Wednesday 21 September 2011

main points used in debate

1.     A massive clean-up operation is getting under way in areas affected by the riots across England.

Twitter and Facebook users are harnessing the power of social networking to co-ordinate operations.
In London, Croydon, Hackney and Enfield councils have already sent teams out to begin the clean-up.
The Association of British Insurers said the total cost of repairing the damage in the capital alone could run into tens of millions of pounds.
An account on Twitter called @riotcleanup has so far attracted more than 70,000 followers and is helping people to co-ordinate efforts in the English capital.

2.     A separate website dedicated to the clean-up has also been created. "This is not about the riots. This is about the clean up - Londoners who care, coming together to engender a sense of community," it states.

3.     A Twitter spokeswoman said after the meeting that it was "always interested in exploring how we can make Twitter even more helpful and relevant during times of critical need".
She added: "We've heard from many that Twitter is an effective way to distribute crucial updates and dispel rumours in times of crisis or emergency."
A Facebook spokesperson said: "We welcome the fact that this was a dialogue about working together to keep people safe rather than about imposing new restrictions on internet services."
The company said it had highlighted the role Facebook played during the riots, such as people staying in contact and organising the clean-up.
"There is no place for illegal activity on Facebook and we take firm action against those who breach our rules."
A spokesman for Blackberry maker Research In Motion said the meeting was "positive and productive".
The company said: "We were pleased to consult on the use of social media to engage and communicate during times of emergency. RIM continues to maintain an open and positive dialogue with the UK authorities and continues to operate within the context of UK regulations."
A number of people have appeared in court in recent weeks for organising or attempting to organise disorder on social networks.

4.     The main Facebook page set up in memory of Mark Duggan, the Tottenham resident whose death last week triggered the weekend riots, on Monday sought to distance itself from the violence.
The tribute page, which had close to 10,000 fans at the time of writing, on Saturday called for users to share videos and pictures of the torched double decker bus and police cars "to send the message out as to why this has blown into a riot".
On Monday the page struck a more conciliatory tone as unrest spread further across the capital. "If people cared about this 'Tribute' page, they will stop burning & looting. Those who encourage it, well you need to grow up. Mark's family do not need this!" those behind the page posted.
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Tuesday 20 September 2011

clean up

England riots: Twitter and Facebook users plan clean-up

Clean-up volunteers wave brooms at Clapham Junction Hundreds of people turned out at Clapham Junction to tidy up

England riots

A massive clean-up operation is getting under way in areas affected by the riots across England.
Twitter and Facebook users are harnessing the power of social networking to co-ordinate operations.
In London, Croydon, Hackney and Enfield councils have already sent teams out to begin the clean-up.
The Association of British Insurers said the total cost of repairing the damage in the capital alone could run into tens of millions of pounds.
An account on Twitter called @riotcleanup has so far attracted more than 70,000 followers and is helping people to co-ordinate efforts in the English capital.
Artist Dan Thompson, 37, was behind the initial Twitter campaign, but since then has watched it take on a life of its own with local clean-up projects organised around the country.
"The footage last night of high streets and independent shops burning was terrifying to watch and I wanted to find a way to help that was quick, simple and practical," said Mr Thompson, from Worthing, who runs the Empty Shops Network.
The campaign began with just 10 people, said Mr Thompson, but has ballooned to see thousands up and down the country head out, broom in hand.
He said seeing hundreds of people in Clapham waving brooms in the air was a symbol of what Londoners and the British stand for, "It's phenomenal," he said.
He added that when Boris Johnson visited the area this afternoon there were cries of "Boris where's your broom?" before the London Mayor got stuck in to help volunteers.
A separate website dedicated to the clean-up has also been created. "This is not about the riots. This is about the clean up - Londoners who care, coming together to engender a sense of community," it states.
Others around the country are using the hashtag #riotscleanup to arrange to meet up and help clear areas around their homes.
'Strangely emotional' Twitter is awash with heart-warming stories about people gathering to clean up riot-hit areas.
"Nicole", who is volunteering, tweeted: "Police at Clapham Junction just got spontaneous applause as they came through the crowd!"
The Camden New Journal's Richard Osley uploaded a picture of the team of volunteers Volunteers in Camden turned out to clean up
The BBC's Vanessa Barford, also at Clapham Junction, said there were cheers as firefighters left the scene of a party shop set alight on Monday night.
"About 50 people who have been waiting to help with the clear up operation waved brooms in the air in celebration," she said.
BBC journalist Michael Hirst said about 300 to 400 people had gathered at Clapham Junction station.
"Sunshine, high spirits, lots of joking and a community vibe," he said of the atmosphere.
"Andy" from London told the BBC: "On the train out of Waterloo I can see loads of people with brushes, gloves and dustpans heading to join the cleanup: London at its best."
Others, including many celebrities, heaped praise on volunteers who are trying to reverse the damage caused over the past three nights.
Comedian Dave Gorman tweeted: "Went to bed depressed by the news. Now feeling strangely emotional as I read about @riotcleanup. Amazing."
Chef Jamie Oliver tweeted: "Sadly my restaurant in Birmingham got smashed up windows, all gone whole area closed, can't open, staff and customers all safe!! Thankfully. God bless the communities getting together to sort this out #riotcleanup - people who care about their country!!
And Stephen Fry tweeted: "I do hope that if I was in London now I'd be as good & brave & kind as all those who are agreeing to meet & help clean up."
'Cleaner than usual' Lewisham resident Claire Parkinson assembled a team of 20 people following disturbances in the area.
Ms Parkinson said the initiative was as much about showing support for businesses as about clearing up the damage.

“Start Quote

Reverend Sally Hitchiner
There's so many people wanting to help clean up that people are being sent away”
End Quote Reverend Sally Hitchiner St John's Church, Ealing
"We want to see if they need any help - even if it is just getting them a cup of tea.
"We also want to show that we are not all bad - a lot of people are going to feel down after these events."
She added that Lewisham was "cleaner than usual" following the council's own operation.
In Ealing, where shops and restaurants were damaged, the clean-up operation is in full swing.
Reverend Sally Hitchiner said the area was "totally ransacked" on Monday night.
"A number of people in my church have taken a day off to come down here," she said.
"There's so many people wanting to help clear up that people are being been sent away because the clean-up is happening so quickly."
In Croydon, people were being signed up to help out with the clean-up efforts at East Croydon railway station.
Croydon Council has drafted in extra resources to help clean up areas, make businesses secure and help the community rebuild.

What you will need

  • Bin bags
  • Brooms
  • Dustpans
  • Gloves
  • Duct tape
  • Marker pens
The council said it had already rehoused people whose homes were destroyed by fire or sealed off by the emergency services.
A spokeswoman for Hackney Council in north London said it had sent teams out "as soon as it was safe".
She added that the clean-up was "more or less finished".
In Enfield, roads closed after the riots reopened and Chris Bond, the council's cabinet member for the environment, praised street workers for their work enabling the town to reopen for business.
"This shows we will not let these criminals beat us," he said. "We will not surrender our streets to these mindless morons."
'Not in my city' Further afield bartender Charles Jupiter set up the Liverpool Clean Up group on Facebook.
About 100 people turned out to help the 21-year-old clean up the Toxteth area, which was targeted in the early hours.
Charles Jupiter who has set up a Liverpool Clean Up group Charles Jupiter said Liverpool was ready if rioters struck again
"I thought, 'Not in my city'," Mr Jupiter said.
"People were posting, 'I'm embarrassed to be English, I'm embarrassed to be from London or Liverpool'."
And he warned would-be rioters: "I hope it doesn't happen again tonight, but if it does, we will be out here again.
"There are far many more decent people in Liverpool than those few who rioted."
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spokespeople on social networking and BBM

25 August 2011 Last updated at 16:31

Social media talks about rioting 'constructive'

Comments (558)
A street cleaner sweeps up around a smouldering van set alight during riots in Hackney in London More than 1,400 people have appeared in court in connection with the riots

England riots

The government and police have not sought any new powers to shut social networks, the Home Office said after a meeting with industry representatives.
Instead they held "constructive" talks aimed at preventing violence being plotted online through existing co-operation, the Home Office said.
The meeting with representatives from Twitter, Facebook and Blackberry was held in the wake of English city riots.
The prime minister has said police may need extra powers to curb their use.
Networks such as Blackberry Messenger - a service which allows free-of-charge real-time messages - were said to have enabled looters to organise their movements during the riots, as well as inciting violence in some cases.
Criminal behaviour Following Thursday's meeting, a Home Office spokeswoman said: "The home secretary, along with the Culture Secretary and Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne, has held a constructive meeting with Acpo (the Association of Chief Police Officers), the police and representatives from the social media industry.
"The discussions looked at how law enforcement and the networks can build on the existing relationships and co-operation to prevent the networks being used for criminal behaviour.
Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version
Nick Clegg: ''We are not going to become like Iran or China. We are not going to suddenly start cutting people off''
"The government did not seek any additional powers to close down social media networks."
Dispelling rumours Prime Minister David Cameron has also said the government would look at limiting access to such services during any future disorder.
A Twitter spokeswoman said after the meeting that it was "always interested in exploring how we can make Twitter even more helpful and relevant during times of critical need".
She added: "We've heard from many that Twitter is an effective way to distribute crucial updates and dispel rumours in times of crisis or emergency."
A Facebook spokesperson said: "We welcome the fact that this was a dialogue about working together to keep people safe rather than about imposing new restrictions on internet services."
The company said it had highlighted the role Facebook played during the riots, such as people staying in contact and organising the clean-up.
"There is no place for illegal activity on Facebook and we take firm action against those who breach our rules."
A spokesman for Blackberry maker Research In Motion said the meeting was "positive and productive".
The company said: "We were pleased to consult on the use of social media to engage and communicate during times of emergency. RIM continues to maintain an open and positive dialogue with the UK authorities and continues to operate within the context of UK regulations."
A number of people have appeared in court in recent weeks for organising or attempting to organise disorder on social networks.
Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan and Jordan Blackshaw Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan and Jordan Blackshaw were jailed for four years for incitement on Facebook
Jordan Blackshaw, 21, from Marston, Cheshire, and Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, 22, from Warrington, Cheshire, were jailed for four years for online incitement.
Blackshaw had created a Facebook event entitled "Smash Down Northwich Town" while Sutcliffe-Keenan set up a Facebook page called "Let's Have a Riot in Latchford". Both have said they will appeal.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old David Glyn Jones, from Bangor, north Wales, was jailed for four months after telling friends "Let's start Bangor riots" in a post that appeared on Facebook for 20 minutes.
And Johnny Melfah, 16, from Droitwich, Worcestershire, became the first juvenile to have his anonymity lifted in a riot-related case for inciting thefts and criminal damage on the site. He will be sentenced next month.
Plotting violence In the aftermath of the riots, which spread across England's towns and cities two weeks ago, Mr Cameron said the government might look at disconnecting some online and telecommunications services if similar circumstances arose in the future.
"We are working with the police, the intelligence services and industry to look at whether it would be right to stop people communicating via these websites and services when we know they are plotting violence, disorder and criminality," he told MPs during an emergency session of Parliament.
Tim Godwin, the Met police's acting commissioner, also said last week that he considered requesting authority to switch off Twitter during the riots.
However, he conceded that the legality of such a move was "very questionable" and that the service was a valuable intelligence asset.
Meanwhile, Guardian analysis of more than 2.5 million riot-related tweets, sent between 6 August and 17 August, appears to show Twitter was mainly used to react to riots and looting, including organising the street clean-up.
The newspaper found the timing of the messages posted "questioned the assumption" that Twitter was used to incite the violence in advance of it breaking out in Tottenham on 6 August.
Currently, communications networks that operate in the UK can be compelled to hand over individuals' personal messages if police are able to show that they relate to criminal behaviour.
The rules gathering such queries are outlined in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).
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bbm positive effect

London riots: BlackBerry to help police probe Messenger looting 'role'

Met police claim popular, encrypted and free Messenger service fanned riots in Tottenham and helped organise looting
Rioting in Tottenham
BlackBerry has promised to help police investigate claims its Messenger service helped fuel and organise riots and looting in Tottenham, north London. Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA
The maker of the BlackBerry, Research in Motion, said on Monday night that it would co-operate with a police investigation into claims that its popular BlackBerry Messenger service played a key role in organising the London riots.
Scotland Yard vowed to track down and arrest protesters who posted "really inflammatory, inaccurate" messages on the service, and the social networking websites Twitter and Facebook.
Patrick Spence, the managing director regional marketing at Research In Motion (RIM), confirmed that the BlackBerry manufacturer had contacted police to assist with the investigation.
However, the statement prompted fears from some BlackBerry users that their private messages could be handed over to the police.
"We feel for those impacted by the riots in London. We have engaged with the authorities to assist in any way we can," Spence said. He added that RIM complies with UK legislation on the interception of communication and co-operates fully with the Home Office.
RIM refused to comment further or answer a series of questions on the statement.
BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) appears to be the favoured method of planning the unrest that has swept across north London since Saturday evening. Unlike text messaging or Twitter, BBM is a free, private social network where almost all messages are encrypted when they leave the sender's phone – meaning that many messages are untraceable by the authorities.
RIM can be legally ordered to hand over details to police of users suspected of unlawful activity. However, the Canadian company would be likely to resist those demands and the content of users' inflammatory messages would be encrypted. The manufacturer has previously insisted that even it cannot unscramble users' messages when sent on the devices.
Although Twitter and Facebook have played a key role in past unrest in the capital, the Tottenham riots are thought to be the first in the UK so heavily orchestrated using BlackBerry Messenger.
The "broadcasts" – which are sent instantly from one-to-many BBM users – have been reposted and amplified on Twitter and Facebook. Evidence of rioters planning where to hit next spread quickly on the networks as the police struggled to keep up.
One BBM broadcast posted on Monday evening appeared to urge protesters to go looting in Stratford, east London. "If you're down for making money, we're about to go hard in east london tonight, yes tonight!!" it said. "I don't care what ends you're from, we're personally inviting you to come and get it in. Police have taken the piss for too long and to be honest I don't know why its taken so long for us make this happen. We need a minimum of 200 hungry people. We're not broke, but who says no to free stuff. Doesn't matter if the police arrive cos we'll just chase dem out because as you've seen on the news, they are NOT ON DIS TING. Everyone meet at 7 at stratford park and let's get rich."
Another broadcast implored protesters to "unite and hit the streets" in Kilburn, north-west London. On Sunday BBM users were urged to head to Oxford Circus for "pure terror and havoc & free stuff".
Steve Kavanagh, the deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan police, said that "really inflamatory, inaccurate" messages on Twitter were mainly to blame for the disorder. "Social media and other methods have been used to organise these levels of greed and criminality," he said at a press conference on Monday afternoon.
Asked whether those behind the messages could be arrested, Kavanagh said: "Absolutely." He added: "That investigation is already under way and that is exactly the sort of thing we are looking at."
The main Facebook page set up in memory of Mark Duggan, the Tottenham resident whose death last week triggered the weekend riots, on Monday sought to distance itself from the violence.
The tribute page, which had close to 10,000 fans at the time of writing, on Saturday called for users to share videos and pictures of the torched double decker bus and police cars "to send the message out as to why this has blown into a riot".
On Monday the page struck a more conciliatory tone as unrest spread further across the capital. "If people cared about this 'Tribute' page, they will stop burning & looting. Those who encourage it, well you need to grow up. Mark's family do not need this!" those behind the page posted.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/08/london-riots-blackberry-messenger-looting


THIS SHOWS HOW MEDIA HAS HAD A POSITIVE EFFECT AS WITHOUT BBM AMONGST OTHER SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES IT WOULD BE HARDER FOR THE POLICE TO FIND CRIMINALS INVOLVED IN THE RIOTS.
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negative article but shows BBM and social networking impact

London riots: how BlackBerry Messenger played a key role

Police looking on Facebook and Twitter for signs of unrest spreading will have missed out – they should have watched BBM
London riots: a looted O2 mobile phone store in Tottenham Hale retail park
London riots: a looted O2 mobile phone store in Tottenham Hale retail park. Photograph: Ray Tang/Rex Features
In October 1985, on the Broadwater Farm estate in Tottenham where the death of Cynthia Jarrett sparked riots that culminated in the brutal murder of PC Keith Blakelock, a community leader stood on his chair at a packed open-air meeting.
The man bellowed into a megaphone to the 150 residents in front of him: "You tell them that it's a life for a life from now on. This is war."
Over whoops and cheers from the residents, he turned to a huddle of police officers standing 50 yards away and warned: "I hope you're listening. There is no way I am going to condemn the actions of the youth on Sunday night."
Twenty six years later, police officers are still listening – but the megaphones and open-air meetings have been largely replaced. This weekend's north London riots, the Daily Mail announced on Monday, were "fuelled by social media".
But is this necessarily the case?
Certainly, the first online gathering of people mourning – and soon vowing to avenge – the death of Tottenham resident Mark Duggan took place on Facebook. Some of those behind the page, which now boasts more than 7,500 fans, launched into action shortly before 10.30pm on Saturday evening – more than five hours after the first public show of protest, outside the police station on Tottenham High Road.
At 10.45pm, when rioters set a double decker bus alight, the page posted: "Please upload any pictures or video's you may have from tonight in Tottenham. Share it with people to send the message out as to why this has blown into a riot."
However, otherwise, if there was any sign that a peaceful protest would escalate, it wasn't to be found on Facebook. Twitter was slightly more indicative: tweets about an attempt to target Sunday's Hackney Carnival were spotted by police and the event was abruptly cancelled.
Scotland Yard warned on Monday afternoon that those "inciting violence" on the 140-character social network would not go unpunished. Deputy assistant commissioner Stephen Kavanagh confirmed that officers were looking at the website as part of investigations into widespread looting and rioting.
However, the most powerful and up-to-the-minute rallying appears to have taken place on a more covert social network: BlackBerry Messenger (BBM).
Using BlackBerry handsets – the smartphone of choice for the majority (37%) of British teens, according to last week's Ofcom study – BBM allows users to send one-to-many messages to their network of contacts, who are connected by "BBM PINs". For many teens armed with a BlackBerry, BBM has replaced text messaging because it is free, instant and more part of a much larger community than regular SMS.
And unlike Twitter or Facebook, many BBM messages are untraceable by the authorities (which is why, in large part, BBM is so favoured by Emirati teens to spread illicit gossip about officialdom).
One BBM broadcast sent on Sunday, which has been shown to the Guardian by multiple sources, calls on "everyone from all sides of London" to vandalise shops on Oxford street.
It said: "Everyone from all sides of London meet up at the heart of London (central) OXFORD CIRCUS!!, Bare SHOPS are gonna get smashed up so come get some (free stuff!!!) fuck the feds we will send them back with OUR riot! >:O Dead the ends and colour war for now so if you see a brother... SALUT! if you see a fed... SHOOT!"
Another sent shortly before the outbreak of violence in Enfield on Sunday afternoon reads: "Everyone in edmonton enfield wood green everywhere in north link up at enfield town station at 4 o clock sharp!".
Jenny Jones, the former deputy mayor of London, blamed an under-resourced force for missing the tweets and the status updates. "It's quite possible if they had more resources they could have picked up on this," she said.
But maybe they were looking in the wrong place. Just as Tottenham residents in 1985 lambasted the media for scaremongering about protesters – the Daily Express suggested some had been trained in Russia – today's rioters might be surprised to read about "Twitter-organised chaos".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/aug/08/london-riots-facebook-twitter-blackberry
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