I love living in THE battleground state. (Yes, THE battleground state.) Not only for the activity that goes on around me but for the activity I participate in and the activity I create.
I happen to think access to the internet, broadband access, digital equity, digital workforce training, and digital training in general are important topics for our country. Turns out I'm not so alone. Both campaigns have Technology Platforms. Obama's Tech Platform. McCain's Tech Platform.
It seemed logical to me that folks in my state (my battleground state) would want to discuss what the presidential campaigns have in those Tech Platforms.
Working with Cleveland Digital Vision, Ashbury Community Services, Cincinnati Media Bridges, and the Media and Democracy Coalition, we have invited representatives of both presidential campaigns to One Web Day events in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Washington DC.
The internet is arguably the greatest tool of our time. We must take care to ensure it is completely open and accessible. Every year on September 22, One Web Day is the day to define the benefits and challenges of the internet. As a global project, One Web Day focuses attention on a key internet value (this year, online participation in democracy), focuses attention on local internet concerns (connectivity, censorship, individual skills), and creates a global constituency that cares about protecting and defending the internet. Events are taking place all over the world. Our events are but a small piece.
We invited representatives of both presidential campaigns to discuss their internet, broadband, technology platforms as it relates to digital equality and online civic participation. The Cleveland and Cincinnati events will have the campaign representatives participate via skype video. How better to promote and discuss online civic parti
cipation than to conduct online civic participation within a presidential election?
I am a One Web Day Ambassador. My role is to promote the mission of One Web Day. Not too difficult since I do that most days anyhow.
In the interest of disclosure, I am an Obama supporter and am assisting the Obama campaign. I also believe very much in civic participation and am super pleased to have invited both campaigns to the One Web Day events... in MY battleground state and in MY country's capital :-).
