In the shame net

Web pages and community profiles come to fight where the law fails

In the age of Web campaigns, your win depends on how Facebook-friendly you are. Or how well caught in the Net. Consider the impact of virtual mobilisation of the masses during the last assembly elections, for instance. The result: a record voter turnout. Or the pink chaddi campaign, if not the one that gathered support for justice to Jessica Lall. The next wave, however, hits harder and more directly, bang where it hurts. Right at their name, we mean.u00a0u00a0u00a0


Screenshots from the home page ofu00a0the website
u00a0
A name brought to shame
If you came across a portal that's called www.ndtiwari.com, you'd be sure it's been set up by the infamous politico himself. It has, however, been put up by some anonymous administrators who wish to bring to book the ex-governor, Andhra Pradhesh, who was condemned for an MMS that reportedly featured him in 'compromising position' with three women at Andhra Bhawan.
The website expresses the shame and embarrassment that the revelations have brought to the Indian democratic set-up. The mission statement reads, "We, the people of India, are angry, ashamed and feel cheated as a society when politicians, government officials or their in-bred break the laws and make a mockery of judiciary thereafter."u00a0

Not just Tiwari
The portal also takes a dig at the decade-old Jessica Lall murder case, where the victim, model Jessica Lal, was reportedly shot by Manu Sharma, son of Venod Sharma, a political heavyweight in Haryana, just because she refused to serve him a drink. Lall was a celebrity bar-maid for the event. The next case discussed is that of Ruchika Girhotra's rape. "In all such cases, justice is only delivered after public outcry. We are of the view that more such examples, more taking criminals to their deserved fate will result in reduction of number of such incidents. As a nation, we were oppressed for years, and somewhere that mentality is still with us even after more than fifty years of independence. We call for abolishing the acceptable norms and create awareness in society that a high post or stature does not place you above the law. We want to make more and more people aware of such cases. So more and more people will realize that something was wrong and more and more people will demand for justice," explains another mission statement.u00a0 The campaign that says that 'Justice Will Be Delivered' and claims that it will use all forms of modes and media to get justice. Yes, they're on Twitter too.u00a0u00a0
u00a0
Saving the sibling
But not all crusaders are nameless. Designer Sanjana Jon, for instance,u00a0 revamped her profile on Facebook as a campaign to save her designer brother Anand Jon, who is serving a 59-year term on rape charges.
Sanjana, like a good sister, believes her brother has been wrongly framed, and all the so-called 'victims' are not innocent. And she is happy with the support her page has garnered. "After the revival of my profile, I have been receiving numerous good luck messages. I think the online campaign is working. Internet is the most targeted mode of communication since I know whom am I talking to. When people send you messages and replies, you feel pumped up to continue your fight," says Sanjana. Environment conservation group Greenpeace has been another frontrunner on the Web. A signature campaign (visit www.greenpeace.in/turtle/sign-the-petition) aims to alarm the authorities so as to stop the construction of the Dhamra port in Orissa, which is threatening the Olive Ridley sea turtles in the area.
"The increase in penetration of the Internet has witnessed such effective social change. Also, it's free and easily accessible to all," explains Priyanka Chouhan, a software developer for social developments and campaigns. Unless you like things turtle-paced, find a cause close to your heart and start one of your own.

Tech it easy
Phone show
Soon, you'll be able to watch new releases direct on your mobile. A mobile biggie is working to release new films and classics in five languagesu00a0-- Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. This will be available on demand. FYI will keep you posted.
10 desi satellites every year
Considering the growing demand of telecommunication and space technologies, Indian space scientists and engineers are planning launch an average of 10 satellites every year. The state-run space agency, ISRO, was supposed to launch five satellites, last year but two of them could not be launched.
Feel the smiley
The way we chat will very soon reach its next level, with a human 'touch'. A robot has is being designed in Japan by a couple. It will add 'physical' sensations to the smileys. So if you send a 'poke' emoticon to your chat friend, the robot, with the use of vibrators and sensors, will actually poke him. Now you know how to get naughty.
Fast and furious
If everything goes well with the ongoing research at the North Carolina State University, the programs on your computer will run 20 per cent faster than now. As of now, the research is undertaking experiments on various word processors and browsers.