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The Free Tibet movement and the Internet have a complicated relationship.

Activists are using the Web vigorously and creatively to campaign for Tibetans' political freedom in the lead up to the Bejing Olympics. But, users in China and Tibet have no way of participating in the online campaign. The Chinese government has blocked all websites with the word Tibet, and any search on Google.cn for something like "human rights" produces limited results.

Despite the Great Firewall of China, Students for a Free Tibet is focused on fighting government propaganda and Olympic cheerleading online. "We're trying to counteract that," explains Nathan Dorjee, a ten year volunteer with the organization. "Not through billions of dollars, but through truth and openness and transparency, the tools of the web."

From moveon.org anti-war videos in America to election map mashups in Zimbabwe, the Web has changed the way we protest. The mainstreaming of technology has made activism more accessible and has given the average citizen the opportunity to research, lobby, criticize and ultimately take action.

Students for a Free Tibet maintains a blog with breaking news, video footage, and photos. "We have BlackBerrys, Treos, Sidekicks, Facebook, Twitter, text messages," rhymes off Mr. Dorjee. "We like to think of ourselves as a BBC or CNN on a budget, but without an editor."

Last year the group used satellite technology to broadcast live video from a protest on Mount Everest.

Mr. Dorjee says that the web actions and campaigns come from the digital lifestyle of the students in the organization. "We are a great opportunity to use technology because of who we're made up of."

Students for a Free Tibet recently won a $25,000 award in the Facebook Giving Challenge. Facebook says the objective of the Giving Challenge was to introduce new ways of giving and connecting others through a cause. The challenge wasn't focused on how much money an organization raised, but on how successful a group was at building a collective action. Students for a Free Tibet raised over $100,000, from 3,672 donors.

Social networking has been embraced by charity groups, along with custom e-mail campaigns. These have become irreplaceable tools for promoting and organizing.

WSPA Canada (World Society for the Protection of Animals) uses e-activist software by advocacyonline.net to generate letters to members of parliament. Melissa Tkachyk, Programs Officer at WSPA, says the web helps mobilize supporters quickly. "It's extremely useful when a pressing issue arises without warning, and that happens all the time," she explains.

Ms. Tkachyk says that in the 80s it was very easy to get hundreds of people out to environmental and animal rights protests. Today, it's difficult to bring together a hundred activists, with exception of big campaigns that take months to plan. "I think people realize that there are so many other ways that they can participate in a campaign just from their computer."

Students for a Free Tibet have organized five protests inside of China, using what Mr. Dorjee describes as "non violent, peaceful, direct action." While these actions make front page news, digital activism provides an opportunity to reach people day to day. "Online has this really powerful effect on your daily life. We're just trying to use it to capture a piece of people's attention in their daily life."

How-to action guides, forums, and online petitions are showcased in the Take Action section of takingitglobal.org . TakingITGlobal is a Toronto based non-profit organization that uses IT to provide youth with online platform for social change. They are a recipient of the 2007 Tech Museum Award for education.

"Ten years ago when the tools were just starting to emerge, the concept was just so novel, and it wasn't really mainstream," explains Jennifer Corriero, co-founder and executive director of TakingITGlobal. "Now, it's really common nature, especially in North America, to use the web to advance many different causes and I think it's very integrated."

TakingITGlobal recently launched a Commit tool at their site, and are developing an application for Facebook. It's like a 43things.com for young activists where users can create and browse commitments to making the world a better place. Commitments range from saying no to any form of corruption to learning more about other cultures.

Ms. Corriero feels the Internet has helped more people to see themselves as potential activists. "The Web has been both a tool for generating awareness, and mobilizing people, and hopefully keeping people involved."

Ms. Corriero says keeping people involved was a hot topic at a Harvard conference she recently attended in Istanbul. The event, "Digitally Empowered Activists: Getting the Tools to the People Who Need Them," highlighted the use of SMS, Facebook, and blogging in activism around the world.

Despite the popularity of online actions, a traditional approach still has value. "Politicians evaluate the amount of time you spend on a letter as an indication of your level of interest in an issue," explains Ms. Tkachyk. "Certainly a personal handwritten letter is always more effective."

The most effective approach is an all of the above campaign says Ms. Tkachyk. "The diversity of tactics that you use attract diverse people."

"I think the more creative your ways of approaching your supporters, and engaging them, the better your response rate is."

Jennifer Hollett is a broadcast journalist and freelance writer.