Crowd as the patron

There was a time when creating a video game, funding a film or making a comic required a generous patron. Now, Kickstarter is not the only funding site for creative projects. ArtistShare was launched in 2003 to enable musicians bypass record labels, followed by IndieGogo. But Kickstarter has gained most attention. Since its launch in April 2009 more than 2.5 million people have backed 30,000 projects.

Water watch since 3000 BC

WATER, one of our most critical resources, is under threat. The importance of water to life means that providing for water needs and demands will never be free of politics. The website under review is an effort initiated by American non-profit Pacific Institute to understand the connections between water resources, water systems and international security and conflicts.

War against Vedanta

PEOPLE’S movement and international solidarity is a powerful combination. Metals and mining giant Vedanta Resources felt the heat on the day of its annual general meeting on August 28. Grassroots campaign group Foil Vedanta declared the day as the global day of action against it. Activists from different organisations joined the campaign and crowded the entrance to the meeting hall.

An encounter with ideas

AS the website notes, it is about the world’s finest minds dealing with the world’s biggest issue— sustainability. Hosted by Canadian writer and anchor Silver Donald Cameron, the website offers a wide-range of in-depth interviews with authors, activists and thinkers and documentaries on issues like wild fish.

For the love of birds

FOR a site that describes one of nature's most colourful creations, www.orinithology.com, appears rather plain. But don't go by appearances—in this case, the homepage. The site has details that could draw even the most disinterested to the avian world.

Sci-Fi unleashed

Developers of this site describe themselves as sc-fi buffs. The site fills in a vaccum where most generic search engines direct one to just about any site that mentions science fiction. Browsers can use a comprehensive set of search tools to find the latest in the genre. The heads, including movies, TV shows, actors as well as sub-genres like horror and fantasy, direct one to more than 2,200 sites.

See the sea world

IF YOU want to see marine life in all its wonder and diversity, but do not have the time to explore, this is the site to click. This Hawaii-based website boasts a huge photo database of the various live forms in rivers, seas and oceans.

Mouthpiece of small farmers

The name speaks volumes. An initiative by Hyderabad-based non-profit Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, the blog is all about the social and financial dilemma that small and marginal farmers face.

Taking on agribusiness

AS the Occupy Wall Street movement became persistent and powerful, it developed offshoots.

The humble bird's friend

ONE SPARROWS are ubiquitous. But their populations are declining in many parts of the world, including India, for reasons that are still unclear. Urban areas do not have space for house sparrows and they are also home to a host of predators. The birds are declining in rural areas too. And the problems are similar. There aren't enough nesting sites or food sources for them.