NullPointerException when passing data from a non-activity class to an activity (via intent)

Question

I am trying to call another activity from an OnClickListener, but have encountered a NullPointerException. I used the suggestion provided at https://stackoverflow.com/a/7325248/1291619 to pass data to the other activity.

This class is intended to listen on a list and start VCardActivity.java with the selected uri when an item is clicked. It sends the uri along with the intent:

public class StaffListListener implements OnItemClickListener {

    ArrayList<String> items;
    Activity activity;

    public StaffListListener(ArrayList<String> items, Activity activity) {
        this.items = items;
        this.activity  = activity;
    }

    /**
     * Send user to view with contact details
     */
    public void onItemClick(AdapterView<?> parent, View view, int pos, long id) {

        //items.get(pos) returns the UPI needed. Append to http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/our_staff/vcard.php?upi=    
        Uri.Builder b = Uri.parse("http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/our_staff/vcard.php").buildUpon();
        b.appendQueryParameter("upi", items.get(pos));
        Uri uri = b.build();
        Log.d("URL of staff", uri.toString());

        Intent i = new Intent(activity.getApplicationContext(), VCardActivity.class);
        i.putExtra("URI",uri);
        activity.startActivity(i);      
    }   
}

This class is intended to receive the intent, along with the uri, and parse the data and display it. I have not sorted out the data formatting and parsing yet, simply using Log as a placeholder:

public class VCardActivity extends ListActivity {
    private VCardActivity local;
    private String uri;

    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_vcard);
        local = this;

        Bundle extras = getIntent().getExtras();
        if (extras != null) {
            uri = extras.getString("URI");
        }

        try {
            URL url = new URL(uri.toString());
            HttpURLConnection urlConnection = (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();

            InputStream stream = urlConnection.getInputStream();
            StringBuffer fileContent = new StringBuffer("");
            int ch;
            while( (ch = stream.read()) != -1){
                fileContent.append((char)ch);
                }
            String data = new String(fileContent);
            Log.i("TAG", "data: " + data);
            }
        catch (IOException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
            }        
    }
}

My exception:

06-01 10:06:13.293: E/AndroidRuntime(903): FATAL EXCEPTION: main
06-01 10:06:13.293: E/AndroidRuntime(903): java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start activity ComponentInfo{com.lim.assignment/com.lim.json.VCardActivity}: java.lang.NullPointerException
06-01 10:06:13.293: E/AndroidRuntime(903):  at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2180)

If anyone can tell me where I'm going wrong, would be much appreciated.

Answer 1

pass data via intent like that

Intent i = new Intent(getApplicationContext(), VCardActivity.class);
        i.putExtra("URI",uri.toString());
       startActivity(i);

and get data like that

 Bundle extras = getIntent().getExtras();
        if (extras != null) {
            uri = extras.getString("URI");
        }