Tactic: Colombians Organize with Facebook

Written by Mary on February 11, 2008 – 7:35 pm -

Description: Four Colombian uses of Facebook created the group Un Millon de Voces Contra las FARC (a Million Voices Against the FARC) and used the page to organize a day of worldwide protests against the Colombian rebel group on Monday, February 4.

Organizer: Carlos Andres Santiago and 3 other Colombian Facebook users.

Purpose of Action: To oppose the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - Ejército del Pueblo), a guerrilla organization guilty of human rights abuses.

Organizing Tools: Facebook (the mainstream media, as well as business and civic organizations picked up on the Facebook protest and helped to promote it, which was critical to its success.)

Outcome: The rally in Colombia’s capital, Bogotá, drew 2 million participants and was the largest rally in Colombia’s history. Rallies were organized in 185 cities around the world.

Ease of Replication: Creating a Facebook group is free and extremely easy. Carrying out a global protest is more difficult. In order to succeed, your event must catch the public imagination so that other people and groups, particularly the mainstream media, help you in promoting the protest.

anti-FARC protest in Hong Kong, part on the worldwide day of action on Feb 4.

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Posted in Americas, Asia, Social Networks, Tactics | 2 Comments »