Internet at Its Finest

The article we read in class talked a lot about the negative reasons the digital divide is constantly a concern. While some of the reasons Luyt brought up were legitimate, I think that technology and the Internet should be used to close the other gaps that may seem more important than the Digital Divide. The Internet enables information to spread like wildfire. We all know this. But why not use the Internet to help raise awareness or spread information to help people who don't have the luxury of wireless or a computer or medicine or clean water for that matter. Last semester I came across a program put together by Starbucks. It's called Starbucks Love Project. I think this is a great use of the Internet to raise money for people with AIDS in Africa. People can donate money, or make a drawing to add to the collage of thousands. Starbucks donates money for every drawing made and you can view all the pictures that have already been submitted. It is almost overwhelming to see all the pictures next to each other. Its obvious that people want to help and will if they have the opportunity. Also groups of people all over the world have sent in videos singing "All you need is love". Starbucks put together all the videos and have it playing on the website so viewers can see the combination of all the different countries represented. This project allows people to just take a couple minutes out of their day to help someone else. I think this is the Internet at its finest. It's these ideas that need to be the concern of the Digital Divide. Making people aware of the struggles people face and giving them opportunities to help is what the Internet should be doing. That's no fantasy.