I proposed a long time ago that ** #openweb** is a less tribal, more expansive framing than ** #fediverse** — socially *and* technically. It’s also ** #nothingnew**, which is honestly a breath of fresh air. We can (and should) use both terms, but if we want meaningful *change and challenge* to the ** #mainstreaming** mess, we need to foreground the more generic one.

Predictably, this gets pushback from two directions: the non-political ** #FOSS** crowd, and the mainstreaming crew. And yes, when you bring ** #NGO** behaviour into the ** #fediverse**, there’s going to be friction.Try being ** #openweb-native** please.

People are going to keep doing self- and socially-destructive things. That’s a human problem, not a branding one. But the language we choose *does* shape how we respond to it.

Boost if you think this shift matters.

I proposed a long time ago that ** #openweb** is a less tribal, more expansive framing than ** #fediverse** — socially *and* technically. It’s also ** #nothingnew**, which is honestly a breath of fresh air. We can (and should) use both terms, but if we want meaningful *change and challenge* to the ** #mainstreaming** mess, we need to foreground the more generic one.

Predictably, this gets pushback from two directions: the non-political ** #FOSS** crowd, and the mainstreaming crew. And yes, when you bring ** #NGO** behaviour into the ** #fediverse**, there’s going to be friction.Try being ** #openweb-native** please.

People are going to keep doing self- and socially-destructive things. That’s a human problem, not a branding one. But the language we choose *does* shape how we respond to it.

Boost if you think this shift matters.

Hello, Fediverse! 👋

We are Forever for Europe Association, an NGO from Craiova, Romania. We focus on EU information, civic education, public health projects, training and volunteering, together with schools, universities, local authorities and communities.

We’ll share stories from our projects, cross-border cooperation and opportunities to get involved. Follow us if you’re into Europe, communities and practical civic action. 🇪🇺

#NGO #Romania #EUprojects #CivicEducation #PublicHealth

@Mastodon This is historically not true, you guys are a BRAND whose culture is to #NGO to actually be a respectful member of the "movement". So yes a part, but on the balance of mess and responsibility umm the is stuff to compost and truth telling needed.

A start: use your reach to shout out other #Fediverse projects to show you can be a responsible member #KISS

In #openweb tech these people are the problem not the solution https://freeourfeeds.com/whoweare

#KISS #techshit #NGO

In #openweb tech these people are the problem not the solution https://freeourfeeds.com/whoweare

#KISS #techshit #NGO

The #OMN (Open Media Network) project is about growing these cultures back into spaces where they can once again influence the mainstream, without being captured or hollowed out by it. The #Fediverse is a living example of this process already underway, messy, imperfect, but real.

Yes, there are serious problems and contradictions. #NGO capture, the #geekproblem, and the constant pull toward centralisation are real threats. I’ve written extensively about these issues here:
https://hamishcampbell.com/?s=NGO+geekproblem

But none of this negates the core task.
Our job is not to finish the work.
Our job is to plant the seeds.

If we do this well enough — with care, openness, and trust — it becomes possible for younger generations to tend them, adapt them, and grow them into forms we cannot predict.

That, realistically, is our only hope.

The #OMN (Open Media Network) project is about growing these cultures back into spaces where they can once again influence the mainstream, without being captured or hollowed out by it. The #Fediverse is a living example of this process already underway, messy, imperfect, but real.

Yes, there are serious problems and contradictions. #NGO capture, the #geekproblem, and the constant pull toward centralisation are real threats. I’ve written extensively about these issues here:
https://hamishcampbell.com/?s=NGO+geekproblem

But none of this negates the core task.
Our job is not to finish the work.
Our job is to plant the seeds.

If we do this well enough — with care, openness, and trust — it becomes possible for younger generations to tend them, adapt them, and grow them into forms we cannot predict.

That, realistically, is our only hope.

The #fediverse comes from the “cats” of libertarianism and to a lesser extent anarchism without the (O).

Wrote this a few years ago.

Now the space is full of #NGO capture and lots of mainstreaming noise. It's still #native #openweb, so what can we do to balance this to be more affective for change and challenge

Für alle, die ganz empört teilen, dass das Böse Israel ganz liebe Hilfsorganisationen aus Gaza ausschließt: sie hatten Monate Zeit, die Regelungen zu befolgen, Fristen wurden verlängert- und ignoriert.
Wenn es den NGO‘s einzig um die Menschen vor Ort ginge, wo ist dann das Problem nachzuweisen, dass man nicht (schon wieder) Terroristen in seinen Reihen beschäftigt- oder Menschen, die Israel auslöschen wollen?
#israel #gaza #ngo https://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/allgemein/37-hilfsorganisationen-in-gaza-und-im-westjordanland-droht-lizenz-entzug/

Oft liegt so eine trackerverseuchte #App wie der #DBSchnüffelnavigator einfach so (in App Stores) herum und wirkt ganz normal. Doch dann findet @kuketzblog heraus, dass #PersonenbezogeneDaten verarbeitet werden noch bevor man das #OptIn geben konnte.

Dank @digitalcourage müssen wir diesen Eingriff in unsere Privatsphäre nicht einfach hin nehmen und sich die #DeutscheBahn vor Gericht verantworten. Als unabhängige #NGO gegen ein solches Monopol zu klagen verdient großen Respekt.

Nutzt die Gelegenheit beim #39C3 die Menschen hinter den Erfas, Initiativen, Vereinen usw. kennen zu lernen, alte Bekannte zu treffen und neue Kontakte zu knüpfen.

Oft liegt so eine trackerverseuchte #App wie der #DBSchnüffelnavigator einfach so (in App Stores) herum und wirkt ganz normal. Doch dann findet @kuketzblog heraus, dass #PersonenbezogeneDaten verarbeitet werden noch bevor man das #OptIn geben konnte.

Dank @digitalcourage müssen wir diesen Eingriff in unsere Privatsphäre nicht einfach hin nehmen und sich die #DeutscheBahn vor Gericht verantworten. Als unabhängige #NGO gegen ein solches Monopol zu klagen verdient großen Respekt.

Nutzt die Gelegenheit beim #39C3 die Menschen hinter den Erfas, Initiativen, Vereinen usw. kennen zu lernen, alte Bekannte zu treffen und neue Kontakte zu knüpfen.

Hello, Fediverse! 👋

We are Forever for Europe Association, an NGO from Craiova, Romania. We focus on EU information, civic education, public health projects, training and volunteering, together with schools, universities, local authorities and communities.

We’ll share stories from our projects, cross-border cooperation and opportunities to get involved. Follow us if you’re into Europe, communities and practical civic action. 🇪🇺

#NGO #Romania #EUprojects #CivicEducation #PublicHealth

Israeli Ambassador to Japan Gilad Cohen has expressed hope that Japan will provide peace education for future generations in Gaza to prevent attacks on Israel. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/26/japan/israeli-ambassador-to-japan-interview-gaza/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #israel #gaza #us #education #ngo #palestine

The Association of Medical Doctors of Asia, based in the city of Okayama, sent a medical team earlier this month to Aceh Tamiang on northern Sumatra in Indonesia, where deadly floods have caused heavy damage. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/23/japan/society/ngo-medical-aid-indonesia/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #indonesia #ngo #health #mentalhealth #floods

The case of Trustroots alongside the earlier issue of #CouchSurfing are a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of traditional feudalistic #FOSS foundation/ #NGO models for open-source projects. The mess we keep making of #FOSS governance https://hamishcampbell.com/the-mess-we-keep-making-of-foss-governance/

The case of Trustroots alongside the earlier issue of #CouchSurfing are a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of traditional feudalistic #FOSS foundation/ #NGO models for open-source projects. The mess we keep making of #FOSS governance https://hamishcampbell.com/the-mess-we-keep-making-of-foss-governance/

How is the #Fediverse doing when it comes to nonprofit and civil society organizations?

In my own civil society network, several organizations and people opened accounts here, but most eventually shifted to Bluesky.

Instead of blaming them, maybe we should ask: what is pushing civil society actors away? What isn’t working for them here?

As a quick example, I looked up the Amadeu Antonio Stiftung and found their Mastodon account @amadeuantonio (~5.5k followers here, but inactive for over a year).
They also have a bridged Bluesky account @amadeuantonio.bsky.social (~300 followers from the Fediverse and 23 k+ followers on BlueSky, but actively posting).

#Mastodon #BlueSky #nonprofit #NGO

Interested in better meetings, better listening and healthy power sharing?
Do you feel deep down that there must be a better way?

Sociocracy might be just what you've been looking for.

Free info session Dec 1
https://www.sociocracyforall.org/event/free-sociocracy-session-december-2025/

#nonprofit #NGO #purpose #missio #socinn #newwork #OD

Interested in better meetings, better listening and healthy power sharing?
Do you feel deep down that there must be a better way?

Sociocracy might be just what you've been looking for.

Free info session Dec 1
https://www.sociocracyforall.org/event/free-sociocracy-session-december-2025/

#nonprofit #NGO #purpose #missio #socinn #newwork #OD