re:kuwait have a good idea which I hope someone reads and decides to implement. A lot of people have phones with built in cameras which can also geo-tag photos. That means you can take a picture and the exact location of where that picture was taken would be stored in the picture. What re:kuwait are suggesting is this:
What if some government entity creates a website where people can upload photos they take of things they feel are broken or wrong, such as graffiti, broken lamps, potholes, whatever. These photos are uploaded to the website by a few people wanting to do good for their community.
The government can then prioritize what needs to be fixed for example and find the location of the problem with the geo-tag. I think that would be an amazing idea. Here is a link to their [Post]
14 replies on “Crowdsourced Activism”
Hi Mark, I do agree with you. Our neighbourhood sometimes sinks, especially when it get humid. The pic is near my place, so I know… I thought the Baladia said that they would have this “cleaned up” in your last blog, right?
yeah the hole was covered up but i used the picture again as an example of the kind of pictures that would be uploaded to the website.
Mark , yeah its covered now , but I think its worse now since they didnt bring any container for the trash . its all over the yard now -.-
this would be an excellent idea, theres this pothole in front of our house, annoying, really really annoying lol
You can start by talking to friends that throws trash on the streets. Go up to strangers and point out to them that they lost something. I do it all the time, and trust me it makes them think twice.
https://www.good.is/post/fill-that-hole-a-u-k-fix-for-potholes-and-public-works-malaise/
this is in the UK….I wonder if Arab countries are not too proud to get exposed in this fashion online…some how I doubt it.
But how do you photograph smell?
Fintas and Abu Haleefa stink like a dog’s butt- a trip to Baskin Robbins involves stopping off to purchase a mask at the pharmacy before venturing out. then when you get back into your car, the sweet scent of sewage and whatever else has seeped through your upsolstery…..
UpHolstery…..
Well its a descent idea but people should be good citizens and do not dump crap in non-designated areas. The trash cans are there for a reason, please stop abusing the roads, streets and open grounds.
I went down to walk my dog around 2 weeks back and there was this guy parked in front of my building getting some stuff from the rear of his car. He took out a pizza box and threw it on the floor and then a garbage bag and again just threw it on the floor in front of my building. I yelled at the fucker but he just ignored me and drove off.
Well there is a blog that post about these kinds of things in Kuwait 🙂 its
http://www.thewasta.com
It will be nice of you if you Mark and anyone els to send images.
Thanks Mark.
TheWasta: I saw your website. That’s not really what I had in mind. It’s not about shaming people into changing their behavior. I think we can all agree that’s a lost cause. What I was thinking is to create a database that has actual data we can use, such as Location, the nature of the problem (pothole, broken lamp, little dump, etc).
The database would be able to link the location and the nature of the problem with another database that has the names and contacts of the subcontractors involved with each service (garbage collection, street lamp maintenance, graffiti cleaining, etc). What happens is that once a photo is identified as ‘graffiti’ then the system would automatically contact the company that is in charge of the graffiti cleaning in that area and alert them of the problem.
The problem is then how do we make sure that the job gets done? Well, you can hire someone to the location of every picture a day or two after it’s posted to make sure it was fixed. If it is, they can mark it as ‘done’. If it’s still not fixed, they can flag it as ‘pending’ and call the guys in charge. If its still not fixed the next day, the people in charge get punished and fined.
This sort of automated system can work because it makes connections quickly that only computers and the internet can make. Linking people taking photos on the ground to the subcontractors in charge of fixing the problem in the photo in as few steps as possible and as quickly as possible, It’s not just a series of photos that tries to sway public opinion.
*hire someone to GO TO the location
Also, I know this is a very elaborate solution for what should be a simple problem. My hope is that we don’t just stay satisfied with the way things work right now. Every year new technology is giving us opportunities that weren’t available before. Camera-phones, broadband, faster computers… Technology can be a powerful tool of empowerment if we harness it in the right ways.
Mark, do like I did a few weeks back… I picked up a water bottle a guy threw..and piched it right back into his car… his face was priceless… loloo
Well if there is a problem in kuwait it is the mentality…and thats HARD to change. The goverment should show a good example and then educate the people… MBC did a good jobb some time back.. UAE has “no litter” signes on every traffic light…
PS all the buss stops are F… up why?