social media. Whereas all the older developments in communication and information technologies had very tech-sounding labels, we are now beginning to see, for the first time, technology being understood through its potential use in shaping non-technical worlds. Can the emerging technolgy shape society? Can it shape media? And therefore, can it shape democracy itself? These were not questions we asked about wires, bits and bytes, until now.This is especially significant because of two other trends — the rise of urbanisation and globalisation, and a renewed understanding of citizenship. There is a new Pax Urbana around the world, as dense clusters of human life in cities is becoming the norm.West Virginia has no shortage of historically significant visually attractive sports and Supplement syrup
. In this new geography, people are connected much better to each other, both within their own cities and across continents. A common thread of civic issues, community concerns, and innovative ideas binds these clusters together, winding them ever more tightly into something altogether new: problem-solving citizens.A few months ago, I found myself in Sao Paulo for a conference on urbanisation, around the same time that popular unrest against mis-governance was spilling onto the streets of Brazil. A few locals attending the event at Ibirapuera Park invited me to speak to a circle of social activists the following day.Judging from a similar surge in 2011, patients and physicians could see plenty of Cheap refractory:Ceramic Filter for Sale
. The conversation that ensued could have been held anywhere in the world, except for the language.The Government keeps banging on about MN-24 research chemical
but isn't doing enough for them.What people care about, and are acting on, appears very similar in many parts of the world. This week, I'm putting together a short document to guide Kenyan civil society and business about how technology can anchor joint problem-solving efforts in Nairobi.The rise of the problem-solving citizen, in urban areas in particular, directly impacts our understanding of democracy. In India, in particular, the public's expectation so far has been that the mai-baap sarkar must solve all problems, while citizens have convinced themselves of their helplessness to do anything about the large development deficits we face. But Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are shaking up this resigned world — to the point where citizens now see themselves as part of government, too.