Love is Stronger than Justice
I’ve recently returned from the 14th Annual CTCNet Conference, and what follows may require a little presumption on my part, but equal part humility. But I’ll start with a little context.
On April 29 & 30th, 2005, at Open Space Austin a working group discussed social and economic justice and it’s standing as an issue for our movement and the leading national organizations in community ICT.
Collectively we made a commitment, which I’ll paraphrase here:
to proceed in thought and action from a perspective of social and economic justice, and to raise this as an explicit topic and aim for our movement(s).
In making this commitment we hoped to raise the issue in the context of the CTCNet Conference. Timing was not on our side. However, while there is always a sense of urgency when one raises the question of social justice, the committed recognize that these are questions that require an effort over the longest haul.
There are several questions before us…
Is social justice in fact an implicit aim in our movement, or is it explcit? Is it an aim of the movement? Do we constitute a movement? Is it advisable to be explicit about such aims at all times? Why or why not?
How do the leading organizations relate to the movement? What will next year’s CTCNet conference theme be? How can those of us who care about social justice issues best use our time between now and then so that we can share more than the truisms we know and affirm, and which of course bind us in a movement?
I am happy to see the discourse and discussion proceed anywhere, and also in multiple environments and listservs. I have established a community here on the DDN site so that we might have a common repository to pursue these matters.
I selected the DDN site because of its diverse member base, and because of the explicit naming of a divide, however, I am not solely concerned with the digital when I open the question of social justice. The DDN is an open space for us to form communities and to promote dialogue on issues we care about. This function is very important for our movement. (You can tell that I already have a strong opinion as to whether we constitute a movement!)
As community technologists not solely, or principally concerned with technology when raising these questions, we affirm that technology is ever-present and important as a means for accomplishing other aims, and that our efforts really are about those other aims.
The online space I’ve opened for this is here: http://www.digitaldivide.net/community/justice
There isnt much there. This discussion depends upon us all. Let’s begin. Let’s join others promoting social justice. Let’s network our movements: media reform, environmental justice, communication rights, digital literacy, access and equity. If I havent named your cause, you name it. Speak truth to power, speak with a generous heart. Speak in the context of a broad vision and follow that ambition.
I dedicate this post to the working group at OSA:
Ana Sisnett, Sue Beckwith, James Lau, Peter Miller, Michael Gurstein, Fred Johnson, and Jim Forrest
And also to those with whom I’ve made common cause in Chicago and Illinois, who have shared in a commitment to social and economic justice through local and regional organizing.
There are too many of you to name, only because I might leave someone out.
Regards,
Michael