For the second in our series of Online Community Examples , we move on to look at online communities in the retail industry. Here in the UK there are reports of people switching from their usual supermarket brand for what they believe to be a cheaper alternative (as shown by the current price war between competitors Tesco and Aldi ). Wal-Mart have a chaquered history with social media (the infamous Wal-Marting Across America campaign, Online communities in the retail industry In an economic downturn, we’re seeing a real shift in retail shopping  patterns.

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For most people under twenty in Europe and North America, the lack of alternatives to capitalism is no longer even an issue” It does this either by creating a split between thinking and acting, it doesn’t care what you think, as long as you don’t take action (for example it can rejoice in the anticapitalist Avatar bringing in $500m or more, as long as it is not associated with concrete action); or, by interpreting your resistance as a spectacular performance which it can capitalize on . Capitalist Realism itself, is basically the cultural condition in which, with Marx, we stare with clear eyes at “naked, shameless, direct, brutal exploitation” (4) but yet…keep calm and carry on.

Is there an alternative to the Google search monopoly ? With inimitable clarity, Cory Doctorow made the case for an open alternative to Google in The Guardian earlier this month. But Doctorow does not want regulation here—he wants an alternative. 8221; Recognizing this, Jean-Noel Jeanneny made a case for Frank Pasquale: He focused on the secrecy of search:

Collaborative Thinking Perceptions on collaboration and social software by Mike Gotta See how were connected Connections February 2009 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

He states that the community of practice has to add additional value to be an alternative to this system. It also reminds me that I may read old messages of com-prac to see which other practical examples of CoPs in the south are share David Mould has posted something in com-prac@yahoogroups.com with regard to his experiences with communities of practice in Thailand: [link] I recognised especially his important point about the extensive social networks (from the countries I worked in), which are very effective in getting questions and answers across. I

The 'project' was adopted by the UCCI/CAMC in 2002 and the municipal councils have agreed to integrate it into their annual plans and alternate in taking the coordinating role for the communities and the website. Etienne Wenger wrote a case study in 2002 about Ayuda Urbana , a constellation of communities of practice focused on urban issues and challenges in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean region, or as they call themselves: 'Red Inter-municipal'. The case describes the efforts to assist 10 huge cities in the Central American Region to improve their technical expertise and

Most groups did not cite the need for financial resources as the major concern, most concerns were centred on roles played by the core group and alternatives to share the burden or succession arrangements (very recognisable from my experiences in Africa as well). The example which struck me was the example of the MBTI synergy group: The MBTI Synergy Group was a spontaneous creation of all the people who attended the MBTI accreditation course in April, 2004. (MBTI SCD and Intercooperation have commissioned a study called Experiences with communities of practice in India , an important resource published in december 2005.

When I work in Ghana I am conscious of the fact that I don't know the context as a Ghanaian would and try to give different options when I propose something and ask for ideas and feedback. During the tech forum in Ghana I did a presentation on communities of practice and we asked for questions and examples of CoPs in Ghana. The participants could easily identify with the idea of social learning and mentioned various examples of CoPs in Ghana: * Accra Linux User Group- people with an interest in the same thing come together voluntarily * Informal women’s groups – shea butter, micro-credit

The term ‘digital panopticon’ has often been used to describe a dystopian world of virtual surveillance through such things as web-enabled social networking sites where much information is public, or alternatively, for example, the traffic surveillance system in London whereby the public can be constantly scrutinised through the centrally monitored cameras that track people’s/vehicle’s movements on city streets. From a stimulating essay by Catherine Marie Simpson on the decline on car culture: Catherine Marie Simpson: “Car sharing shifts the dominant conception of