We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

War on the internet

A series of four articles by Bernard Keane from Crikey (Australia):

Over the past six months I have received invitations to join social media networks. Thus far I have resisted joining because I have some reservations about government spying and having my personal information delivered to commercial interests. This series may be of use to those who have similar qualms and who also see advantages of using the internet for regime and system change for "we, the people".

            Part 1: the key fronts

               Part 2: those who Get It, and those who don’t

               Part 3: lessons from the 17th, 19th centuries

               Part 4: you are the network’s resilience
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