A Dodo Sets to Sea

On a sunny Sunday autumn day I seem to have stumbled upon the inspiration to launch a new blog. To replace my past performance of occasional and ephemeral writings that have led to no particular destination. Not to mention the various ramblings that have helped while away a winter’s day sparking strange quests for new ideas, and entertaining drinks.

This is likely to be much the same, although the original inspiration comes from a shadow of a fear of imminent redundancy. As such I may have much more time to consider, to procrastinate and to research esoteric words before posting.

My premise is simple that I, as an activist, believe that change happens in the real world, not in some parallel virtual dream-space. Not, I’d like to make clear, that I am some internet sceptic like some of my colleagues. I freely admit the system exists, is as fascinating as it is useful but that is a critical tool not a goal, and a pale comparison of the diversity of human societies.

To clarify the politics of the title, I consider myself an advocate of the progressive left, which I may argue more of, at some point. I consider myself a reactionary in the means of which one achieves change, in direct opposition to the reactionary politics that I consider needs changing. No matter how well they are hidden under the banner of a big society.

For several years I have helped craft and shape activist networks, perhaps inspiring many to become involved in social change. And of late various organisations have paid me well to do such work. I’m also an activist of the old school, I’ve climbed buildings, lobbied politicians, boarded ships, had countless conversations with the public, been arrested numerous times and have done whatever I can think of to make change happen.

What worries me and what may lead to my redundancy is the rise of clicktivism, the idea that 1000 emails are more effective than a couple of hundred campaign postcards, or better yet a well executed piece of direct action. E-activism is a shiny new toy, and another campaigning tool, but it is not a replacement for real people investing real sweat, tears and time in the change they want to see.

But I could be wrong……

I may be an activist of the olden days, a Dodo refusing to accept the inevitable change. And clearly if such is the case then I want to develop new skills and abilities to embrace whatever changes are upon us, to be once more a changemaker.

So I will continue to argue the toss, to explore old ideas, and to research the mechanisms of social change. But perhaps I need to leave my island, to set to sea, to learn new web skills, to polish my writing styles, and who knows, perhaps to prove I can do so by starting some sort of activism blog.