000-tobecategorised

Most of us tend to think that if google and all our other apps are taking all our information in any case, why not go ahead with other apps which collect "family" information. We think we can somehow manage as the data will get lost and depersonalized. This perhaps is the case with corporates at the macro level, but there are algorithms in the big bad world, which deal with more personalized matters.. marriage's, jobs, legal proceedings, political mobilization, market targeting for more than simple commercial purposes. Many of these algorithms work from non-transparent geographies. http://emeets.lnwr.in/index.php/3690-loopholes-in-google-s-data-safety-labels-keep-companies-in-the-clear-and-consumers-in-the-dark  The debate on a gate-keeping app seems to be forgotten. Unfortunately, government regulations on this, leave alone proper oversight is very slow and wanting. In any case corporates, especially those entities : with "limited liability" protection, and obscure holdings many of them in questionable geographies, are difficult to pin down.

Many a times we have found ourselves changing our privacy settings, because a particular app needs some information and since we were busy at that time wanting to get done with something, we click OK. Similarly, when matters related to family and homestead, you just don't know how the compiling of data at the community level can be engaged with. Just a board saying you are under CCTV surveillance, or :your phone number/pix or noentry" is no protection. Society needs to be more particular if it needs to survive.

Strategies Beyond Borders: Tales of Time Banks This webinar series, called "Learning for Alternative Futures"  https://globaltapestryofalternatives.org/newsletters:08:collaboration

Metro work causing havoc in Surat in India — by Vidyadhar Date — 28/02/2023
Metro work causing havoc in Surat, in Mr Modi’s home state. In Mumbai bus transport is neglected.

At the same time the governments are heavily discriminating against the low cost bus systems, denying them funds and creating problems for them actually. Rampant privatisation has added to the havoc. In Mumbai the acclaimed BEST Undertaking bus network is being neglected. Last week it took off as many as 400 CNG operated buses from its fleet causing serious hardship to lakhs of commuters. Frequent fires in buses have been cited as the reason.

In Surat’s Varachha area the havoc was caused apparently by a tunnel boring machine. So some residents are getting slush and mud in their water pipes but no drinking water. And this is happening in what is being touted as a smart city.

The Supreme court recently declared that the bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai was of national importance while rejecting a plea by Godrej in a case of land acquisition. but then the Supreme court should also declare bus transport as of much more importance because the bus is the most crucial form of urban transport. nn the bus system is extremely low cost and requires very little infrastructure. Mumbai’s bus transport can easily take care of all the transport needs of the city without one km of Metro.