|
Calling all citizens and laptops
Just when you think you can’t tolerate one more "get connected" pitch for a phone service, cable company or wireless Internet provider, along comes Wes Boyd and Joan Blades. They are husband and wife and in the early stages of connecting an astonishing number of Americans. But this is one "call" you will want to answer. Their Internet site, www.moveon.org, started with a simple email to a few hundred friends and business associates about, yes, urging Congress to censor Bill Clinton for his inappropriate actions with an intern, but, no, let’s not impeach the guy. What Boyd and Blades called people to do back in the late 1990s was "move on" with the business of the country. Five years later, MoveOn sends out regular emails about anti-war rallies, peace vigils, political activities and the like to 1.6 million active members. In June, Boyd and Blades, along with a handful of colleagues, staged a "virtual" Democratic presidential primary. It was a huge success, widely covered in the media. In 48 hours, more "votes" were cast than in the early caucus and primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina combined. Democratic candidate Howard Dean won the virtual primary. Not surprisingly, Dean is noted among the major press for his ability to raise money on the Internet. MoveOn plan’s is to "take back" the country from the current administration. In what can only be categorized as the American way, a host of other liberal and conservative political groups are following the MoveOn lead. No doubt, Internet activism has emerged. Laptop democracy might not be far behind. You can almost see the flags flapping inside computer screens. In our cover story this month, social justice writer extraordinaire Melinda Welsh unfurls the MoveOn phenomenon (starting on page 16). She details the mounting hope among activists like Boyd and Blades that Internet activism can shape a new and improved world. What’s clearly happening is people are returning to more active roles of citizenship through grassroots efforts that are modem-to-modem rather than only door-to-door. MoveOn is doing it with politics. Other organizations are using the Internet (emails and Web sites) to galvanize support for worthy causes ranging from organic farmer support to environmentally-friendly logging to synchronized meditations for peace. "It’s become easy to get the word out about rallies and other events," says one local activist who works on natural foods campaigns. "We can send out a message on Tuesday about event on Saturday. The Internet helps us galvanize people and get out in the community. The power is in people showing up and letting their voices be heard." Even without leaving home, there are ways to make your opinions count. Many sites seek your "vote" or support on issues, creating virtual petitions that can be shared with legislators and other policymakers. Internet activists want to make it convenient for us to be heard. For instance, the True Majority site (http://action.truemajority.org ) asks that you "give us two minutes each month and we will give you a better world." Another example: Here in the Seattle area, the Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War organization (www.snowcoaltion.org) is rallying residents to persuade local city councils to pass resolutions denouncing the Patriot Act. That piece of legislation gives the federal government an unsettling amount of power to delve into private lives of citizens. The SNOW coalition is involved in other community actions; a visit to their Web site offers plenty of possibilities. It all translates to an opportunity for us to get more involved in our communities, starting with just a few clicks. Try it out this month and let me know how it worked out (send emails to bob@newtimes.org). Write if you have other Internet "citizenship" addresses we didn’t list. Tell me if you don’t agree that the Internet activism will change politics in this country. Let’s keep the conversation going.
Introducing the Dragonfly Review of Books If you like books, you will love our Dragonfly Review (starting on page 45). We have expanded the length and number of our book reviews, plus added some information-packed columns and features. Monte Paulsen’s monthly "Book Buzz" is a highlight (page 50) This month, look for Neale Donald’s Walsch’s review of Eckhart Tolle’s new book, "Stillness Speaks." Walsch (author of the "Conversations with God" series) and Tolle (his "The Power of Now" is still on bestseller lists) are two of the biggest names in spiritual and personal growth writing. We pledge to bring you a steady stream of notable authors and book reviewers in the coming months of the Dragonfly Review. What’s more, we will be tracking bestsellers (page 52) for spirituality, healthy living and current events. It’s part of expanding our editorial mission at The New Times, including such topics as natural health, environment, food, spirituality, personal growth and social justice. The Dragonfly Review will be a monthly companion for our mutual reading habits. See you at the bookstore. —Bob Condor |
