Better connections will be at the heart of the Commonwealth People’s Forum in Perth, but not at the expense of less high-tech methods of communication.
We are living in the age of digital revolution where ‘flash mobs’ can descend on London’s Trafalgar Square or New York’s Time Square to dance, protest, eat or sleep. Whatever they do, it is clear that they grab our attention. As we browse our newspapers online, check what our friends are doing on Facebook, or follow a stranger’s tweets, we are continuously connecting ourselves to others. At the same time, the teachings of notable figures like Desmond Tutu, Ghandi and Buddha remind us that people should not be alone, that humans move as a pack and create societies for the very reason that we work better together.
Our society is certainly better connected than ever before. It has become easier to share opinions and debate with those on the other side of the world, while the potential that this provides to link people and ideas, and to create a greater force for change, is hugely significant. One fundamental flaw in this progress is that only a small percentage of the world has access to these incredible resources. We must question, therefore, how much real change we can make if we forget, in our excitement, to consult and interact with those who have yet to be virtually networked.
While many countries and societies are making giant leaps in the digital stratosphere, others are still communicating and progressing comparatively slowly, outside the digital revolution. By ignoring this element of the network we are losing valuable knowledge and grassroots experiences that we need to fully understand if we are to make progress that has positive and strong foundations. The digital revolution has opened many doors and created numerous opportunities for change, but it needs to be combined with traditional methods of communication so that leaders are best able to reach all those they serve.
Access to information and learning should not be a privilege but a right. And it can become so if we look at the use of mobile technology. Mobile phones are the one technological device that has bridged the divide between rich and poor.
SMS alerts to communicate important messages and inform people on where to get help and support and how to link up with other similar organisations should be explored. It is about time that corporate social responsibility became more practical and real, and projects like this could be the way forward.
The strongest combinations and partnerships are those that are formed on the basis of sharing a goal, believing in that goal and working hard towards achieving it. Taking the time and trouble to link up with people at the grassroots and fully engage in and understand what they face should be a wholly rewarding and beneficial experience for all involved. But, more importantly, by properly listening and partnering we can bring about significant change, because with good understanding comes powerful argument and reasoning, tools not to be mocked when talking to our leaders.
When the Commonwealth heads of government gather for their biennial meeting in Perth in October, the People’s Forum will have the opportunity to practise some of what is preached above.
At the Forum, we will bring civil society, business and youth together in workshops, providing them with a space to discuss, face to face, the issues that affect them on a daily basis. By meeting this way – talking, seeing, empathising and understanding – we can create an arena for debate that builds on earlier dialogues (both on-line and in person), allowing solid foundations to be built. And, by using digital technologies, we can tell the world of our progress.
The Commonwealth People’s Forum will provide a stage for civil society organisations to influence the international agenda by presenting the issues that affect the people they serve and by finding solutions that could help change the world.
