob? Are your resolutions firm but your follow-thoughs flagging? If the hallway to your personal housekeeping hell is strewn with good intentions, consider KISSing your bad habits goodbye. Cat Conner's (MeFi's frykitty) new blog-style KISS Living site is great for us fleeting-attention-span types, providing tips based on her "Keep It Short and Simple" technique. I may not know what day it is, or whether Martha spells her name "Stuart" or "Stewart", but even I can focus my energy for 10 minutes at a time.

Cartooning for peace... and some level-headedness

mathowie — Thu, 13 Feb 2003 12:02:52 -0800

Peter Bagge produced a four page comic about his observations at various anti-war protests and how it only takes a few nuts to ruin an entire movement, or at least take the wind out of a rational person's sails.