Blog Survey

I want feedback about this blog, so please answer the following questions in a reply to this post.

1.) What do YOU want to see on this blog? (as in posts)
2.) Are there any changes I should make to this blog?
3.) What do YOU think about this blog?
4.) Any other suggestions for this blog?
5.) Are there certain topics that I should post about more often? If so, What topics should I post about more often?
6.) Are there any posts/topics that YOU would like to see me write about? (I’m not talking about the news posts that I make on this blog. I’m talking about personal opinions, experiences, thoughts, etc.)

I know I already post about alot of different things, but I’m wanting opinions and suggestions. As a blogger and for you, as a reader, it’s important to know your thoughts about this blog, so I can improve this blog.

Taking It Global

Taking It Global is a social networking website. It is aimed at youth, but adults are also on the website. (such as myself) Taking It Global is an international non-profit organization located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In alot of ways, It is like Care2, but it has more members than Care2.

I have a profile on there as grrrlriot. Feel free to add me on TakingItGlobal.

Here is some information about the website, taken from takingitglobal.org.

We’re an international non-profit organization headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, yet we connect youth around the world. TakingITGlobal provides a portal for young people to find inspiration, access information and get involved in improving their local and global communities.

Inspire
Young people have the energy, the desire and the skills to make a difference in the world. All that’s needed is a way of connecting with one another. TakingITGlobal’s position at the intersection of key global trends enables us to support young people in acting as a force for change today and into the future. Our Vision is of a world where young people are more engaged in their communities on local, national, and international levels. We provide the tools and the space for young people around the world to be heard. And those voices will, in turn, inspire more to speak.

Inform
Our world is increasingly global and interconnected. Many threats face our common humanity, such as global poverty, war and conflict, HIV/AIDS, and environmental degradation. TakingITGlobal provides access to the information required to understand and act on global issues. Our mission is to provide opportunities for learning, capacity-building, cross-cultural awareness and self-development through the use of Information and Communication Technologies. Because once you have the information, you can share it.

Involve
Young people are most powerful as co-owners in our own development process. That’s why TakingITGlobal is focused on encouraging involvement. By leveraging the power of social networks and digital media, we’ve created a tool for learning, collaboration, dialogue and action that is completely interactive.

Our flagship program, TakingITGlobal.org, has become the most popular online community for young people interested in connecting across cultures and making a difference. Hundreds of thousands of people visit the site each month to share their unique knowledge, perspectives and experiences.

44 Writings I Need For This Blog

I am in need of some articles and writings for this blog. I will add to this list as I see fit. The ones listed below are ideas for articles and writings and are some writings/articles I need for the blog. By writing the article (or articles), You will be emailed an invite to join this blog and will be able to post up your writing on the blog. Be sure to let others know that you wrote the article (or articles).

ARTICLES AND WRITINGS NEEDED:

1-History of riot grrrl: how, why, where, when, and who started it. (about the music and the movement)
2-History of feminism: how, why, where, when, and who started it.
3-The 3 waves of feminism.
4-The many different types of feminism such as: anarcha-feminism, individual feminism, radical feminism, and all the others.
5-Write about your favorite feminism/riot grrrl website or write a review of your favorite feminism/riot grrrl website. (can be blogs, websites, forums, etc.)
6-Write your own definition of what feminism means to you.
7-What does riot grrrl mean to you? (Write as much or as little as you want.) Describe riot grrrl in your own words.
8-Write about being a riot grrrl in another country. What’s the riot grrrl scene like where you live? Is there a chapter where you live? Any riot grrrl bands where you live? How did you get into riot grrrl? How long have you been into riot grrrl?
9-Write about how you got into riot grrrl. What, how, when, who, and where made you get into riot grrrl?
10-Write about being a riot boy: how, when, who, what, and where did you get into riot grrrl?
11-Write your own riot boy manifesto. (I already have a version on my website.)
12-Write about being a male feminist: how, when, who, what, and where did you get into riot grrrl?
13-Write some feminism questions that you would like answered or start a feminism FAQ (frequently asked questions) of your own and the answers to them.
14-Write some riot grrrl/boy questions that you would like answered or start a riot grrrl FAQ (frequently asked questions) of your own and the answers to them.
15-Write about women’s issues important to you.
16-Write about feminism and what it means to you.
17-Write how you got into feminism and why.
18-Make a list of reasons on why your a feminist. Try to think of 50 or more reasons, if you can. 10-20 reasons will do too.
19-Make a list of reasons on why your a riot grrrl. Try to think of 50 or more reasons, if you can. 10-20 reasons will do too.
20-Write some DIY tips or share yours. Share your own DIY stuff.
21-Write something about being an activist/ or about activism.
22-Write something about zines or your life as a zinester.
23-Write about your ladyfest or a ladyfest you attended.
24-Write about a riot grrrl chapter or your own riot grrrl chapter.
25-Write about being pro-choice, why your pro-choice, or what it means to you.
26-Write something about how riot grrrl and queercore music are connected.
27-Write something about how riot grrrl and grunge music are connected.
28-Write something about how riot grrrl and punk music are connected.
29-Write something about feminism in other countries. What’s feminism like in your country or other countries?
30-Write something about human rights in your country or another country.
31-Write something about equal rights.
32-Write about why is feminism important today.
33-Write your own definition of what a riot boy is to you. Give your own definition of riot boy.
34-Write your own Zine DIY guide.
35-Write how to start a riot grrrl chapter DIY guide.
36-Write your own list of ways to be an activist.
37-Write a review of a zine or your favorite zine.
38-Write about your experience with the Riot Grrrl Online website.
39-Write about the Riot Grrrl Online website or do a review of the website. If you write about the website, write how you found the website, how you got active in the website and why. I’m sure there are more things you can write about the website, as long as your a reader or fan of the website, your input is appreciated.
40-A review of your riot grrrl or feminist website.
41-Write a news story. Write about an issue or topic important to you or an issue/topic you think would be important to others that is happening in the news.
42-Write your own women’s issue story. If you are a survivor (of anything from rape to cancer, etc.), I’d like to hear your story and what you went through.
43-Write how to start a ladyfest.
44-Write how to start your own record label and/or band.

If your interested in writing one of these articles, Feel free to read the “contribute” page and reply to the “contribute” page or email me. If you comment on the “contribute” page or email me, Please specify which article (or articles) you want to write about by letting me know which number or numbers (# or #’s) your interested in writing. If you have your own ideas for writings or whatever, feel free to email me some of yours.

*This is also posted on the “Ideas” page.

Riot Grrrl Online’s Social Network: Something You Didn’t Know

This post refers to my previous post located here.

If you read that post, you know that you can create your own profile on the website. Did you know that you can create other profiles too, if you want? Feel free to create your own band, zine, riot grrrl chapter, feminist chapter, feminist organization, activist, ladyfest, etc. profiles on there as well. For your information, The profiles are the same as personal profiles. There’s no difference between them. You can also create groups on the website as well.

For more information, go to the social network website below.

The Riot Grrrl Online Community Social Network

Care2.com

Care2 is a social networking website for activists of all sorts. It’s sorta like myspace, but better and different. I just had to share the link to care2 and my profile on care2. The website is one of my favorites and I login there on an almost daily basis. I think it’s great that activists have their own social networking website. I figured I’d get the word out about care2 because I feel like alot of people don’t know about the website. (or how good it is!) Also, I figured that alot of people would be interested in care2. (or joining care2)

Feel free to add me as a friend on Care2. Currently, I have no friends on Care2.
My Care2 Profile: http://my.care2.com/grrrlriot

The following information was taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Care2.

What Is Care2.com All About? Care2 is a social network website that was founded by Randy Paynter in 1998 to help connect activists from around the world. It has a membership of approximately 8 million people.

Care2′s stated mission is to help people make the world a better place by connecting them with the individuals, organizations and responsible businesses making an impact.

Overview
Care2 members create an online identity by filling out a profile with personal information, as in most social networking sites, but Care2 also asks for information about its members’ involvement in activism. The social interactions on Care2 revolve around groups that connect people who care about similar issues. Internet petitions and news articles posted by members are also frequently used.

Features
-Member profiles and groups to facilitate social networking
-Petitions that any citizen can create and distribute
-Petitions created and promoted by Care2 in partnership with nonprofit organizations
-”Click-to-Donate Races” to generate donations to charities (from ad sponsors), just by clicking
-Free E-Cards (which also generate free donations)
-Citizen News Network–members post news stories themselves and vote on which ones should be displayed
-Blogs
-Free Webmail Accounts
-Free photo-sharing with unlimited upload space
-Email newsletters and “e-alerts” about various issues like the environment and human rights
-”Care2 JobFinder,” which lists jobs with progressive companies
-A “Green Living” channel with tips on living healthier, more sustainable lives
-Various content channels on topics such as Global Warming, Women’s Issues and the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election

WAM 2008 Wrap Up

WAM 2008 held at the MIT Stata Center (pictured above) has come to a close. Sniff Sniff.

Organized by The Center for New Words in Cambridge, MA the WAM conference was a huge success this year with over 600 attendees, the highest number yet in its three years in existence. Of the many panels I attended, my favorite was moderated by Jessica Valenti and discussed how to battle the Backlash we receive as Feminists.

There are a lot of people out there who think Feminism is outdated, something women needed in the 60s and 70s but that is no longer relevant in the world of 2008. To those people I say, come out from under your rock! Or as Jessica so eloquently stated:

“Just because you have an umbrella, doesn’t mean it’s not fucking raining!”

Our pop culture glosses over objectification and racism and treats these issues as completely normal and not in any way damaging. Oversimplifying issues of gender and race is a very dangerous thing. Once we become desensitized to issues that blind or oppress us, we have no power to change them. And the goal of the Backlash we are recipients of, is to silence and disempower.

By keeping discussions about Feminism and Backlash current, we keep these issues relevant. There are scores of young women who need to be taught that it is not acceptable to exploit women in our media and culture. We need to teach them that they are not expected to exploit themselves, and that there are other avenues to take to gain power, recognition and respect. It is the general public perpetuates the abusive media by consuming it. In order to make any sort of dent in the mess, there needs to be a fundamental shift in public consciousness. I believe whole heartedly that this CAN be accomplished. It takes the time and dedication of those willing to re-educate and help to open the minds of those who may not even realize the damage being done, but there are plenty of people willing to put in that time.

I had the pleasure of meeting many of them last weekend.

WAM 2008!

For those of you unfamiliar with the WAM conference, let me give you the low down. The “Women, Action & The Media” conference is a yearly event held for women of all walks of life to get together and discuss our roll as females and feminists in the media. I had the pleasure of attending the pre-conference networking seminar this afternoon and will be giving you updates all weekend as the conference progresses.

Miriam Perez, author of the Radical Doula Blog and contributor to Jessica Valenti‘s Blog, Feministing lead a discussion about starting out in the world of journalism and media as a woman. One of the major topics of conversation was the All Mighty Blog. Many of our readers no doubt have created their own Blogs and it is a great way to cut your teeth in this industry.

Blog writers are free to speak their opinions (most often) without fear of censorship. In a culture where so much of what is fed to us through mainstream media is inaccurate or just plain lies, this new form of media is especially relevant. From a feminist/riotgrrl perspective, The Blog is one of the few our movement can gain interest and attention without major marketing dollars. In the 90′s we made Zines. This was time consuming and could get expensive. Today any young woman who has something to say can turn on her computer and author a Blog.

In fact, you should! We are strong aggressive women with a lot on our minds. We have this free avenue of expression and an open audience willing to participate. I know this may be an obvious point, but Mariam illustrated so beautifully this afternoon the need for involvement.

You there reading this, what do YOU have to say?

Hello World

Hello everyone! Welcome to The Riot Grrrl Online Blog. The blog is part of the Riot Grrrl Online Website/Forums. The website is back up and running and the forums are located there. If you were a member of the website before and you cannot login now, You might have to re-register (create) a new account on the website to have access to certain features of the website. (including the forums) If you have any questions or if you want me to create an account for you, Feel free to email me the following information: username, password, country you live in, and your email address. DO NOT send me this information in a reply to this post!

This blog needs YOUR HELP! If you want to be an author (someone who posts daily or almost daily) or a contributor (someone who posts whenever they want) to this blog, Please email me or reply to this post and let me know which you want to be: an author or a contributor. Let me know what you plan on writing about in the blog. It MUST be feminist or riot grrrl related. Also, If you have any ideas for what I (Greta/grrrlriot) can write about in this blog, Please let me know. I want this blog to be interesting and feminist/riot grrrl/riot grrrl online related. I do not want posts about how your day is going or other personal stuff, Write that stuff on your blog on the Riot Grrrl Online website, if you are a member of the site.