Activism and Me.

News Type: Other — Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:28 PM EDT

world-news, human-rights, depression, activism, digg, amnesty-international, amnesty, communnity

This could be you. Attractive, eh?

For far too long I sat on backside and said "Oh that's awful" or "That's not right, this should be stopped". After that I'd close the browser or turn off the TV and let it slip from my mind. Hey, why should I care? I have my own stuff to deal with! Iraq? Sudan? They quite literary meant nothing too me.

Then one day in late 2006 I realized, throught having a rough time personally, that there are people out there who need my help. (Yours too!) I know, its a pretty lame way to come to such a realization but I'm glad I came to it.

After a short time I decided that simply reading up on facts and disasters around the world simply wasn't enough. The world won't change simply by me digging a story or voting for one here on Newsvine. No. I had to do more. And that's when I decided to get involved in activism. (Wait...isn't that for hippes?)

Getting involved in issues by joining with your peers and people of your ilk is a great tonic. By getting off my backside and meeting people who had the same goal as me and came to the same realization as me, perhaps in a different way, was great. (My personal cause was human rights.)

Enough blabbering, my point is this: Getting yourself away from the screen and joining with other people under a common cause is the life blood of political and social change.

I know that not everyone has the time to do so but that can't be true for all folk! If enough people commit just a few hours of their lives to activism, no matter what your particular cause may be, can help change that situation. You'll be surprised how much effect the simple act of sending and signing a letter can have.

I'm not posting this to play on anyones conscious, I'm doing it because upstanding communities, such as Amnesty (my chosen course for activism), need people, not money.

So, shut off the computer and get involved! : )

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2.8

{"commentId":796644,"authorDomain":"andrewcrone"}

acrone

I hope this doesn't seem like a rant!

{"commentId":796644,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"andrewcrone"}

4 votes

#1 - Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:29 PM EDT

{"commentId":797569,"authorDomain":"GreyWolf"}

Grey Wolf

Not at all, it came across as very sincere. Good job, kinda' courageous.

{"commentId":797569,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"GreyWolf"}

2 votes

#1.1 - Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:19 PM EDT

{"commentId":798437,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

ShaunV

....Getting yourself away from the screen and joining with other people under a common cause is the life blood of political and social change.

An excellent reminder.

{"commentId":798437,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

2 votes

#1.2 - Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:54 AM EDT

{"commentId":798459,"authorDomain":"anjamerret"}

anjamerret

Well put. I also fall into the rant on internet category but in mitigation, I have been doing bits and pieces with Amnesty for a while. And Green peace. But definitely not enough.

{"commentId":798459,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"anjamerret"}

1 vote

#2 - Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:00 AM EDT

{"commentId":798652,"authorDomain":"andrewcrone"}

acrone

Bits and pieces are better than nothing! : )

{"commentId":798652,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"andrewcrone"}

1 vote

#2.1 - Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:54 AM EDT

{"commentId":798633,"authorDomain":"merrydeath"}

merrydeath

Thanks for writing this. I have worked with many non-profit/activism/charity groups over the years and it can't be said enough that giving your time and energy is a wonderful and appreciated way to help out.

Sometimes helping out isn't glamorous - stuffing envelopes, getting a newsletter ready to mail, cleaning up community space - but it is a great way to make friends and get involved.

Sending money is good too but it isn't the same as connecting with passionate and creative people around a table and working out how exactly you are going to make a difference.

{"commentId":798633,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"merrydeath"}

3 votes

#3 - Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:50 AM EDT

{"commentId":798656,"authorDomain":"andrewcrone"}

acrone

It certainly isn't glamorous! It isn't well paid either! :P

{"commentId":798656,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"andrewcrone"}

3 votes

#3.1 - Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:55 AM EDT

{"commentId":799511,"authorDomain":"anjamerret"}

anjamerret

I really admire people who volunteer and really get stuck in. Every bit counts.

{"commentId":799511,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"anjamerret"}

1 vote

#4 - Thu Jun 21, 2007 3:23 PM EDT

{"commentId":799633,"authorDomain":"kylen"}

KyleN

I've typically considered activism to be negative versus volunteer charity to be positive.

The difference is activism typically revolves around you deciding somebody else is doing something wrong that needs you to go help 'fix' them. That path revolves far too much around ego for me to be comfortable with it. Amnesty passes back and forth across that line. Provision of information is good, specific calls to action not so good.

Helping others that ask it of you is wonderful. Fixing people you deem broken is at best neutral. Forcing others to pay for your egotistical social fixing is downright criminal (but not related to this volunteer stuff directly just the lobbying).

{"commentId":799633,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"kylen"}

#5 - Thu Jun 21, 2007 3:56 PM EDT

{"commentId":803320,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

This is excellent. Good job.

{"commentId":803320,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#6 - Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:23 PM EDT

{"commentId":803564,"authorDomain":"RebelGirl"}

RebelGirl

Amazing... my sentiments exactly. I find that if people would put their money with their mouth is and actually make a difference this world would be a much better place.

I am an activist and am heavily involved in charity... I do believe you can do both and make a difference, its all positive, because lack of action is the only negative!

Great article!

{"commentId":803564,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"RebelGirl"}

3 votes

#7 - Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:56 PM EDT

{"commentId":803757,"authorDomain":"andrewcrone"}

acrone

As Margaret Meed said "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."

If that isn't inspiration to get motivated then I dunno what is!

{"commentId":803757,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"andrewcrone"}

3 votes

#7.1 - Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:10 PM EDT

{"commentId":803777,"authorDomain":"RebelGirl"}

RebelGirl

I read an article recently regarding One.org and how we need to focus on the needs of Americans, with the typical sentiment.. God Bless America. Little do they know that One.org supports charities world wide, not just in Africa and not just to fight Aid/HIV. My stance on this and many subjects is that the far right are too busy preaching to their breather en than to actively engage changing the world.

Its easy to tell of the evils of the world from your couch, only when you are open enough to look outside your world do you find the necessity for change!

{"commentId":803777,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"RebelGirl"}

3 votes

#7.2 - Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:20 PM EDT

{"commentId":804218,"authorDomain":"andrewcrone"}

acrone

I tend not to get hung up on the views of other people, no matter what side of the political spectrum they sit. If the far right want to preach rather than act then let them.

Getting caught up in all that has no use, imo. Stop listening to other people and just get on with it, thats what i say! : )

{"commentId":804218,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"andrewcrone"}

4 votes

#7.3 - Sat Jun 23, 2007 4:40 AM EDT

{"commentId":812439,"authorDomain":"RebelGirl"}

RebelGirl

I agree and that wasn't my intent, my statement was a literal message not one of malice.

BrashMonkey has a similar take on this and asks the question.. why do people not get involved... hence the statement I made.

I have quit worrying about what other are willing to do, or not do. I got off the couch, along with my children and we are making a difference one life at a time, which is all anyone can do.

{"commentId":812439,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"RebelGirl"}

2 votes

#7.4 - Tue Jun 26, 2007 4:12 AM EDT

{"commentId":812212,"authorDomain":"zaki"}

Zaki

Been There Done That :)

I'll be back at it as soon as I'm done with this damn undergrad. Grr!

{"commentId":812212,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"zaki"}

2 votes

#8 - Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:49 AM EDT

{"commentId":816904,"authorDomain":"onlynow99"}

Angel_C

Good article. Here's an article on what I do.

{"commentId":816904,"threadId":"116211","contentId":"792827","authorDomain":"onlynow99"}

1 vote

#9 - Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:51 AM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"116211","isPrivate":false}

ACRONE

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