Power to the people, sang John Lennon in the 1980s. If he were
alive today he would see his dream coming true but not quite in the
way he imagined. People are deserting established politics and
resorting to social activism to get the changes they want in
society. Almost every week brings new evidence.
This week the Sydney Writers' Festival is sold out with people
wanting to attend sessions and hear from overseas activists and
polemicists such as Tariq Ali, David Suzuki and Jared Diamond.
Last week a consortium of seven universities, the Queensland
Government and non-government agencies launched Eidos, a think tank
to use research to better understand and achieve social change.
The week before that brought the federal budget and the big
winners were dementia sufferers, whose cause was declared a
national health priority, and they got $320 million for prevention,
treatment and care. This was the result of a clever activist
campaign that influenced politicians and health policymakers.
The not-for-profit sector in Australia is estimated to turn over
$70 billion a year. Groups such as Greenpeace, Oxfam, Save the
Children and the World Wildlife Fund are well known. But these are
only the tip of the iceberg. There are a numbers of groups working
for change at every level, from world trade through to local roads
and services.
People argue about what constitutes the so-called third sector
but the truth is that people are putting their time and money where
their beliefs are. Membership and support for non-government
organizations are increasing; the opposite is the case with
traditional political parties.
Research continues to show that trust in non-government
organizations is greater than in business and politicians. Many
activist groups do not have traditional membership structures but
coalesce around an issue.
The adept use of the internet and texting is revolutionizing
activism. Activists have a method of communication and mobilizing
free from media mediation, government regulation and exploitation
by marketers. Cyberactivism is not the domain just of the young.
Professional campaigners are finding that anyone with access to a
computer is a potential activist. Mothers at home, professionals in
their offices, wage slaves and schoolchildren can pursue their
concerns.
This success is breeding ambition for change. Where politicians
are slow or fearful to tread, activists are taking action and
making a difference. Using a technique called "intelligent
markets", they are entering markets rather than just taking on
individual companies. An example is the Fair Trade Coffee, which
guarantees a fair price to growers. In the 18 countries where it
operates sales are growing at about 20 per cent a year, forcing big
players such as Nestlé to imitate the scheme.
Non-government organizations that once largely opposed and
operated outside the system are becoming integral to the system.
Governments are outsourcing to them functions and the provision of
services, especially to vulnerable communities.
As well, non-government organizations are taking over the role
of market regulators and gatekeepers. They are learning to
manipulate the market economy and to work with business, when
necessary, to achieve campaign objectives.
While campaigns such as saving the Tasmanian forests and
anti-whaling seem to take two steps forward and one back, these are
but battles in a war that is becoming more sophisticated.
It is the silent warriors who are being drawn to the well of
inspiration at the Sydney Writers' Festival and forcing the
organizers to put on extra events to cope with demand.
"Power to the people, right on."
Sean Barratt has worked on health, human rights issues in
Europe, Australia.
© 2005 Sydney Morning Herald
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