10 tactics in Ahmedabad

From the conflict zone in Chattisgarh to the urban slums in Bombay, advocates and campaigners gathered to learn about 10 tactics as part of their participation in the 'Maps for Making Change Workshop'in Ahmedabad, India, between 1-3 February 2010.

The workshop, organised by the Centre for Internet Society (CIS) in collaboration with Tactical Tech, was the second workshop aimed at providing advocates with the mapping know-how to communicate their social struggles.

Taking advantage of the creative space offered at the National Institute of Design (NID) in Paldi, the workshop brought together 22 participants from all over the country as well as prominent speakers and facilitators including:

Lars Bromley (remote sensing specialist) from the American Association for the Advancement of Science 

Henry Addo (software developer) from Ushahidi

Professor Hardeep Singh Rai (geotechnology specialist) from Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College (Ludhiana) 

Alagesa Pandian from MapUnity                   

Professor Pratyush Shankar from Centre for Environment Planning and Technology University                         

Media Shala (a mixed media studio based at NID) and the members of the Geo-Hackers team who use Open Street Maps to map heritage walks throughout the country.

Despite the film being shown at the end of a very long first day of the workshop, feedback from the advocates was positive:

“[It was] visually very appealing. I have to think about the content a little more and how to apply it to my own context!”

“It was a good, hopeful movie for generating discussion among activists and other people.”

“[It was] interesting: something more focused on India would be good so we know how the tactics could be used by advocates in our country.”

“Cool, it was more about revolutionary advocacy!”

Two members from IndiCorps (an exchange programme for young people of Indian heritage to participate in development projects) also attended the screening, and are planning to hold their own screenings elsewhere in India.

Photo: The first part of the workshop held in Dellhi, December 3.