Re: Re: Re: filling its 404 error logs with the names of the men, women and

[xdaydreamx@gmx.net]

[: hacktivism :]

You are right of course. I am mixing up activism with direct action, two
very different approaches to getting politcally involved. Definitions! Still,
much of what activism as we know it today is all about is going further than
the paths that were open to us over the past few decades. The Internet, as
you say, is a fantastic tool for activists and not least because of this
activist activity over the Net has come to pose a threat to those who would
like to see things go the "good old way". Consider the case of the "Carnival
against Capitalism" on June 18 in London: Much of the blame for the riots,
which accidently were not INTENDED, was placed on the use of the Internet for
the organisation of the event. Some papers went so far as to call for strict
monitoring of _activist_ websites and emails. Here we see simple
communication being demonised just because it is outside of the realm the police (and
media) can control.

jjf
 
> You wrote:
> >>Isn't activism always a way of challenging institutionalised power
without 
> >>going through accepted channels? 
> 
> I would have to disagree with you on this point.  There many activists
who
> are law-abiding citizens.  The energy and vigorous action or "activism"
is
> often legal and through regular channels.  Consider all the special
> interest groups and the citizen democracy groups who simply try to
empower
> people through exchange of ideas.  They can affect change simply through
> educating - citizens, government and corporations.  By organizing on the
> Web, their task has become eaiser and more cost effective.  Consider an
> online petition (although it does not carry much weight with leaders),
but
> if sent to nine people and then those nine do the same, the 9th
itieration
> can reach 1 billion people.  That creates a large audience.  The Web is
> making it easier for groups who do not have a lot of money do be as
> effective as a big time lobbying firm (ok maybe we are not there yet!). 
Of
> course groups are always looking for creative ways to get support and
> change goverment's, and sometimes citizen's minds (let's not forget that
> the actions is not always against a government) however, many would
> question using it if it were against the law.
> 
> However, I do appreciate that Hacktivism does imply something quite
> different.    I joined the list because I run a citizen democracy site
and
> was interesting on any new techniques of organising on the web.  I
thought
> this group would have a technical knowledge above other lists on this
> subject.  I also thought I would learn how to use my site to a better
> advantage.  I hoped that the exchange of ideas would help change things,
> not suppression of them.


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