DigiActive.org

Theory: “Nothing Can Substitute for the Street”

Although this site is about how technology empowers activists on a global scale, we must not be blind optimists or think of digital activism as a panacea. For this reason we include thoughtful criticism of digital activism. If we want to make truly meaningful change we must address the Pros & Cons of digital activism.

The following quote is from a profile in the New York Times of Jessie Cagan (pictured above), the leader of the anti-war coalition United for Peace and Justice. She is talking about the use of the Internet in protesting the Iraq war.

“On the one hand, it’s a terrific tool,” she said. “We are able to get word out to massive numbers of people like that.” She snapped her fingers to make the point. “But the downside is that some people think that if they sign an online petition, that’s it.”

Whether one is for or against the war, nothing can substitute for the street.

“When you do something online, you do it in your home or your office,” Ms. Cagan said. “It’s not public.

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Campaign: Free Fouad

Fouad Alfaran, only of Saudi Arabia’s most important bloggers, was arrested on December 10 for blogging about Saudi Arabia’s political prisoners. Ironically, he is now a political prisoner himself.

The campaign to free him is taking advantage of several digital activism techniques, including a Free Fouad blog (in English and Arabic), a Free Fouad Facebook group, and an e-petition.

Please consider taking action by signing the petition, joining the Facebook group, and learning more about the case on the blog. I’ll be posting more about this campaign as it develops.

Tactic: MoveOn Organizes on Facebook

Organizer: MoveOn
Purpose of Campaign: To make the Beacon advertising system an opt-in system. Facebook should not tell users’ friends what they buy on other sites–or let companies use a person’s name to endorse their products–without explicit permission.
Organizing Techniques: Facebook group, e-petition
Outcome: Success, Facebook changes Beacon social advertising program to opt-in (your purchasing information remains private unless you explicitly agree that it can be shared)
Ease of Replication: Pretty easy - setting up a Facebook group and an online petition are both simple and free.

The anti-Beacon group which MoveOn created on Facebook Read more »