Send your video clips, taken by your cell phones or any other video device, of the Olympic, Paralympic, Torch Relay and Celebrations to weRwatching2010 [at] gmail.com to participate in my video art installation. Video clips will be projected onto the side of a building in downtown Vancouver during the games. See details at www.liddlethought.blogspot.com
Thanks, and pass it on!

rumors of social activism? rumors eh, simply rumors?

journalism that is worthy of the name requires, at a minimum, accuracy in reporting.

as far as an outsider can tell the real deal behind the much of the so-called "social-media" scene is that this is an historic opportunity for citizens to play their part (much like much of the mainstream media) as unofficial cheerleaders on their own dime.

here's a quick historical reality check on the olympic resistance to the 2010 winter games: intl. indigenous peoples statement to confront the games, sea to sky highway development blockaded, olympic clock ceremony disrupted, olympic flag lighting ceremony disrupted, 'spirit train' blockaded, olympic torch relay disrupted, official sponsors windows smashed over and over and over again across the country.

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you, then you win.” -Mahatma Gandhi

Did Ghandi smash windows? Hmmm. I also don't remember them lighting the flag...

The Olympics are always a lightning rod for controversy. That is exactly why we need a wide range of perspectives, and good sharing of information, to make truthfinding even possible.

When life hands you lemons make lemonade. When the IOC takes over your city, once again, try to make something good of it in whatever way you can. I trust that the observations coming out of the W2 Media House will be far more objective and insightful than many other mainstream sources. As for being cheerleaders on our own dime, we can either be that or we can sulk and smash windows like a bunch of babies. I'd much rather roll with it and contribute to some kind of positive growth. I'd imagine Gandhi would be as rational and thoughtful too.

Thanks for the props Wes for W2's work and toil in the community. W2 has been developing our crossmedia centre for the massive Woodward's site for the past 5 years, but construction delays have resulted in us leasing a 10,000 sq ft building across the street at 112 W Hastings. From that site we will operate the W2 Culture + Media House for the Olympics, and this broadcasting, media and arts hub is coming alive. Totally stoked by all the interest from local and internationals coming in.

We have been planning for the Olympics as a launch window for our $2.6 million capital campaign and "our own" legacy from the Games. We knew operating a major hub for local and international media artists and journalists would be our role. But then with the construction delays at Woodward's, sadly we had to bail on producing a major international media arts festival and set up across the street. Once the Olympics are history, we will operate a community TV and radio station, operate W2 Cafe, and many mult-platform services and programs.

In regards to your article... during the past year we proposed to operate a part of our program with the ad-hoc True North Media House group. After a few months of slow planning, by October 2009, TNMH chose not to have W2 operate a space for them, and was unable to contribute rent. (Turning the lights on, of course, is key as you point out.) Now, three months later we have been pouring tens of thousands of our own dollars into building the W2 Culture + Media House at commercial rental rates. A major investment for our grassroots group that we trust will have an exciting pay-off when we host 300-500 citizen journalists, bloggers, independent and traditional media.

W2 works with a dozen organizations in Vancouver's social media, independent and community journalism communities, and therefore we are accountable to those registered non-profit organisations and their memberships. We also are largely volunteer-run so the precious funds we do have need to be sustained. While we appreciate and respect the focus TNMH has on the event that lasts 17 days, W2 has to look at the long-term picture and needs of our diverse communities. We see TNMH's strengths to be popularizing social media and citizen's coverage of the Olympics, and commenting on these major trends. We look forward to collaborating with many groups including TNMH.

In October 2009, we coproduced Fresh Media attracting 450 people to a day-long conference and Hot Type party at our building. This was an operational test event for us. During the Olympics we will again do a Fresh Media & The Olympics conference (announcement next week).

We too are stoked about the new paradigm in storytelling and cafe culture, and our W2 Cafe at Woodward's opens in late April. It will be an exciting resource for the social media and journalism community, networked to media centres around the world, and providing people with the training and tools for this brave new future for media makers. Please stay in touch, and hope to meet you in February.

Thanks for filling in those details W2. (Is this Kris?) I had originally been in touch with Dave Olsen and some of the guys at TNMH last year and I actively tried to help them source a space, I hadn't realized that the W2 group had been working for as long as you have concerning the games in particular. I still give Dave credit for being so vocal with VANOC and the media about Social Media and the games (especially with an open letter to VANOC) but W2 has clearly emerged as the better funded and sponsored group. I don't want to meddle between both camps as I support all of your efforts, and I hope that TNMH can find a way to be a part of these games and help W2 to create a positive spotlight on our city. I've been told that people in both camps know each other quite well, so I hope when all is said and done that it works out for everyone. We're excited for your official location to be filled in the Woodward's building, it makes me think of Henri de Saint Simon and the French intellectual salons of old- but with iPhones and computers. Was part of your funding from 2010 Legacies Now by any chance?

Hi Wes, Irwin here (Exec Director of W2) we are totally inspired by that image of the French intellectual salon, in fact our W2 Cafe business plan has an opening page image of a 19th C Turkish coffee house with a social media cloud ;)

W2 is not being funded as a legacy. Separately, however, the City has approved funding (a half million dollars) to finish the basic interior finishings in our W2 space at the Woodward's heritage building - where the City is our landlord.

Back seven years ago i was involved in a document (with Ken Lyotier, Linda Mix, Am Johal, and govt reps) called the Inner-City Inclusive Statement which became an official part of the VANOC's committment to provide benefits and legacy for our neighbourhood. There could have been more legacies for the existing DTES population if it had been a priority like the Whistler highway and Airport RAV line.

Very cool Irwin, I'm excited by what you're doing. I'm a DTES guy myself. I'll come by and grab a coffee this week. It would be good to bump into you if you were around, although I imagine you're quite busy.

W

cool. didnt know you were local. can show you our space. Around early days Mon-Wed; long days Thurs-Sat.