mySociety blog

What problem are you solving?:

The processes of political positioning of individuals proposed by parties on elections (local, state) are not transparent for citizens. Nor criteria for professional engagement in public institutions is reasonable or based on professional records, curriculum, education background and measurable effects in profession (Minister for Ecology and Urbanism is a Doctor of Orthopedic, for exmpl.!?)… There is no obligatory method for elected representatives to act according to the proposed program, there’s no penalties for non accomplished mission, there’s a great abuse of common good (corruption), public opinion (media control&law of information which protects politicians) and general degradation of civil values.

Describe your idea:

PIC is an interactive (API) web protocol generated on civil participating&networking (political facebook, for expl!) which will work out as monitoring&mirroring tool of politicians’ activities, provoking them to work on more transparent&responsible manner.

PIC website will be equipped with pools, blogs, forums, video and photo galleries, chat, RSS feeds …
The PIC website will be connected with referential civil society groups and experts, law and institutional links to generate interactivity among civil sections and citizens, independent experts and politicians.

Citizens also will contribute in data collection of politician’s activities and thus create more open public communications which will provoke more responsible behavior of PR and more transparent practices of all legal bodies.

What country will this operate in?: Serbia

Who are you?:

I am a cultural worker&activist, a middle age free lance visual artist based in Belgrade, Serbia.

I am a mother of two immature kids who is afraid for their future in Serbia.

I am an idea developer, methodologists, organizer, project management, pr, educator, curator, graphic, furniture, mural designer, writer …

I am a self employed contemporary nomadic gallery art director (Gallery ALT) and a representative of a small ngo art group “Smarti-e Society” who contributes in more beautiful surrounding, cultural diversity and cross border ecology and creative arts education.

Our association gathers young people of different background who create beauty, arts and ideas for better living. We have computer skilled and educated members who will manage such a project working.

What problem are you solving?:

Thus will bring public discussions and help in public participation in an open networked civil web project (political facebook, for expl!), which will become a monitoring and mirroring tool for politicians and thus provoke them to work more responsible and more on demand of citizens.

Describe your idea:

The idea is to make a live feed interactive website with public politician profiles. They will consist of the program of each political party, their representatives, number of membership and their engagement in public companies, their duties and their incomes …
The data are both generated by politicians themselves (on public demand of a citizen or of an civil organization) and by citizens.
Data will be registered to a specified sphere of common interest> health policies, culture, employment, infrastructures, low, education, tax policies … Users will be able to comment without restrictions which is common in online magazines nowadays in Serbia. They will be able to demand changes in the important civil society related questions>

What country will this operate in?: Serbia

Who are you?:

I am a fine artist who explored relational aesthetics, alternative economy project based on public participation, and the art critics of the art system as a reflection of the state instrument. My work is a post conceptual art activism which relays on social, media and ideology critics.

I am a leader of a small NGO “Smarti/-e Society” which deals with the fine arts and applied arts educational programs for youth, students and young artists. I organize gallery programs for young and emerging artists, art activists, helping them to become professionals and self sustainable.

What problem are you solving?:

Level of public participation in governmental decision-making in B&H is extremely low. In this way, adopted public policy rarely responds to the needs and interests of common citizens and civil society. Concurrently, adopted policies rarely reflect the real situation on the terrain, thus their implementation is ineffective, obsolete and oftentimes even impossible.

Although greater number of governmental institutions in B&H has established public participation mechanisms, these attempts have not been effective as information on public participation opportunities is highly dispersed and non-visible. Moreover, as the civil society consists of diverse agents, it is very difficult for governmental institutions to direct their call for public participation to all relevant NGOs across the country. Finally, NGOs themselves know little about these instruments and ways to use them and influence public policy.

Describe your idea:

Our website will collect and publish:
1.calls for public participation – PP (public consultations, reporting, research, call for provision of services, budget reviews, etc) from all B&H institutions and levels of government
2.public policy materials in the process of creation and adoption (law and budget proposals, sector strategies, etc)
3.NGOs’ public policy initiatives and recommendations.
The website and a newsletter will be customized according to visitor’s interests and location. Each material will be connected to existing public policy framework (laws, sector strategies, other relevant websites, etc) and visitors will be able to place comments for each material.
The website will also incorporate informative materials (already developed by various organizations):
1.existing PP instruments and procedures on all levels of government;
2. overview of good PP practices;
3. recommendations for PP practices for NGOs and governmental institutions.

What country will this operate in?: Bosnia-Herzegovina

Who are you?:

Association for Democratic Initiatives (ADI) is a non-governmental organization working on political and economic development in B&H by fostering participatory democracy practices and instigating partnerships between the civil society, governmental institutions and the private sector. ADI’s efforts are especially directed towards building institutional capacities of civil society organizations and promotion of their role in the society.

I work for ADI as Research Analyst and Project Coordinator on two projects, and will also work as Project Coordinator for this project in case it’s supported. Prior to my engagement in ADI, I worked as researcher in public policy field (government and international organizations) for several years. I holds a BA degree in Political Sciences and MA degree in Globalization Studies. I have great interest in direct democracy and e-participation.

What problem are you solving?:

This project stipulates to overcome the informational vacuum in Ukraine caused in coverage of activites of the local authorities during the financial and economic crisis, namely to create an efficient mechanism aimed at providing of transparent coverage of local government activities to the citizens.

Describe your idea:

On the basis of results of monitoring, questioning of local experts and journalists and focus-group researches (2009) we plan to conduct a series of meetings of dialogue groups aimed at organization of regular compilation of requests to local authorities from the representatives of social and demographic groups mostly suffered from the crisis. We plan to send these requests to local authorities regularly once a month, to analyze the responds and to disseminate this information through local media, Internet and also (at the second phase of project) at the official sites of local government bodies.
The short-term result: establishment of interaction between the authority, business, public and media aimed at settlement of key problems in 6 regions the target audience of which will be 6-8 million of citizens.
The long-term result: dissemination of the project in other regions of Ukraine the target audience of which will be 25-34 million of citizens.

What country will this operate in?: Ukraine

Who are you?:

Yuri Nesteryak – Ph.D., President of Association “Spilnyi Prostir” (ASP).
Oleksandr Chekmyshev – Ph.D., coordinator of monitoring projects, Head of Equal Access Committee (EAC).
As a consortium of organizations ASP/EAC has implemented 54 projects (public informational campaigns, media literacy; professional and ethical media standards; media monitoring, questioning, focus-groups researches).
Our donors: NED, Freedom House/USAID, Eurasia Foundation, Westminster Foundation for Democracy, MARTA program of the Government of the Netherlands, International Renaissance Foundation, NDI; PAS of the Embassy of the USA, OSCE, Council of Europe, European Commission.

What problem are you solving?:

Apathy, ignorance and suspicion are the dominant feelings of Croatia’s youth towards domestic politics and politicians, their Balkan neighbors and the priorities and policies of the European Union. The first generation to grow up in an independent Croatia appears discouraged and disconnected, with scant knowledge of the recent past and with little space to develop and express their vision for the future.

Describe your idea:

The platform aims to generate debate on Croatia’s political, social and economic realities and foster a spirit of participation among youth. It would comprise two parts: one for content supplied by professional artists and writers, the other open to groups from schools and universities. Contributors would be asked to use text, photography or video to reflect on what it means to be a Croat, and their vision of Croatia’s future: the subtopics could include anything from identity, war and nationalism, sexual and religious freedom, social justice, corruption, environmental or economic problems, all the way to their fears and hopes over Croatia’s future in the EU. All in the familiar format of social media, it would include opinion polls on current affairs, ratings and comments for all content or project initiatives, bulletins seeking volunteers and sponsors, feeds from blogs and online news outlets, and Twitter-like updates on domestic and EU policy initiatives that affect youth.

What country will this operate in?: Croatia

Who are you?:

The concept originated with a Croatia-based (Greek-born) online agency executive currently doing an MA in Public Policy. It was warmly embraced and developed within a group of Croatian multimedia artists (photographers, video artists, actors, a theatre writer), journalists, commentators and bloggers.

What problem are you solving?:

In Hungary legislation on the Freedom of Information (FOI) and public participation (PP) is progressive. However, laws are not really enforced. The gap between the ideal situation prescribed by the law and the public servants’ commitment is huge. Ministries and local governments do not comply with the laws. Sadly, NGOs are not fully aware of their rights.

Describe your idea:

The creation and maintenance of the www.jogalkotas.hu site is part of our watchdog project which monitors the compliance of state authorities (ministries, local governments) with the Freedom of Information Act. The portal collects draft legislation under consultation at the different websites, and makes them easily accessible, searchable. It provides space to comment, discuss and register for notification of new content. We collect data and provide regular reports on the authorities and encourage and empower the public to take the opportunity and participate in the process of legislation.
Our “Open Legislation” watchdog program has been monitoring and advocating for the enforcement of the Act on the Freedom of Electronic Information 2005/XC. (Eitv.) since the end of 2005.

What country will this operate in?: Hungary

Who are you?:

The NOSZA Association was established by well- known experts and researchers of the Hungarian NGO sector. The Association is well-known for publication of research on nonprofit legal issues (legislation, contracting, registration, participatory democracy practices), and an on-line education material (Moodle). Throughout the years, this programme gained a reputation for being one of the most reliable Hungarian watchdogs.

What problem are you solving?:

The project aims at activating the recipients including youth groups, the disabled, the unemployed, women, refugees, etc in their efforts to the development of the region considered most attracted ecologically sound tourism and food production in Poland (4 national parks: forest swamps, rivers and lakes: the Bialowieza National Park, lake and Mazurian) mechanisms for citizens through the use of sample projects: Festival of European Alternatice Energy, the cycle of training, promotional activities, information, art, actions to assist local communities, to involve them in participation in the creation government, local government projects for regional development. Assumed to create a railway station / bus station in Bialystok, the promotion of the center, tourist information, regional training center and space for the recipients of project (in the field of tourism, ecology, organic agriculture, civic activities, Internet use, the local culture, protection of cultural heritage

Describe your idea:

- Creation CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTION AND INFORMATION- training about 300 people, about 5,000 visitors
- creating new jobs in tourism, organic farming, renewable energy, construction of low-cost eco-homes with clay, creating hiking trails, organic farming and production of healthy food, local lines of railway, the renovation of historic buildings, to save local traditions
- Model projects as electric car, systems of renewable energy, waste management, household waste water treatment plants, etc.
- A program of regional development policy urealnienia cycle 12 weekly open, moderated, discussion meetings, debates, social hour 2-3 for the residents of the region around 50,000 participants
- Www.zubr.free.pl to launch and maintain the website of an educational, to promote tourism and ecological values of the region around 1 million visitors interactive dissccus forums, transmissions, relations, article created by readers etc
- Summer Festival

What country will this operate in?: Poland

Who are you?:

FEDERATED ASSOCIATION OF GREEN IN BIAŁYSTOK is a group of people whose aim is to promote activities of social and environmental not fall within the traditionally understood categories of science, politics, or economics. this requires combining different fields of knowledge and people with different interests. ecology, environment, nature, sustainable development, bicycle roads, ecological transport, education, health, economy, vegetarian, society, science, civilization, implementation

What problem are you solving?:

The important problem in Poland is the still developed number of conflicts between citizens and institutions of authority, business and public administration . It means, they violate interests and rights of citizens. It breaks the principles of the state of law.
The Polish law allows active participation of NGO-s as ‘third party’ supporting the citizens in legal proceedings and negotiations, particularly towards local authority. However the rules are often a dead letter of law and the preservation of citizens’ rights and interests being less effective than it possibly may be.
For four months The MONITOR Association has been elaborating the Project entitled “The NGO’s active legal supportive participation in citizens’ rights and interests preservation”
The main goals of the Project are: a) to re-activate practise possibilities of supportive participation, b) to strengthen the position of citizens towards authority, business and other public institutions.

Describe your idea:

The main instrument to realize Project will be the Advisory Group.
We propose Wortal:
MAIN -‘News’;‘Our commentaries’; ‘Submit/comment the news’; ‘We talk to…’ ; ‘About us & Cooperaion’; ‘First contact’
CIVIC INTERVENTION CENTER–concerning the main goals of the Program.
‘Citizens’ Office for Public Conflict’; ‘MONITOR inquires’
PROGRAMS & ACTIONS – A number of menus includes own start-site, instruments of monitoring, commentaries, submit form
EDUCATION-Sites concerning knowledge of civil society,
USERS– Sites:‘Log in’; ‘Contact links’; ’Sponsors/Partners’

REMARKS:
1)The actual website of Association is made in Mambo.Is it accept?
2) The Users could to have random access to Wortal and Association.
3) The monitoring programs are the instruments to control the potential areas of conflicts.
4) There will be included basic information we need for active supporting of citizens.

What country will this operate in?: Poland

Who are you?:

The MONITOR Association was founded in 2004 year as local so-called watchdog organization. It has been actively monitoring many areas of local authority activities since. As a first organization in the country it professionally studied legal functioning of free access to public information. In 2006 Association studied in practice an implementation of the new regulations concerning the court’s mediation as an alternative towards proceeding method of conflicts resolution in the civil code.
We are currently elaborating two projects – the above mentioned one, additionally a second one – ‘Bank towards citizens – between business and public credibility.’

What problem are you solving?:

In November 2009, Rural Development Agency – Center (ADR-CENTRU) initiated a cycle of seminars dedicated to Participatory Planning altogether with Mayoralties and Official representatives of Orhei District. As a result, was identified and prioritized about 60 main problems (http://adr-centru.md/programmes). The problems that negatively influence the development of communities and region in general where prioritized as follows: Lack of communication abilities between LPA and citizens, businesses and other actors; lack of informational instruments; Lack of citizens participation in solving of community problems; bad cooperation between Public Services; bad cooperation between Mayoralties, District Administration and Regional Government sub-structures; lack of efficient documents management; lack of inadequate knowledge regarding public services, limited access to public services, geographical factor negatively influence access to public services.

Describe your idea:

The main idea of this proposal is to establish a common regional information system in area of Good Governance with participation of Civil society, LPA, Government sub-structures and citizens.
The main idea is to provide
1.Workshops with LPA and Governmental sub-structures to identify their needs
2.Creation of the regional informational system consists from 3 components: 1st-internal document management between Mayoralties, Governmental sub-structures, District Administration; the 2nd-Transparency and Information component: for using by citizens and to increase their public participation; and 3rd-the Public Services component: access to PS through internet will increase the efficiency of this system
3.A capacity building program for representatives of LPA, Governmental sub-structures in the region
4.A dissemination national campaign on Good Governance through Transparency and Information, based on the main findings of the project

What country will this operate in?: Moldova

Who are you?:

The mission of Rural Development Agency – Center is to contribute to diminishing the existing socio-economic disparities in the region. In accordance with the national and regional development policies RDA, drafts and promotes strategies, attracts resources, identifies and implements funding programs, provides services for stimulating sustainable economic growth, fosters partnerships and entrepreneurship.

For more information about our activities please visit our web page
www.adr-centru.md

What problem are you solving?:

Environment in Albania is a big issue. Although it is an important part of everyone’s, life people often are indifferent. You find everyday law breaking examples. This project would like to raise awareness of a wide target on environment. Creation of a webpage www.sebashkupermjedisin will be the tool to address all environmental issues. The website will be fulfilled with the environmental legislation, cases of law breaking, ways to react, models of abroad for a better and safer environment.

Describe your idea:

If we refer to the European Commission Report for Albania 2009, the chapter on environment, the general comment was:
“There has been limited progress in the area of horizontal legislation…Overall, there have been some positive legislative developments but implementation and enforcement remain weak”.
So the content of the message is very clear and there are lots of elements impacting this situation. We would like to sensitize the wide public for the situation where the environment in Albania is nowadays, and to stimulate pro-environmental behaviors and actions.The website will have important information, the environmental legislation, the examples of law breaking, the measures to be taken, models of good environmental action from abroad, etc. The Center of Ekolevizja Group, will use its resources of information and expertize to fulfill the goal of this initiative

What country will this operate in?: Albania

Who are you?:

The “EKOLEVIZJA” Group is an alliance of 37 environmental NGOs, created in January, 2004, a unique countrywide network committed to environment protection and sustainable management. The Group was created as a result of the indispensibility of strengthening the joint voice and willingness to build up the synergy and undertake concerted actions of the civil society to exert the demanding presure to the decision-makers in this developement stage of the country, to prevent the negative environment impact and sustain an environmnetally friendly development.