Collective Cause

What kinds of collective causes have you become a part of? Did the cause have a website? How did you learn about the cause? How did you participate? What kind(s) of technology were used to communicate re: the group forming or group action?

A few years ago, my best friend’s mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was devastating to me at the time and I was so shocked that something like this could actually happen to somebody that I know. I wanted to do something about it but I felt so helpless. Then, coincidentally, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation came to JMU, and had trailers parked on campus. I went in one of them and did this online informational thing on a computer and signed up for the cause. The point of the foundation is to fight against breast cancer by increasing awareness. The foundation has a website which gives information about breast cancer, ways to become involved, and information about research and sponsors. I decided that I wanted to become more involved so I participated by donating money online. Since I’ve signed up, I have been periodically receiving e-mail updates and reminders which include advances in research and new ways to become involved. Shirky states that e-mail is low cost, almost instant, and doesn’t require the sender and receiver to be synchronized. “These advantages help account for the incredible success of e-mail as a medium for group conversation, relative to all previous attempts.”