Par: Caitlin Clay, Posté le: Jul 14 09

Regions: Global

Tags: Activism, advocacy, info-activism, information, new media, resources, tactics, technology, tools

How do we turn information into action?  This key question has been vividly debated over the past few days in an online dialogue at New Tactics in Human Rights.  With contributions by activists and groups from around the world, the interesting conversation yielded several great examples of info-activism and the use of new technologies for advocacy.  If you have time, the full discussion is definitely worth the read.  In the meantime, here are a few highlights we selected from the dialogue - guides, case studies and articles that will hopefully be useful to you...

Guides on info-activism:

● From how Barack Obama used social media in his campaign to a study on successfully monitoring and evaluating campaigns, this list of advocacy resources has it all.

● Security with technology: a guide to secure communication (especially relevent for activists in repressive regimes) - Before reading this, I couldn't have told you how to avoid being geolocated through your cell phone or how to protect the privacy of your emails...

● Free toolkits for everything an activist may need.  My favorite is on how to use maps for advocacy. The Darfur project, for example, has a very informative map of the genocide happening there.  The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum also has great resources on the topic. 

● Info-activism Handbook - This guide is still being written, but they are looking for input...   

Examples of info-activism:

● Sending out an SMS:  Follow the link to hearn how Amnesty International in the Netherlands mobilized youth to help free a journalist in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

● A blog on the treatment of children with disabilites in the Ukraine evolved from a forum into a blog and eventually into a strategy paper with concrete results.

● Using games to promote causes can be a good way to spread the word about your campaign. There are games on torture, displacement caused by war and nonviolent strategy.

● Not an Alternative - blending art, theory and activism.  One recent interesting event listed was the Participation Camp 09 that discusses open participation in
democracy.

Spotlight on Video:

Finally, if you're interested in learning more about how to use video for advocacy - online and off - here are three great resources:

● WITNESS' Video Advocacy Toolkit and four-part video series on how to plan, shoot, edit, and distribute your media...

● DigiActive's guide to Designing an Advocacy Video, with great practical examples of effectives videos

● New Tactics' Video Advocacy Dialogue from 2008