May 30, 2008

Web Wednesday - Social Mixer V13.0 (11th June)

Welcome to all new comers of the Web Wednesday community, which has now reached 603 Asian digerati working in the internet and digital media space across Asia.

The cyclone in Myanmar and earthquake in Sichuan continue to cause large-scale human tragedy.
How are charities using the internet to generate awareness, raise funds and funnel donations to the right people?

We bring in two experts to give us their perspective:

Edmon Chung, CEO of DotAsia & Vice Chair of Hong Kong Internet Society, who set up Relief.Asia as an online platform for promoting and raising funds for relief efforts.

Thomas Stader, Founder of The Library Project, a charity that provides books to countryside schools in China.
A topical event so do come along with a full wallet ready to make some donations!

If you wish to join our bustling community, either send me an email or sign up for the Web Wednesday Group on Facebook. Feel free to “share the love” and invite others along. The event is free and open to all curious minds!

Looking forward to seeing old faces and meeting many new ones!


A finally, thank you to our sponsors (logos below) for their continued support:



Sichuan Earthquake - SMS donations

Hong Kong's Wireless Technology Industry Association has come up with a creative way to donate fund to the Sichuan Earthquake by merely sending an SMS. Below is an exact copy of the posting on their newly launched blog (aren't they up with the times!).

The donation time runs from 12:00 noon on Sunday 1st June to midnight on Sunday 8th June 2008.



100% of your donations will be distributed to the following Charity Organizations:

- 聯合國兒童基金會 United Nations Children’s Fund (unicef)
- 樂施會 Oxfam
- 救世軍 Salvation Army
- 紅十字會 Red Cross
- 世界宣明會 World Vision
- 福幼 Caring for Children Foundation

SMS短訊捐款

2008年6月1日中午十二時正至6月8日晚上十二時正,每發送一個空白短訊或慰問短訊到508508,即可捐款$25至「演藝界512關愛行動」作四川地震賑災用途。有關捐款將於閣下流動電話費單或儲值咭扣除。

參與短訊捐款之流動網絡供應商: 1010, One2Free & New World Mobility, 3 Hong Kong, PCCW mobile, PEOPLES, SmarTone-Vodafone
短訊平台支援: Telewide Enterprises Limited
支援機構﹕香港無線科技商會(WTIA)

* 參與機構豁免有關收費

SMS Donation

From 1st June 2008 12:00 noon to 8th June 2008 24:00 (end of the day), mobile subscribers can send a blank SMS or supportive message to the designated number “508508” to donate HK$25 to “512 Artistes Fund Raising Campaign” to help the Sichuan earthquake victims. Donations will be deducted from your next monthly bill or from your pre-paid card balance.

Participating Mobile Network Operators: 1010, One2Free & New World Mobility, 3 Hong Kong, PCCW mobile, PEOPLES, SmarTone-Vodafone
SMS Platform Support: Telewide Enterprises Limited
Coordinating Organization: Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association (WTIA)

* Participating parties will waive all the relevant charges

May 20, 2008

Power of love - Lin Di

Danwei has posted a very moving song, composed overnight by Lin Di (林笛), the lead singer and pipa player from popular Chinese band, Cold Fairyland. 中国加油!

May 16, 2008

Over 50,000 lives lost - donate!

Tonight the Beijing News announces that the death toll of the Sichuan Earthquake has hit 50,000! A few slides shared on Slidehare.net to give the numbers meaning:

May 15, 2008

Help Victims of the Wenchuan Earthquake

As the number of victims of the horrific Wenchuan earthquake continues to rise (14,000 and 60,00 missing as of Wednesday 14th May), the internet community in China is putting the latest technologies to a good cause, using Twitter to share breaking news (nicely summarised by Marc van der Chijs) or posting informative lists of ways to donate money

The folks at New China Career created this banner that links to the Red Cross donation site:

CHINA EARTHQUAKE RELIEF - DONATE NOW!

May 7, 2008

Hong Huang on Chinese Nationalism

Hong Huang, ex-wife of Chen Kaige, and prominent mainland blogger talks about Chinese nationalism and the disconnect between how the Chinese and the outside world perceives modern China. (Thanks to Danwei for this).

May 5, 2008

Banner in Digital Media Bulletin - 16,000 emails

Spot our banner for the upcoming social mixer on Digital Media's latest email bulletin that goes out to 16,000 executives in advertising and 4,000 in digital media across Asia.

Web Wednesday - Social Mixer V12.0 (7th May)

It's been fascinating and a truly eye-opening experience wondering the darker corridors of the internet in preparation for the upcoming Web Wednesday event on 7th May. More later...

Here's a copy of the HTML email invite we send out to our members last week:


A warm welcome to all new comers of the
Web Wednesday community, which has now reached 563 Asian digerati working in the internet and digital media space across Asia.

I’d like to thank Ivy Wong, the elegant COO of TVB.com, for being our guest speaker at the last event. Unfortunately, our recording was mistakenly erased. In summary, Ivy admitted that TVB was dealing with the worrying trend of youngsters ditching TV for the web; she also felt that Hong Kong consumers expect web content for free (i.e. paid downloads or subscriptions won’t work); she challenged media buyers by suggesting that they look at truly integrated offerings across all media platforms; invited anyone with interesting technology offerings, including in-game advertising, to contact her; and finally, pronounced her ambitious goal to help Hong Kong’s housewives (“see lai” in local slang) enjoy TV online.

Ivy gave away some great prizes, including 1 million banner impressions (worth HK$40,000!) to the lucky winner Angus Lau of
EditGrid, Hong Kong’s home-grown online spreadsheet provider.

If you missed the event, you can check out the photos on our
Web Wednesday Group on Flickr. Our next event, Social Mixer V12.0, will start at 6pm on Wednesday 7th May 2008. If you’re on Facebook (524,697 people just in Hong Kong!), you’re welcome to sign up for the event here. To date, we have over 106 attendees confirmed.

As the Internet has
become a battle ground for the Beijing Olympics, both within and outside China, we felt it was important to bring this topic to our community here in Hong Kong. We have therefore invited two speakers who track this furore on a daily basis and have the journalistic experience to give us measured insight into recent developments.

Ms. Oiwan Lam, North East Asia Editor for
Global Voices, a non-profit global citizens’ media project founded at Harvard Law School, and editor of Hong Kong InMedia, a Chinese citizen journalism site.

Mr. Thomas Crampton, ex-correspondent for the International Herald Tribune and the New York Times. He was based in Asia for ten years before leaving for postings in the US and Europe. He recently returned to work on the business side of media with Next Media. Naturally, Thomas is a prominent and incisive blogger.

Due to the ever-growing crowd of Asian digerati, we've outgrown our generous hosts at Lotus and will be moving our social mixer events to the newly launched Q97 in the basement of California Tower in Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong. If you’re into club music, do join the Q97 Group on Facebook.

To enjoy a complimentary welcome drink, simply download the Q97 wallpaper from our mobile website (m.webwednesday.hk) and show it to the door staff.

This is sure to be an enlightening event so so please do come along with friends to mix, contribute and share you hotly-contested opinions.

If you wish to join our bustling community, either send me an email or sign up for the Web Wednesday Group on Facebook. Feel free to “share the love” and invite others along. The event is free and open to all curious minds!

Looking forward to seeing old faces and meeting many new ones!


A finally, thank you to our sponsors (logos below) for their continued support: