:Title:    Twitter Me to Safety
:Author:   Peter Rees
:Date:     Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:44:45 PDT
:Modified: Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:19:01 PDT
:URL:      http://www.ned.com/group/community-general/news/58/

Over a coffee this morning while reviewing a PowerPoint with an *uber* smart fellow, `Jon Husband`_, I had a `Twitter`_ revelation.

I'm no fan of Twitting (sic?) it seems ... it seems ... unnecessary.

But Jon's presentation referenced a use of Twitter for social activism, namely assuring the safety of activists in dangerous places.

The example was given of Egyptian activist `Alaa Abd El Fattah`_, who has been detained many times and who uses Twitter to constantly let people know where he is, as a form of personal protection through publicity - if he stops twittering, his friends know that something's wrong.

With this example and being aware of the `actions of the Junta in Burma`_, `mobile Twittering takes on a greater importance`_.

[**edited:** to create italics]

.. _`Jon Husband` : http://www.wirearchy.com/
.. _`Twitter` : http://twitter.com/
.. _`Alaa Abd El Fattah` : http://manalaa.net/
.. _`actions of the Junta in Burma` : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7025357.stm
.. _`mobile Twittering takes on a greater importance` : http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/world/asia/04info.html?hp