On hindsight I wish we had set up the SEA-EAT (South East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami) blog on a wiki instead. It was such a quick and spontaneous decision driven by Peter Griffin and Rohit Gupta that we just wanted to get on with building the resources rather than fuss about the platform.

We now have 28 contributors at last count, and every few moments one if us gets asked if someone can pitch in and the answer is most always yes. Because its a community that is open, a community of people wanting to pitch in and make a difference as we watch the horror unfurling in this part of the world. We know the magic of community in coming together for a cause. Perhaps a wiki might have captured the spirit better?

As a result, there's lots of great stuff coming in, and as blog posts roll back into the archives and disappear from the front page, some amount of duplication too. Moreover, we did not set categories as we didnt know where we were going with this except that we wanted to gather resources together into one space. And i only just realised that Blogger doesnt allow categories !

We've got much much appreciation for our efforts - i won't get into a wild linking spree because thats not the objective - still large traffic generating blogs and publications like Boing Boing, Worldchanging, Smart Mobs, Internet.com, The New York Times and many many many more have pointed readers to the blog. Blog stats shows around 2000 visitors per hour, more than 20,000 in less than 24 hours. Thank you to each one of you and to all the contributors, and to the hundreds of other blogs that are putting a link up on their pages for us.

As a reult of the traffic, requests for all sorts of things are pouring in. We've had requests to allow translations into different languages, requests to mirror the blog onto other pages, requests to set up pages for people who are looking for their loved ones gone missing. As I write this we are discussing the taxonomy for categories and looking at Blogger templates. Some pages/categories/navigation bars we need to build - country specific, enquiry/helplines/emergency services, personal stories from the scene, update on news and stats, a space for missing persons, message board, rescue operations, contribute by country/NGO's, and perhaps more as we go along. Because we are building the resource so fast and in a completely open manner - there are now 28 contributors, and the pages are getting muddled and lost. Blogger doesn't do categories i am told - so maybe a navigation bar or sub-blogs linking back to the main blog, with posts appearing on both may be the way to go. We definitely donot want to lose the url we have already. Any suggestions ?

This only reinforces my belief that a wiki might have been a much better medium - not only would these pages be separate yet part of a faceted collection and linked to each other, it might have been much easier for someone to navigate and jump in and post as well. Or to open a new page that they felt was relevant without checking back with admin. Morover, the layers we might have wanted would be so easy to build. And few entry barriers about asking whether they could post or not. Owned by all - a true community.

All we might have needed then is a wiki gardener!

9:32:06 PM    comment []  trackback []

Its been a strange two-three days. Much shock and horror about the devastating earthquake and tsunamis. Much helplessness too. And a desire to do something, as the reports just keep on pouring in with more and more horrible news. I was speaking with a friend earlier, when i said i just feel like packing a bag and going off to the disaster areas to volunteer to help. Then i know thats not practical, maybe i am lazy or selfish ... i don't really know.

Then i got involved in two community projects that have consumed all my energies and have made me feel i am contributing more than by just sending off money or clothes, which is what i would have done otherwise. I've been blogging at WorldChanging and in the last two days have felt the support of a community that is truly worldchanging - i feel the blog has moved to a very influential position where real action can come out of conversations and dialogue. Like the relief fund that has already collected a good amount of dollars for victims of the earthquake and tsunamis.

The other is SEA-EAT (South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunamis) Blog - pulling together news and information about resources, aid, donations and volunteer efforts. It is a living document and i have seen it grow in a few hours to an amazing resource, as a result of so many wonderful people volunteering to share information and resources here. It both leverages and stregthens our beliefs in the strength of community and an open space where anyone can contribute in real time and real voices, that have driven us together to work on this project.

As far as i know, it was a spontaneous gesture from Peter who is a blog buddy - who sent a few of us an invitation to blog here - and without any discussion or question we jumped in and pitched in. Since then, it has grown - we now have requests of all sorts coming in - some to allow translations into different languages, requests to mirror the blog onto other pages, to set up pages for people who are looking for their loved ones gone missing.

And some stats - almost 21,000 visitors in just about 24 hours ; around 30 contributors until now.

I think this blog would help people find resources on how to help/contribute quickly and efficiently. I'd like to believe we are making a difference.

9:30:15 PM    comment []  trackback []