Spreading the word about Drumbeat.org in Africa: a new movement to "keep the web open for the next 100 years"

Drumbeat is a new project led by Mozilla Foundation, the folks who create the free and open source Firefox web browser. The initiative, which is organized around community-driven events and projects, is still taking shape and community input is being solicited broadly - so if you have an opinion on what is needed or want to get involved early, now is a good time to jump in.

I think Africa has a great deal to offer Drumbeat, and Drumbeat might also help bring attention to the many innovative social/mobile media projects going on in Africa. 

I am also considering Kabissa's possible role in helping to promote Drumbeat in Africa and so would be glad to hear your reactions to Drumbeat and if you want to get involved. 

To join Drumbeat.org, you can create an account at drumbeat.org and join or vote for projects. You can also join the Drumbeat community e-mail forum. 

You can also give feedback on the "key messages" of Drumbeat which are being worked on right now. Mark Surman (@msurman on twitter), the Executive Director of the Mozilla Foundation, yesterday posted the latest iteration of the Drumbeat "key messages" to his blog - I have copied his post below to give you more details right now on where the project is going. You can send your feedback directly to him via his blog (or better - join the Drumbeat forum). 

I was introduced to Drumbeat through a Drumbeat Event earlier this month at Betahaus, an innovative co-working space here in Berlin. The event, one of many being organized around the world, brought together a diverse group of about 30 people - Mozillistas, web developers, educators, activists and more - mostly from Germany but also some from Spain, Bulgaria, USA and more. Under the able facilitation of Allen Gunn from Aspiration, we explored the open web, what it means to protect it and how to communicate why it needs to be protected, and also were introduced to a handful of Drumbeat open web projects through quick "speed geeking" sessions. The experience was certainly beneficial for me personally and it was great to get an update on what people are working on. 

Crisper Drumbeat messaging. Feedback?

May 18, 2010

Contents 

• 1. Crisper Drumbeat messaging. Feedback?
  • 1.1. Drumbeat is about keeping the web open.
  • 1.2. We all benefit from the open web.
  • 1.3. But we can’t take the freedom of the web for granted.
  • 1.4. We need to protect it. Improve it. Grow it.
  • 1.5. Drumbeat = your chance to keep the web open and free.
  • 1.6. You can get involved online or face-to-face.

A few weeks back, I posted an updated Drumbeat description. People said it was good, but not good enough. We’ve pushed hard to come up with something better and crisper. These result is a simple set of key messages that explain Drumbeat and why it matters. We’ll use these to write site copy, update our slide decks and drive our upcoming social media campaign.

I’ve pulled the current version from the wiki and pasted below. It’s very close to final — we’re turning it into new web site copy as we speak. Feedback and tweaks welcome. As always, we’ll iterate.

Drumbeat is about keeping the web open.

• We’re building a movement. We want to keep the web open for the next 100 years.
• Where to start? Everyday web users making and doing things that help the open web.
• Drumbeat’s role: host projects and events that gather smart, creative people around big ideas.

We all benefit from the open web.

• It’s the most powerful communication tool in the history of humanity.
• The nervous system of trade, education, governance, activism, and play.
• Lets a single idea achieve global impact.
• All without needing someone else’s approval or permission.
• Open = ( Participatory +Transparent + Decentralized + Generative)

But we can’t take the freedom of the web for granted.

• There are many who would neuter or control the web we have built.
• Imagine an internet filled with devices you can’t tinker with and walled gardens.
• What’s at risk? Privacy. Access. The freedom to create and innovate.

We need to protect it. Improve it. Grow it.

• We helped keep the web open when 20,000 of us built Firefox.
• And we’ve been continuing that work ever since.
• It’s what we do. It’s all we do. And we’re known to do it well.

Drumbeat = your chance to keep the web open and free.

• A chance for the rest of us to get involved.
• A global community of smart, creative, everyday people who actually make and do things that attack problems, power big ideas, and build the open web.
• Who? Teachers. Lawyers. Artists. Bankers. Plumbers. Anyone who uses and loves the internet.

You can get involved online or face-to-face.

• We’ve planted a flag. A place to gather and collaborate.
• Start a project, or join one that’s already rolling.
• If your project gets traction, we’ll shout from the top of the mountain about it. We may even fund it.
• Go to an event in your city. Work on a project with neighbors, or just paint a picture of what you want the web to look like in 100 years.
• It’s all about lending your skills and creativity to the cause of the open web.

For those who are interested: the text above was very much fueled by community input. Major sources of input included comments my Drumbeat messaging post from a few weeks back plus a key messages thread in the Drumbeat newsgroup. Kudos go to Dharmishta Rood and Geoff MacDougall for pulling all these ideas together.