Bloggers and blogging often come in for criticism from both those outside the blogosphere, and in the mainstream media. A lot of this criticism is understandable, with many bloggers and blog commenters engaging in nothing more than juvenile insults and fanboy hysteria. Yet when done properly, blogging offers one of the most open and provocative mediums around. Nowhere is this more evident than the annual Blog Action Day, and this year’s topic is both relevant and urgent.