WEB WATCH EXCERPT FROM OLC (FEBRUARY 2012)*

The internet is now host to many activist websites with associated mailing lists. Some have very broad agendas, while others focus on more specific aims. There are varying views on their effectiveness. Some echo Margaret Mead’s comment “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” (http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/33522.html), while others question the value of internet e-petitions and the like, labelling this brand of political activism as “slacktivism” (or somewhat less pejoratively as “clicktivism”).

Snopes.com (http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/petition/internet.asp) wrote:

Slacktivism comes in many forms, but its defining characteristic is its central theme of doing good with little or no effort on the part of the person inspired to participate, through the mechanisms of forwarding, exhorting, collecting, or e-signing.

AVAAZ.ORG

Avaaz (http://www.avaaz.org/en), which means “voice” or “song” in many languages, was launched in 2007. Avaaz describes itself as “a 10-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world’s people shape global decision-making”. Avaaz sets its priorities through member polls. It campaigns in 14 languages on “global, regional and national issues, from corruption and poverty to conflict and climate change”.

Avaaz action includes “signing petitions, funding media campaigns and direct actions, emailing, calling and lobbying governments, and organizing ‘offline’ protests and events”. The use of the internet means that Avaaz can mobilise instant campaigns.

Campaigns in 2011 included fighting the EU block on herbal medicines, applauding the Australian proposal to tackle climate change through carbon pricing, stopping the crackdown on Wikileaks, stopping Uganda’s anti-gay Bill (it was shelved) and stopping Rupert Murdoch’s bid to own nearly half the British media.

Concerns were expressed by some on the internet about the leaking of email addresses used in Avaaz petitions and their use by spammers (http://www.verbo.se/dont-sign-avaazorg-petitions).

GETUP

GetUp: Action for Australia is “[a]n independent movement to build a progressive Australia and bring participation back into our democracy” (http://www.getup.org.au). It has over 500,000 members (50,000 of whom have made donations) and a prominent Australian media presence. Campaigns in 2011 included poker machine reform (helping problem gamblers), promotion of marriage equality, promotion of humane onshore processing and stopping coal seam gas mining.

GetUp has a real-time “[w]hat’s happening right now” feed which shows first names of people who have just signed a petition. There is also a page on which GetUp members can make campaign suggestions (http://www.suggest.getup.org.au/forums/60819-getup-campaign-suggestions).

CHANGE.ORG

Change.org (http://www.change.org) describes itself as “an online advocacy platform that empowers anyone, anywhere to start, join, and win campaigns for social change. Millions of people sign petitions on Change.org each month on thousands of issues.”

Change.org provides free advocacy tools and provides training and support to people who start campaigns. Although it assists not-for-profit organisations, it is not, itself, a not-for-profit organisation. It has a number of charity partners including Oxfam.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Campaigns are also run by individual organisations, eg Amnesty currently has a Stop Violence Against Women campaign (http://www.amnesty.org.au/svaw) and one encouraging the government to continue support for traditional Aboriginal homelands (http://www.amnesty.org.au/action/action/26569). Clicking the “Act Now” button here leads to a page at which you can write an individualised letter to the relevant minister.

The Web Watch column is compiled by Glenda Browne

*The full citation for this excerpt is (2012) 26 OLC 40 at 41.