25 February 2007
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The power of public opinion – particularly in an election year, has been clearly demonstrated in recent weeks in Australia with some signs of a softening of the government’s stance towards the ongoing imprisonment without trial of David Hicks.
Likewise after years of denial the Australian government has reluctantly acknowledged the reality of climate change and realised that it needs to appear to address the issue.
Both of these shifts can be attributed to an increased level of awareness and concern amongst members of the general public rather than to any principled policy position on the part of government.
Referring to the failure of the US government to provide leadership on a range of issues, NY Times columnist Bob Herbert recently noted that :-
"The most effective answer to this leadership vacuum would be a new era of political activism by ordinary citizens. The biggest, most far-reaching changes of the past century — the labor movement, the civil rights movement, the women’s movement — were not primarily the result of elective politics, but rather the hard work of committed citizen-activists fed up with the status quo. It’s time for thoughtful citizens to turn off their TVs and step into the public arena. Protest. Attend meetings. Circulate petitions. Run for office. I suspect the public right now is way ahead of the politicians when it comes to ideas about creating a more peaceful, more equitable, more intelligent society."
Hopefully these words and the signs already noted provide encouragement for readers of this bulletin to continue to take action for justice.
Get Up is an example of an issues-based grassroots movement whereby citizens can voice their concern about isues confronting our society. The growth in the number of people participating in Get Up campaigns is both a measure of the level of concern on these issues in the community and of the effectiveness of such campaigns.
Even if you have not acted on any of the issues raised in the past, now would be a good time to add your voice to those calling for change and to help build on the momentum that has currently been generated.
Likewise after years of denial the Australian government has reluctantly acknowledged the reality of climate change and realised that it needs to appear to address the issue.
Both of these shifts can be attributed to an increased level of awareness and concern amongst members of the general public rather than to any principled policy position on the part of government.
Referring to the failure of the US government to provide leadership on a range of issues, NY Times columnist Bob Herbert recently noted that :-
"The most effective answer to this leadership vacuum would be a new era of political activism by ordinary citizens. The biggest, most far-reaching changes of the past century — the labor movement, the civil rights movement, the women’s movement — were not primarily the result of elective politics, but rather the hard work of committed citizen-activists fed up with the status quo. It’s time for thoughtful citizens to turn off their TVs and step into the public arena. Protest. Attend meetings. Circulate petitions. Run for office. I suspect the public right now is way ahead of the politicians when it comes to ideas about creating a more peaceful, more equitable, more intelligent society."
Hopefully these words and the signs already noted provide encouragement for readers of this bulletin to continue to take action for justice.
Get Up is an example of an issues-based grassroots movement whereby citizens can voice their concern about isues confronting our society. The growth in the number of people participating in Get Up campaigns is both a measure of the level of concern on these issues in the community and of the effectiveness of such campaigns.
Even if you have not acted on any of the issues raised in the past, now would be a good time to add your voice to those calling for change and to help build on the momentum that has currently been generated.
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