#IranElection - Community Activism, 2009

I firmly believe that technology's true value is its ability to support the progress of human beings. I've never been one to be enamored with technology itself and always ask what technology solves or contributes to relationships, business or life.  

In the past several days, technology has been instrumental in advancing the protest movement in Iran.  Social media is not just passively supporting the effort, it's playing a starring role.

 When the Iranian government began cracking down on communications, effectively blocking Web sites like Facebook and limiting cell phone transmissions, protesters developed a work-around by configuring web browsers to connect with servers outside of the country.  The New York Times reported today that a 25 year old IT consultant in San Francisco is running his own private proxies to help Iranians and advertising the service on Twitter.  The most tweeted address over the past few days has been #IranElection.  See Social Networks Spread Defiance Online,

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/world/middleeast/16media.html?ref=world

This is thrilling.  There's been a lot of discussion over the years about whether or not technology has advanced democracy or been a friend or foe of community.  Today we see a beautiful example of how people are using the fastest, broadest social media tool available to advance their own will and move their country forward.  

Technology, in my opinion, is not nearly as sexy as many venture capitalists and media professionals often purport it to be.  But there are days when I'm in love with the social benefits it affords.  Today is one of those days.