Don't be an ignorant by-stander. Challenge racism wherever you see it - and contact the University of Western Sydney

The University of Western Sydney is researching Bystander Anti-Racism.  For more on this important project please go here.  

What is bystander anti-racism?

Bystander anti-racism can be defined as:

Action taken by a person or persons (not directly involved as a target or perpetrator) to speak out about or to seek to engage others in responding (either directly or indirectly, immediately or at a later time) against interpersonal or systemic racism.

Bystander anti-racism is not necessarily about directly confronting a perpetrator. A range of actions are considered bystander anti-racism (see ‘What types of action can be taken?’).  For more go to the link above.

My Victoria Waterways: what we think, know and love about our waterways in Victoria

Dear Survey Participant,

 In 2009 you participated in a survey to examine the way Victorians value their waterways. You asked for feedback once the findings were released.

I am pleased to announce that the public report from the My Victorian Waterway survey has now been made available. Should you wish to read this report it can be downloaded online at the following URL: http://www.water.vic.gov.au/environment/rivers/community-connections-to-local-waterways 

I would also like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for your participation. This is the largest survey of its type in Australia and without your help we would not have been able to develop such a comprehensive picture of how Victorians value their water and what you believe needs to be done to protect our waterways.

 sincerely
Anne Pisarski
Director of Infrastructure Management Research
Queensland University of Technology

~~~~~

Some key findings of the survey include:

• Victorians visit waterways to engage in a wide variety of recreational and commercial activities. 
• Results found that 92% visit waterways to enjoy scenery; 76% to walk, hike or cycle; 37% to plant native trees and clear weeds; 36% to fish and 21% for stock and irrigation purposes
• 99% of Victorians have high aspirations for our waterways and 98% agree that it is important for our waterways to be as healthy as possible so they continue to provide for our needs
• 83% feel most personally connected to a waterway local to them and 96% agree that they have a personal responsibility to our waterways
• 67% of Victorians have good to excellent knowledge of waterway health.

Technorati : surveying blogging and social media : USA egocentricities

My blogging buddy, Steve Hayes in South Africa, is having a big whinge.  He is whinging about a survey authorised by Technorati.  Steve is asking bloggers to pass on the word about this and respond to the survey and he tells you why.  Do the survey yourselves, fellow-bloggers, (Steve has the link) and you will see for yourselves.  You get a chance to rate the survey at its conclusion and then you get room to comment on why you gave the rating you did.  Below are my comments on why I gave it a '3' - which I thought was being a bit on the generous side.

Now, where all this will come out in the statistical wash is anyone's guess.  As for me, I have long since given up on thinking that Technorati was of much benefit to me.  Some of my blogs would still be linked on Technorati - I think - but I don't think I bothered to link this one.  So, who knows, if enough bloggers respond in a manner that helps Technorati to lift its game, things might change for the better.  Was a time when Technorati was a big wheel in the blogging world.  I doubt if that is the case any more.  Blogging and other social media have taken on lives of their own and there are social media savvy people galore out there now.

We have newspaper emperors whinging to-day about bloggers.  Perhaps in about three years time, bloggers will be complaining.

When Twitter started out with its 140 characters including word spacing, did we really think it would become the powerful force it has become? And I think predominantly of that supreme Twitterer, Stephen Fry, when I say this.  He turned an oppressive and unfair legal judgment in the UK into an item of ridicule and is now using it to assist in earning money from public appearance and book sales.  Clever lad, young Stephen!

So who knows where it will all end...if it ever does?  And here below is Miss Eagle's whinge.  A book-end for Steve's.

Many limitations.  I've 4 blogs and this survey did not allow me to include them.  Blog categorization is limited. Most stunning category omission is 'Food'. Food blogs have massive readership.  Categorization of what is read on blogs - news items, celebrities - were USA focussed.  How egocentric!  Do you think the world only discusses what happens in the USA?  Or do you think the USA is the biggest blogging audience?  What about India and China and their diasporas across the world?  I've long since given up on Americans being interested in or knowing anything about my country, Australia.  However, to ignore huge IT-loving markets like India and China is incomprehensible by any standards.  Language used is very American. International testing of your questionnaire would be more professional and would contribute to the fairness of questions and inclusiveness of responses.  Your report card?  Need to do a whole lot better next time - and you might consider getting more professional assistance to do it.