Ada Initiative launches to promote women in open technology and culture #opensource #adainitiative

Open source activists Valerie Aurora and Mary Gardiner announce the launch of the Ada Initiative (http://adainitiative.org/), a not-for-profit organization to promote women’s participation in open technology and culture.

Open technology and culture, including open source software, open content, and related communities, suffer from a dearth of women at all levels.  ”Open technology and culture are shaping our future and must reflect all people.  Involving more women in the creation of our
future is a critical step in building a healthy Internet world,” says Mitchell Baker, chair of the Mozilla Foundation.  The Ada Initiative will concentrate on focused, direct action programs, including recruitment and training for women, education for community members, and working with corporations and projects to improve their outreach to women.

The Ada Initiative’s first sponsor is Linux Australia (http://linux.org.au/), which promotes the development of free and open source software. Sponsorship funds will allow the Ada Initiative to retain expert staff to focus on major projects which are beyond the capacity of purely volunteer organizations.  The Ada Initiative is currently seeking additional partner organizations and sponsors.

About the Ada Initiative

The Ada Initiative is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing participation of women in open technology and culture, which includes open source software, Wikipedia and other open data, and open social media.  Co-founders Mary Gardiner and Valerie Aurora each have 10 years of experience in open source software, open social media, and women in computing activism.  The Ada Initiative is advised by a team of experts from open technology and culture fields including open source software, open government, Wikipedia, hacker culture, social media, remix and fan culture, and online activism.

Pets Haven Benefit Gig: #partyanimals #fundraiser #Melbourne #geekgirl

pets-haven

FEB 25th, 2011
PETS HAVEN BENEFIT GIG
NOISE BAR BRUNSWICK, MELBOURNE
DOORS OPEN 8PM
$10 ENTRY
18+

FEATURING :
CHINATOWN ANGELS
CYCLONE DIABLO
THE COMMITTAL
THE GREY FILE

ROCK N ROLL CAKE STALL AND RAFFLE DRAW ON THE NIGHT!!
RAFFLE TICKETS AVAILABLE ON THE NIGHT $2.00 PER TICKET OR
3 FOR $5.00

DRAW #1
1st Prize Beserk Clothing pack
2nd Prize Delice Soap pack
3rd Prize Kittycat Black Rockabilly Jewelery

DRAW #2
1st Prize (male) metal merch pack (Soundworks touring)
1st Prize (female) metal merch pack (soundworks touring)
2nd Prize metal music pack (CDs, cassettes, merch etc)

DRAW #3
1st Prize Tattoo voucher courtesy of Down to Earth Tattoos
2nd Prize voucher for Mr. Nice Guy vegan cupcakes
3rd Prize DVD prize pack (over 25 titles)

For information on pets haven http://www.petshaven.com.au/

Digitise The Dawn: help the NLA digitise the first Australian newspaper to be run by women. #feminism #geekgirl

Digitise the Dawn

Donna Benjamin has started a campaign to raise funds to give the National Library of Australia so that they will Digitise the
first Australian newspaper to be run by women.

Louisa Lawson founded The Dawn: A Journal for Australian Women in 1888 and ran it for 17 years.  She was a pivotal figure in winning women the right to vote in Australia, and her publication played a key role in the struggle for women’s suffrage.

Donna discovered The Dawn is not yet online whilst doing research for her talk she gave at this year’s Haecksen miniconf. She contacted the library to find out if / when they might intend to add it to the Trove collection at http://trove.nla.gov.au

A brief email exchange with the Director of the digitisation project spurred her to try and raise the relatively small amount needed to see this happen.

After initially setting up a chipin, she has now set up a website with a direct paypal donate button – but will also accept direct deposits, cheques and money orders.

Even more than your money – Donna would appreciate all of us  helping to spread the word. Louisa Lawson is one of our founding feminists – and The Dawn trumpeted the charge.
–
Digitise The Dawn
Raising funds to digitise Louisa Lawson’s Journal for Australian Women
http://digitisethedawn.org
http://twitter.com/digitisethedawn

Out the Window: capture Los Angeles in two minutes #freewaves #riders #LA #geekgirl

OUT THE WINDOW
http://www.freewavesopencall.org/

What do you know about Los Angeles?   Want to share your knowledge on TV?

Submission deadline  March 1, 2011
Freewaves is seeking two-minute artists-activists-storytellers’  videos about places in Los Angeles (home, street, hood) to show to I million riders per day on all 2,200 Metro buses in L.A. County in June  and September-October, 2011. On Transit TV we will show animations,  documentaries, narratives and experimental videos about, by and in Los  Angeles.

Entry Form

Victory for PETA against Lipton tea #animalrights #hooray #geekgirl

More than 40,000 people worldwide took action against the makers of Lipton tea and after representatives from PETA and affiliates in India and Europe flew to London to meet with Unilever–the world’s largest tea maker including the Lipton and PG tips brands–the company has agreed to end all non-required animal testing for their teas and tea-based beverages worldwide.

http://www2.peta.org/site/R?i=vUebjww9v4d26IN3Ad5O2A..

With this victory, the suffering of animals for Lipton and PG tips teas ends. The company behind Lipton tea cut holes into rats’ intestines and fed them tea ingredients through a tube in their throats; infected piglets with E. coli toxin and cut their intestines apart while they were still alive; killed mice by suffocating them and breaking their necks; cut off rabbits’ heads; and conducted other cruel tests that involved tormenting and killing animals simply to study the health effects of its tea products and ingredients. Not one of the experiments that the company conducted was legally required for beverage makers, and regulators have stated that animal tests are not required to prove a health claim about a food or beverage product.

Thanks to all who called, e-mailed, and boycotted Lipton tea products!

Please take a moment to thank Lipton for its prompt and compassionate decision by e-mailing the company using its contact form.

http://www2.peta.org/site/R?i=0Q8eZ7FIqvXTmlZ0Y3zJBw..

Stephen Walker RRR benefit concert #Melbourne #MS #ghost #radiostar #geekgirl

ghost

performing live:
DIRTY THREE
THE SKULL CAVE ALL STARS: DAVID BRIDIE, PETER LAWLER, GARY YOUNG AND PHIL WALES
…GARETH & DAN (THE DRONES)
DAVE GRANEY & THE LURID YELLOW MIST
RON S. PENO
SAND PEBBLES
MAX CRAWDADDY & RRR DJs
SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMANCES BY: ANDREW COATES & JAMES LEE (BLACK CAB), ROB CRAW (HUXTON CREEPERS), KERRI SIMPSON AND THE WOLFGRAMM SISTERS

Tickets on sale NOW via ticketmaster
or Ph 1300 11 10 11

On Monday 31 January Triple R broadcaster Stephen Walker will be celebrating 30 years of radio with an incredible line up of artists at the Forum Theatre. Honouring the Ghost who talks and offering live performances will be Dirty Three, the Skull Cave All Stars, Gareth & Dan from the Drones, Dave Graney and the Lurid Yellow Mist, Ron S. Peno, Sand Pebbles as well as Max Crawdaddy and RRR DJs.

Stephen Walker was Triple R’s Program Manager for 14 years and is in his thirtieth year as a volunteer broadcaster with the station. He was instrumental in shaping the sound of the station during the late 80s and 90s. His on air persona as the Ghost Who Talks in the Skull Cave every Friday between 4 to 7pm established a cult following over three decades. Skull Cave continues to be the one of the most popular programs on the community station’s grid, even moreso now that he has introduced the quiz and interacts with the listeners.

The Ghost is the thinking man’s music guru and beyond the wireless he is a regular internet blogger, contributor to The Age, Rolling Stone and street press publications. Walker has a crystalline mind and remains at the forefront when it comes to discovering new music. He has broad taste and embraces music which pushes the boundaries but continues to idolize Iggy Pop, Lux Interior and Leonard Cohen. He is a true musicologist and tastemaker. Stephen Walker has launched many radio and musical careers, He knows when to trust the energy.

Now it is time for us to give a little back to the Ghost. For the past 20 years Stephen Walker has been living with multiple sclerosis. He has become immobilized and is often stricken by pain. He resides just outside of Melbourne and it is a huge effort for him to go into the Triple R studios in East Brunswick every Friday afternoon. Friends of The Ghost have organised this special benefit concert to help raise funds for an expensive treatment available in Europe which will help him regain some independence and walk again.

A stellar line up of talent on Monday 31 January will come together at the Forum to benefit the Ghost. All proceeds from the show will go towards Stephen Walker’s medical treatment.

Joining the already stellar line up on the night will be the Skull Cave All Stars who will perform some of Stephen’s favorite songs, featuring David Bridie, Peter Lawler (Dr Pump), Gary Young and Phil Wales. They’ll be joined by special guests, Andrew Coates and James Lee from Black Cab, Rob Craw (the Huxton Creepers), Kerri Simpson and the Wolfgramm sisters.

As the Ghost says, “plant you now, dig you later.”

Those unable to attend can contribute to the cause via donations direct to Stephen Walker BSB: 063 002 Account: 1000 9630, or cheque or money order made out to Stephen Walker posted to Stephen Walker C/O Triple R, PO Box 2145, Brunswick East 3057 prior to 31st January 2011.

KEEP THE GHOST TALKING & GET HIM WALKING (AGAIN)

We love you ghost!!

Lesley Dewar #geekgirl mugshot. I love @nanastories #oldgurlsrock

Lesely Dewar is one of my fav people online. She totally confronts any sterotype of an older gurl out of touch with technology. I wish I could hang out with her so she can teach me all her social media tips and tricks. She’s a campaigner for animals and the ocean and I love her @nanastories and @lesleydewar1 tweets. She sent me a message to Save More Whales in 2011;. and thart we will! xx Lesley just keeps on rockn’!!

lesley-dewar-geekgirl-mugshot

Swags for the Homeless #Australia #homeless #gifts #geekgirl

Swag

 I was really impressed to see that finally some worthwhile effort, design, technology and thought had been put into something comfortable, portable and practicle for Homeless people.

With a compelling headline of cardboard box, cement … or dignified backpack. The Swag may yet take on .. and at least serve to create some temporary comfort zone.

The statistics for homeless people are staggering, and as we draw closer to the holiday season perhaps we can all spare buying those expensive and futile gifts and give to people who really need it.

I really love these swags.

The Freedom Series Movie by Lee-Anne Raymond #sharia #law

The Freedom Series-by-Lee-Anne Raymond

 ”Passion For Freedom 2010″ is a selected art event, organised by One Law For All, and is one of many events combining to challenge the push to implement Sharia Law within the UK or any other secular democracy.

http://www.leeanneart.com/events.html

(the QT movie takes a few seconds to load)

Lee-Anne Raymond
www.leeanneart.com
Humanist Transhumanist Catalogue
www.phantastsurreal.com

World Aids Day – Take Action. No Discrimination. #dec1 #aids #geekgirl

world aids day

Take Action. No Discrimination
World AIDS Day takes place on 1 December 2010 and this year has the theme, Take Action. No Discrimination.
The global event was established by the World Health Organization in an effort to raise public awareness about HIV issues, including the need for support and understanding for people living with HIV.

www.worldaidsday.org.au