06 Aug
Citzalia hits the blogosphere
The buzz has started on the internet about Citzalia, sparked off by a posting from blogger Jon Worth. Thanks Jon! However Jon’s speculation on the source and amount of funding for the project was wrong (he has corrected it).
The total funding for Citzalia is about €275,000, much less than the €4 million he suggested. Citzalia is funded through a grant in which ESN is providing 25% of the funding for the project, which demonstrates ESN’s commitment to and belief in the project.
Citzalia came about after ESN put the idea forward in answer to a call by the European Parliament’s Directorate-General for Communication “for the development and launching of an innovative website which uses creative methods to generate interest and raise awareness about the role of the European Parliament”.
ESN’s proposal for a virtual Parliament was considered innovative and yes, experimental. This is the risk one takes with projects that are striving to leverage the internet and create a new social participatory space.
We see Citzalia evolving into a great learning tool that can be useful not only for the general public, but also for teachers in middle schools and even for journalism schools. Citzalia is a work in progress and when we launch the test site we hope you will become a beta tester so we can get your feedback.
If you or anyone else has any questions please do not hesitate to contact Paolo, our project manager for Citzalia, at pma[at]esn.eu.
français
Citzalia will be a hard sell for a public that is already suspicious of the EU and is now being told to prepare for extreme austerity. Perhaps this was the wrong time – when people are losing their jobs – to announce a project such as this?
Two quick questions:
- When will the project go live?
- How to sign up for the beta? (There seems to be no email provided or sign-up form)
[...] will fail to find an audience (not insignificant criticism). The company behind Citzalia has duly responded on their blog (though they appear to be moderating comments quite strictly – I’m still [...]
What a waste of time and money!
are people employed to do this?
As someone with a great interest in the EP, I will definitely be registering for the beta test. I hope to be able to put my knowledge of European security issues and third world studies finally to use. At last, an online game that I can really get into.
The beta-testing will start in the second half of September. Depending on the beta-testers’ reactions, the official launch of the platform should be announced between December 2010 and January 2011.
The registration form for the beta-testers will go live tomorrow. We will contact you personally when the site is ready.
We look forward to seeing you take part in the beta test!
What an absolutely lunatic way of spending money on useless things…. how about putting this money into projects that teach young people how to operate computers and learn programming skills instead for example? Or towards real issues, such as education about renewable energy, business or the protection of marine environments for future generations? Never mind the incredible accumulated amount of productivity loss if just 10,000 people spend an hour on this per week/day as they already do on FarmVille etc.? Why fund this behaviour??
Why not practice REAL DEMOCRACY in a REAL EU WORLD instead of this illusion that citizens of the EU are free and able to free speech. I am sick of this nanny behaviour. All empires fall one day, the Roman Empire, The Reich fell. American empire is crumbeling and EU is next on the list…
P.S. The last shirt you wear in your coffin has no pockets. Remember that you greedy subjects. You cannot take your wealth into your gaves. Rembember that you sad bunch of lunatics.
“[...] Or towards real issues, such as education about renewable energy, business or the protection of marine environments for future generations?”
Dear Jonas, you will be able to debate real topics like:
1. The EU and its institutions
2. Justice and citizenship
3. External relations and defense
4. Budget, economic and monetary affairs,
5. Employment and social affairs
6. Internal market, industry and research
7. Regional policy
8. Energy and transport
9. Health and environment
10. Education, culture and sport
11. Agriculture and fisheries
This way, one hour/day spent on that site will be more constructive than the hour spent on farmville.
Une question complémentaire des précédentes :
Les papiers publiaient sur ce blog seront-ils uniquement en anglais ?
SF
I simply can’t wait! My two favourite things put together, politics and MMOs. Sign me up for the BETA pls.
Bonjour Samuel,
La plateforme sera accessible dans les 23 langues de l’UE. Toute contribution pourra être publiée par son auteur dans sa langue d’origine. Nous travaillons actuellement sur un système de traduction automatique des articles permettant une plus grande audience. Sachant que ce genre de système présente encore des limitations, nous prévoyons également un bureau de traduction géré par les utilisateurs (sur le même principe que la salle de presse).
I’ve just tried to sign up for the beta programme.
Unfortunately I was unable to complete the process as there is no option for loyal Subjects of Her Majesty the Queen.
I am not an EU Citizen.
That is all.
Spartacus, you’re a burden for Humanity …
Fantastic blog! I definitely love how it is easy on my eyes as well as the facts are well written. I am wondering how I may be notified whenever a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your rss feed which should do the trick! Have a nice day!
Loving that, good info! If you get a chance stop by because we have a new free training program for those looking to start their own internet business online..
[...] of the Week in Bloggingportal, I mentioned that I’d posted a rather critical comment on the Citzalia blog and it hadn’t yet been approved. It’s since been published, and the reason it probably [...]
Nicely argued, BunnyHop.
Mind like a steel trap, that one.
@L’équipe des Citz
Merci pour votre réponse !
Serait-il possible d’avoir accès sans délai au “About Citzalia” dans les trois langues officielles.
Ca serait un bon début, non ?
SF
Is it going to be a shooting game?
A revolution of free people trying to conquer their freedom and sovereignity back which has been stolen away from them by the fascist EU and traitor governments?
Maybe just what the future might have in store for the freedom stealing EU?
A shooting game would be great!
What is the main purpose for the gamer? I mean could they earn points? What can the gamer do with those points?
How social would it be? Can you update feeds on twitter, hyves, facebook or myspace?
Is it based on actual IRL (in real life) issues, if yes how fast would that be updated/implemented in the game?
How can you be EP representative? Can you get being elected?