It was a real thrill to see Hometown Baghdad given a whole segment by CNN yesterday. I loved this close up on the blog including the URL. I know many of Ugotrade readers have followed and supported Hometown Baghdad since before the first webisode was even posted. Some submitted designs for the podcast logo, and many were among the first blogs to link to Hometown Baghdad, beginning the cascade of connections that has brought this web series to over a million viewers in the just a few short weeks.

In an interview on CNN, Exec. producer Laurie Meadoff said that Chat the Planet would continue this work of connecting the world’s youth in other places, including Pakistan and India. Mike Dibenedetto who many of you are familiar with from his work on Hometown Baghdad, and across the web, was unfortunately sick, so we missed seeing him on TV too. But, if you are new to this series, Mike has just posted a, Recap – Most Viewed, Most Discussed on Hometown Baghdad. Also, this recap offers a great way to catch up on any parts of the series you may have missed. And, it is a great place to refer people who are new to the series and want to get into it. But, if you need no introduction, you can click on the thumbnails below for Episodes 9 through 20.

I have posted before on how I believe that Web 2.0, and the rapidly evolving social and immersive environments of Web 3.D (exemplified by virtual worlds like Second Life) may provide a new way for us, as global citizens, to realize even our most lofty aspirations for positive global development. As we get to know each other, and make relationships beyond the fairly limited range of identities and opportunities for connection available in our day to daily lives, (and offered in conventional “push” media), a new understanding and era of cooperation and collaboration can emerge across cultural divides. In my view, Hometown Baghdad is one of the pioneers of this new era.

Tags: Hometown Baghdad | Web 2.0 | vlog | podcast | global development | Iraq | Web 3.D | blogging | blogosphere | Chat The Planet | peace |

The Perfect Storm began with blogs, large and small, everyone from Salon, BoingBoing, Chris Pirillo, Huffington Post, Daily Kos, Doc Searls, to Canadian Shanagans (who was still waiting for his first link) joined the flow of energy. Here are the first 25 blogs to link (taken from technorati) – justkate, Charles Sheehan-Miles, Neverwonderland, SineQuaNon’s Journal, It’s all One Thing, Planet Identity, Beet.TV, PerthNorg, Visiopoetics, Joho The Blog, The S.n.a.f.u principle, Panzerfaust, Growabrain, Keith Snyder, Iava Blog, Smith Magazine, I Like Motorcycles, Tom Paine, TIG Blogs, Waterfall’s Paranormal Life, Pop + Politics, Mr V’s, Fun Vampires, notes from somewhere bizarre, and many many more!

Then the blog and YouTube video comments started to roll in! Here are three of most recent YouTube video comments. I did not select for particular content. But, these give a flavor of how an online debate has begun to grow. Click to find more on YouTube.

Then the YouTube editors came on board featuring Hometown Baghdad, making them a content partner, and one editor vowed “to build as much momentum and buzz for you (HTB) as I can. Keep me posted of any other press ops/events you have coming up so we can try to build a perfect storm around your content.”

And, yesterday, a video made it to the front page of Digg’s Video Section which translated into thousands of hits and enormous buzz among netizens.

Now, Michael Dibenedetto reports, the “old” media is picking up the story too. Hometown Baghdad has been talked and written about around the world. We have been seen in or will be seen in: the lead article on Le Monde’s website; a full page article in Germany’s largest newspaper, FAZ; an article in a major Austrian newspaper; a piece on a German youth radio station; another piece on a major German radio station; and a feature article in one of Argentina’s largest newspapers.” And, look out for upcoming feature in Rolling Stone, “On the Web” column that points to the web’s most
interesting sites.

Fady one of the Iraqi producers wrote this very moving note of thanks.

Dear all -

I am extremely moved and inspired by all the warm feedback that we are getting on several blogs and websites. It is giving me energy and strength to bear the nightmares that I am living and the ones I dream of at night. It was an honor for me to help in bringing out these messages from Baghdad to the outer world, despite of all the dangers we face everyday.
Thank you, Mike, for keep sending me the feedback.

Best,
Fady
Baghdad

Congratulations to everyone, producers and netizens! This amazing project is, in my view, a huge step toward developing a world of peace and tolerance. And, it has only just begun. There are still many more webisodes to come, so keep watching, blogging, digging, stumbling upon, video commenting, and spreading the word. This is Wikimocracy in action!

The latest episode.

Mike notes, that the conversations that have sprung up in the blog’s comments, both argumentative and friendly, tell us that we need dialogue and understanding.

I am tempted to start expounding on how the “brand” of “democracy,” has been seriously devalued worldwide, not by users but by governments. But, I will restrain myself because I want Ugotrade to be a place that focuses on imagining worlds that are yet to be imagined, not about writing history.

And, I am excited. I have seen a blue print for Wikimocracy 3.D, (here’s the 2D prototype). Wikimocracy 3D is a big idea through which users will soon be reinventing the “brand” of democracy, and adding much needed value to this tired, misused, work horse. 3Dpointcom and other futurists have been pioneering an “idea factory.” Their post “Clocking in at the idea factory,” features a wonderful hand written plan for a metaversal idea factory by Bill Ward. Click to see the full plan on Flickr.

Mark Wallace, from 3pointD elaborates on a jawboning session on the topic. He also calls for input on a new name. I agree, perhaps” idea factory doesn’t really capture the potential scope of this vision.

One of the key points collected by Bill Ward that drew my attention was this: “The Idea Factory concept roots in the Metaverse today, but the concepts that we’re introducing are universal in nature. We’ll be able to take this construct out and apply it to other issues. I know other volunteer coordination Web sites exist, but will they be able to do what we’ve discussed here? Do they have the expertise to do it?” Lots to think about here! And, there is a place to share your thoughts at 3pedia.

True to the Ugotrade mission, in upcoming posts, I will always mix visionary thinking with a look at how people are actually using new technologies for positive global development around the world.

And, I have been continuing my on the ground exploration of the developing virtual world of Second Life. Yesterday, I visited Aleister Kronos to begin investigating “law and governance” in virtual worlds. I met Aleister on the piece of land he rents in SL, a magical setting filled with his art. And, mostly, on this first visit, I just enjoyed his art and talking with a friend of his Elizabeth Rookward who stopped by. I know people are fond of putting value tags on Second Life – how many customers, flows of Linden Dollars, land sales, size of the economy etc., etc.. But, the value of Second Life as art, and the art of Second Life is one of the aspects often missed in the rush to calculate ROI.

Tags: Hometown Baghdad | Baghdad | Viral Video | Social Media | Social Networks | Peace | blogging | You Tube | Social Media Convergence | Web 3.D | Web 3.0 | Web 2.0 | Virtual World | Positive Global Development | Visionary | Vlog | Second Life | Web 2.0 |

Click on this picture to hear the song!

“Hometown Baghdad” premieres March 19th on Salon.com in the first stage of a launch across multiple distribution outlets.

Watching these clips is an incredibly powerful experience. As I watch the videos from Hometown Baghdad, I sense the possibilities for making the world a better place expanding as the video progress bar moves along.

A new window has opened onto Iraq – a view not seen in the media coverage, up to this point that, “has focused on the politicians, the troops, the insurgents or the religious fanatics.” As I watch the story in these Hometown Baghdad videos unfold – ordinary Iraqis in their homes, schools and places of work – I feel a personal connection to these brave people trying to make the best of appalling circumstances and get on with their lives. Also, I feel optimism. Seeing Iraq in a new way like this may lead to discovering new paths to peace. Thank you, Chat The Planet for giving us this opportunity.

Web 2.0, and the rapidly evolving multidimensional environments of Web 3D (exemplified by virtual worlds like Second Life) may provide a new way for us, as global citizens, to realize even our most lofty aspirations for positive global development. As we get to know each other, and make relationships beyond the fairly limited range of identities and opportunities for connection available in our day to daily lives, (and offered in conventional “push” media), a new understanding and era of cooperation and collaboration can emerge across cultural divides. Hometown Baghdad is a ground breaking example of how this will happen. And, please, don’t forget in the new digital democracy viewers are distributors. All of us can play a part in telling the untold story of the Iraq War.

Please, make the connection and spread the word!

You can see the press release for the fascinating story behind this innovative co-production with a group of Iraqi filmmakers in Baghdad. Here is a short excerpt:

“The people profiled in ‘Hometown Baghdad’ are not the usual figures that dominate the media’s coverage of the Iraq war: They are young, smart ambitious Iraqis struggling with everyday concerns in the middle of a deadly war.” The approximately 35 “webisodes” that range from one to three minutes long, tell “the stories of three young Iraqis who are struggling to survive in the most dangerous city in the world. Saif is a 23-year-old recent college grad with dreams of becoming a dentist. Adel is an aspiring rock musician whose hopes of forming a band are continually dashed by the violence and tragedy surrounding him. And Ausama is a 20-year-old med student whose family is repeatedly threatened and endangered by both American and insurgent forces.”

Technorati Tags: Baghdad, Documentary, Iraq, iraqi, media, video, vlog, war, web, series, SecondLife, Web2.0, Web3.0

Please send your new designs to Michael. See new photos for your design.

Technorati Tags: Baghdad, Documentary, Iraq, iraqi, media, video, vlog, war, web, series,