The other year I prepared a presentation as part of a seminar series across New Zealand titled, E-Citizens, Advocacy, and Activism (20 MB Power Point) (first time I have released this publicly online). On March 10, I’ve been asked to share my perspective on e-activism in the United States (mostly) at the Community Campaigning conference in Bristol, England.

What local uses of the Internet or mobile technology for issue campaigns have impressed you?

Drop me a note clift@publicus.net or stick them in the comments section below.

I am looking for both new examples of very grass roots uses (doesn’t need to be a fancy websites), NIMBY efforts, as well as big buck national e-advocacy efforts that might represent some interesting trends. Tips on cool tools like CivicSpace, ActionApps or other emerging e-activism tools (a largely undelivered wish list?) will also be useful for comparison with what the UK’s Campaign Creator tool delivers.

Say, in terms of established interest groups and non-profits online, check out the eNonprofit Benchmarks Study: Measuring Email Messaging, Online Fundraising, and Internet Advocacy Metrics for Nonprofit Organizations and Marty Kearn’s comments.

Finally, I figure for those not wanting to download a 20MB file to see my full presentation, below is the text without all of the screen shots

Steven Clift

E-Citizens, Advocacy and Activism
By Steven Clift, Publicus.Net
(July 2004)

- – - – - –

Introduction

- – - – - –

Amazing technology

- Information 24×7

- E-mail around the world

- Publish anything

- Organize cheaply

- Right?

- – - – - –

(not really)

Time

Time/attention is the true scarcity
- – - – - –

Overload

Information overload for those paying attention.
- – - – - –

E-Citizens – Active citizens online

- – - – - –

E-Citizens

Pick an issue, any issue

What hot topic might an active citizen use the Internet for advocacy in your community?

- – - – - –

E-Citizens

How to influence government online

Research and investigate online

Telephone – find, responsible staff person ask – are there other important documents not online?

E-mail top officials directly with concerns, cc: staff person – suggest a reasonable deadline for a response

- – - – - –

E-Citizens
Influencing government online

CC: your elected officials – local, MP on case by case basis

If required, go public
cc: local media

E-organize local citizens – Visit local web sites, gather e-mails selectively, find local e-groups/mailing lists (Yahoogroups)

Start e-mail announcement list, internal e-group for advocacy coordination

Create simple web site/page with basic information

- – - – - –

E-Citizens
Influencing government online

Announce web site – media, print materials, cc: government officials (ask them for any factual corrections)

Announce web site to e-groups – e-mail lists, forums, “gathered” e-mail addresses from local civic sites (not all local sites)

Focus website on encouraging e-mail announcement subscriptions, like an e-petition but push e-mail opt-in

- – - – - –

E-Citizens
Influencing government online

Build e-announce network

Sign up people at in-person at events, door-to-door if possible/appropriate

Inform supporters (opposition too) without overloading, use to get people out to in-person events, send their own advocacy messages

Create a sense of momentum and power, thank government for positive actions and e-officials that help your cause

- – - – - –

E-Citizens
Influencing government online

Keep web site up-to-date, distribute content duties

If in it for long haul, consider open source web host with Cpanel.Net services for internal/external tools and your own simple web address

Build momentum, avoid flash in pan efforts, celebrate small successes

- – - – - –

E-Citizens

Reality – NIMBY

NOT IN MY BACKYARD

Activism requires motivating force, sense of crisis or outrage

The Internet is the perfect tool for opposition, to say that you disagree

“Those who show up,” now 24×7

- – - – - –

E-activism examples and tools

(See slides for images)

Hebron, CT – City Budget Watchers

Hebron – FOI Gathered Gov’t Documents, Meeting Minutes

Hebron – Uniquely articulate privacy policy for an activist site

NRHills – Let me park my RV in my driveway – Flyers, elections, forums

Stop Hwy. 2499 – Maps, history, sharing the off-line online

Irish Citizens for Trustworthy E-Voting

E-Voting – Open E-List for Involvement/Coordination

E-Voting – List Archives

E-Voting – Government scraps 60 million euro e-voting machine effort

E-Voting – Reflections

E-Voting Caution – Next stop, the world

Mogden – Citizens organize against stench

Mogden – Educating citizens

Mogden – Sharing detailed docs

Mogden – Complaints registry, text

Mogden – Linked from home page of official sewage plant!

LabourStart – Targeted letters

Politicians as advocates in governance – Landslide Clyde

Politicians – Official to unofficial and campaigning – the blog
- When your opponent blogs too

Israel -KeepingTime

Community-based forums encourage advocacy and citizen/advocate, government, and media accountability

Stage Left – Moveon.Org

Stage Right – Grassfire.Org

E-Advocacy Tool Providers

Minnesota E-Advocacy Sampler 1 –
Minnesota E-Advocacy Sampler 2 –
Minnesota E-Advocacy Sampler 3 –
Audio and slides – www.e-democracy.org/neoamn/

BBCiCanHomeConnecting like-minds in “campaigns”
Significantinvestment,Trial period

BBC iCan Local Gov Category

- – - – - –

E-Advocacy Failures

Why fail?

Lack of outreach

Lack of media/public attention

“Build it they will come” online mentality

Internet advocacy/organizer burn-out

Organizer lacks credibility, gadfly

Lack of interest among citizens

Unrealistic expectations on how far you can “move” people up the activism food chain

- – - – - –

Conclusion

Effective e-activism lowers the cost for quick organizing, can obscure hard work still required

Watch for greater conflict among e-advocates as they reach straight for the public

Governments must prepare for the floods of e-activism during important moments – expected and unexpected

With louder e-voices, can anyone e-listen?

- – - – - –

Further Information

E-Democracy Resources Flyer E-Advocacy Links
www.publicus.net/articles/edemresources.html

Direct Links
www.geocities.com/john_g_mcnutt/electron.htm
www.eactivist.org
www.npaction.org/link/category/80/
www.benton.org/publibrary/toolkits/stratcommtool.html
www.techsoup.org/articlepage.cfm?ArticleId=184
www.summitcollaborative.com/resources.html
news.gilbert.org/gem

E-Advocacy Research E-List:
groups.yahoo.com/group/electronicadvocacy

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 22nd, 2006 at 7:04 pm and is filed under Activism, Best Practices, Citizens and Participation, Clift's Notes, Conferences, International, Query, Reports, United Kingdom, United States. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.