Use the Beeb's tech muscle for your campaign

The BBC has launched iCan its own system allowing people to use the Net to take action on social issues... something pioneer activists have always focussed on but often lacked the funds and expertise to fly really successfully. As the site says "iCan is a new BBC service which aims to help people start doing something about issues in their life. You can find advice, inspiration, and a growing number of people able to help you."
The site launches officially November 3. Blog commentators like Louise Ferguson are applauding the initiative but musing how far it will get up the Government's nose if people really use the muscle of the BBC for direct action. As she says "iCAN is a bold move that seems in tune with the times. It's the kind of social software that government itself would be developing and using, were it to be truly interested in increasing participation in the political process."
Matt Jones, who worked on iCan, gives some of the rationale in a posting It's all about the tail