Two Good Websites on Good Governance and Social Responsibility

In my first blog dated May 24, 2009, I presented some ideas about a possible multimedia project focused on good governance and anti-corruption. I asked whether others are doing it already. Here are two such websites that I liked, both generated from the Philippines.

The first is the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability (ANSA) based at the Ateneo University’s School of Government in Manila. If I were to do my own website, I would most likely model it after ANSA’s. I liked it because its design is geared to serious users with specific objectives in mind for going into the website, namely, to become engaged in social causes. That calls for uncluttered space, well-organized news and resources, plus easy to use videos, event calendars and membership forms – which the website delivers effectively. The top right corner has two very simple messages for the use: what is ANSA all about and how do I join? The blogs have the right mix of being pointed about the issues without being unnecessarily provocative or conflictive, although I am sure some more aggressive activists would find the blogs tame and perhaps a bit too redacted. I would rank this website highly on have the right mix of multimedia tools and user-friendliness. More is not necessarily better.

Another Filipino social responsibility website is Akomismo, which means "I myself". If you skip the Intro, the next page asks you to write in and submit your personal commitment to address the huge social and economic ills of the Philippines, or simply to improve everyday lives. I especially like the scrolling Wall of Commitments where the personal commitments of (presumably selected) members are posted. Nearly all the posts are in the Philippine language, but some examples include:

I myself … will steer youth away from drugs.
I myself … will lead against corruption.
I myself … will pick up garbage in front of the school.
I myself … will eat vegetables.

But I have to study this website further. It advertises regularly during prime time on national television, and I sense a commercial intent behind the social façade. Where does that all that advertising money come from? There may be nothing wrong with that, but it would be interesting to explore a possible case study of building upon public social consciousness to do Web crowd-gathering for profit-making objectives.