You’re a famous blogger, and you frequently write about your advocacies in your blog and in social networking sites. Some people, particularly “moderates,” look at the Internet as their preferred mode of activism (sometimes only mode), and shun out street protests. Why do you continue to take to the streets despite already having other venues for protest?
The Internet is a potent and alternative tool for campaigns and advocacies, no doubt, especially among the youth. We have to remember, however, that majority of Filipinos still do not have access to the world wide web. Ordinary minimum-wage earners, farmers, out-of-school youth, even many among the middle class are not Internet users. We cannot win any nationwide campaign or struggle without them. Long-lasting social change is not possible without the fundamental and primary participation of the masses. The Internet is not the medium to engage them in, and whenever we try to achieve fundamental changes in government and society, we cannot rely on the Internet alone. It’s naivete to believe that changes can be won on the electronic front.
Street protests are among the most accommodating and reliable forms of protests. It does not exclude anyone from participating. It accommodates anyone regardless of computer literacy, economic or social stature. History has also proven its potency in advancing the struggle of citizens for changes and reforms around the world.
There’s nothing wrong when ordinary university students use the Internet as a venue of protest, and I personally don’t take that against anyone. But, we have to be conscious that it is not the only mode of expressing support for an advocacy or expressing dissent against government policies and actions. There are times, like today, when more is demanded from us, and we cannot afford to be complacent with the kinds of actions we are willing to take.
law student, national democracy activist, film school graduate, photography hobbyist
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6 comments to “On internet activism and protests”
It takes organization for any campaign to get any ground. Elitists are found in the net. The people in thestreets.
Hear! Hear!
Tuloy lang ang pakikibaka!
protests in any other venue are still effective, i believe. just the thought that they found the guts and time to spend (or waste, depending on the protest) their time is already a commendable act. especially, if the aim is to brign about change and not just to make things worst.
Tell that to the Blas F. Ople Resource Center. I am doubtful whether their eyeballs work the way protest mobilizations do. Judging the blogposts of these slacktivists, I’d say the attendees of these eb’s won’t get enough politicization to engage in genuine social action.
Anyhoo, I’m gonna repost this in fb okay?
Maraming paraan ng protesta. Isang simula ang pagiging involved ng ilan sa internet protests. May mga ilang organizations na ito naman ang main mode nila tulad ng Ople Foundation.
Hindi naman masama ang mga iyon. May kulang lang wika nga.
Ang malaking hamon para sa ating mga hindi “slacktivits” ay kung paano natin mahahatak sa totong mass actions ang ating mga kilalang internet activists. Maaring gawin ang mga katulad ng fb eyeball. Basta ang layunin ay mahiyakat sila sa totoong protesta sa lansangan. Katulad pa rin ng alam na natin na paraan ng paghihikayat – kailangan din muna nila mamulat ng maigi upang makita na mas may direct impact ang direct involvement sa streets.
Kung gayon, paano nating gagamiting ang new media upang maangat ang kanilang kamulatan? Gaano man ito kalimitado. At magandang makita, bakit umaabot ng lagpas 70k supporters halimbawa ang No to Conass na facebook cause? Samantalang ang stop the killings na cause ay hindi man lang umabot sa kalahati nito? Magkaiba silang issue ang sasabihin natin. Pero ano ang kanilang paraan upang maging masigasig sa paghikayat? Sa pagkakaroon ng balon na mahigit 70k, imposibleng hindi makahikayat ng 100 diyan upang pumunta sa protesta.
Kahit sa new media, kailangan pa rin ang creative na forms, magagandang images, gimmicks, kumbaga.
At sa dulo nang new media campaign, ano ang ino-offer nating simpleng mga paraan upang maging involved sila sa totoong mass actions? Itong tanong na ito ang nakakalimutan.
Dagdag pa, na ang tagumpay ng new media campaign, sa ngayon, ay sinusukat din kung ito ay lumabas sa traditional media. Katulad din ng maliliit na pickets, kung lumanding ito sa media, at sumagot ang kaaway, isang metric ng tagumpay.
Sa paghahanap ng tunay na pagbabago, kailangang maagap tayo upang magamit sa direct na involvement ng supporters, ang marami pang lalabas na teknolohiya.
Tapos we should stop blaming na slactivists lang mga iyan. Iyon ang porma na komportable sila. Ibig sabihin kailangan pa natin maipakita sa kanila na nasa labas ng kompyuter ang totoong magbabago ng kaayusan. Dapat makita nila na si Gloria halimbawa ay hindi sila nakikita sa FB o twitter. Kaya dedma ang 70k na iyan. Pero kung may 70k sa lansangan, baka tumalsik na iyan si GMA.
Alam nating ang totoong kaaway ay nasa lansangan, may dalang batuta at pagminsan namamaril.