[Foundation-l] Wiki Activism (Project Proposal)

Fri May 19 08:03:52 UTC 2006

Hello! - my name is Nicholas Barry. I am "willing to take responsibility" for this project, but I don't feel that this description/proposal is ready to go on the actual Proposals for new projects page (so it's on the Talk page). I'm new at the project proposals game, so I would really appreciate help, advice, or constructive criticism. Actually, even hateful, unconstructive criticism could help let me know where I go wrong (ha ha).
 The Idea:
 WikiActivism is a project for past and present social movements such as the Civil Rights movement, Animal Rights movement, and the blooming Immigrant Rights movement. The meat and potatoes of the project will be a page for each separate movement. The majority of pages (great in number, though less important than the main page for each movement) will list evidence used by or against each movement, organizations associated with each movement, and other such items. (Most links on each page will probably go to Wikipedia for explanation of various terms and issues.)
 How is this different than the existing pages on Wikipedia?

   It will be more in-depth than the Wikipedia articles. This will include: 
      Evidence and statistics cited for or against movements
      Organizations associated with movements
      Detailed mapping of the inter-relations between movements
      A deeper consideration of the issues of the movement

   There will be sections devoted to the ongoing activity of each movement (almost like melding Wikipedia with Wikinews for these movements).
   Each movement will have a page or pages describing practical actions that potential movement members or supporters can take to further the movement
 Issues, Concerns, Objections and Questions:
 Many of the concepts and ideas on the pages have explanations on Wikipedia, and would be unnecessary (and maybe against copyright) to copy over content from the 'pedia to this project. Is it considered bad form for many of the links on a particular project to actually lead off to other projects? Or is that considered necessary? I notice that Wikibooks has a lot of that, so I guess it's okay.
 It is possible that this project will not fall under the WikiMedia Foundation charter, which is to spread information. This project is meant to spread information, but is also meant to have practical information on how to contribute to various movements. Is that okay? Please opine.
 - Nicholas Barry