Falanster. Annual Report 2014. Part 1

This article will cover what we did last year and what we are planning to do in 2015. The plans for this year were worked out at a number of meetings in November and December. We took into consideration the aspects that need to be improved so that the plans we have come true.
 
2014. Step by step.
 
Open Data Day took place on February, 22. It was the first open data event in Belarus synchronized with the global movement. Also, we invited a guest from Germany who told about the current state of open data achievements in his country. This event gathered the most active movement activists, many of whom now are developing this movement in Belarus on their own. From our side we help to solve legal issues related with database license and other challenges.
 
The Cyclists' Guide is one of the most prominent Falanster's projects in 2014. During spring-summer 2014 we worked on the project most actively. The project was presented in different communities in different cities (8 in total). Along with the presentation of the project we put up the problem of out-dated traffic rules and the one of the bicycle community subjectivity. We suggested that cyclists joined in and changed rules together with us. This project drew attention of the mass media, some sponsor organisations and private sponsors, who helped to increase the print run of the Guide. An important side of the project is that we created an open ifrustructure, providing on-line access to all the source materials. But the most important thing is that we declared to the public that the rules can be changed and suggested a mechanism to do it. Now the project "The Cyclists' Guide" is open to be continued by any other interested organisation independently.  
 

 
The beginning of the project 'Tasty Creativity' (Smachnaya Tworchast). At the end of 2013 - the first half of 2014 we started preparing for the opening of an affiliated branch of Creative Commons. On 29 August we celebrated its grand opening. What is the main activity of the branch? This is an educational activity (lectures, presentatins, reports) aimed at developing and broadening of the free approach to the spreading of knowledge, content and public licensing. In October during the contest "Social Weekend" we worked out the style of the project and determined the ways of its improvement. In order to develop a successful strategy we held up meetings during the whole year with different communities (lvee.org, mlug, cinema perpetuum mobile, adukacyja.info, aboss.by), media editorial staff (34mag, 17-11.info) and creative people. The main aim of the project is to study the "Copyright and related rigts" law and to prepare conditions for its modification in favour of the internet community and free culture.
 

 
In June at hackathon started the project 'Participation Tool'. Its main idea is to develop a platform for collective rule and law creation; ... вызначэння пазіцыі супольнасцяў людзей... and also pilot testing of technologies of collective participation in social, public and common issues via web-network. .....
 

 
One of the biggest inner projects was Falanster website boost. It took place in spring-summer during Drupal-club meetings. Everyone could join in and not only enchance their knowledge of web-technology, but also aquire team-working skills. Since summer the main version of the web-site is in belarusian.  
 
In 2014 every Friday we made linuxmeetups, organised cryptoparties and movie sessions. Also we started to work with trainees. We established a partnership with different communities to exchange knowledge in information security technologies and team collaboration. We helped our partners to repair their websites, expanded international relations with like-minded organisations  (such as Young Pirates of Europe). A bookcrossing bookcase from the Falanster's library was created.

To be continued...