Social media and social change: “the world is watching”
As I write this, world leaders are in the final stages of negotiations for a deal that will either reduce carbon emissions to a level that is safe for humanity, or they won’t.
Here at Go Small we write about how not-for-profits are using social media to get their message out, draw attention to issues that are important to them and those they serve, and even attempt to “save the planet” on a good day.
Well, in case anybody still wondered whether social media had the right stuff to connect people, disseminate knowledge, make stuff happen, COP15 UN Climate Change Conference Copenhagen 2009 should answer that question with a resounding YES.
Leading up to the climate change talks, NGOs like tck,tck,tck and 350.0rg mobilized hundreds of thousands of people worldwide through social media using Flickr, Facebook and YouTube to make it a cinch for them to listen, think and act. Tck, tck, tck’s website asked visitors to Watch Live what was happening and Add Your Voice. Viewers watched justin.tv for updates and texted observations, engaging in a dialogue with others. YouTube and CNN teamed up to host a live climate change debate whereby people asked leaders and activists questions.
The direct call to action from 350.org caused students, teachers, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandparents to come together in Copenhagen, Bangladesh, New Guinea, Ireland, New Zealand, Thailand, Australia and elsewhere to show their support for reducing emissions by 35o parts per million, thought by many scientists to be the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. They did this by capturing the symbolic number “350″ in painting, carving, candlelight, landscape design, or in various human configurations. These photos were then posted to the 350.org website, Flickr and ended up on countless blogs and Facebook pages.
Halfway into the two-week conference, 100,000 people gathered in the streets of Copenhagen for a candlelight march — reportedly the largest climate protest to date. I know it happened because I saw it on Flickr and YouTube. This observation leads me to believe that, contrary to popular opinion, the revolution WILL be televised.
350.org asked people worldwide to partake in a one-day fast yesterday in support of all those who are suffering and will suffer from lack of food as a result of warmer temperatures and a disruptive climate. The following story is from Mohammed Yahia who fasted.
I just had a little daughter and right now she’s 55 days old. I want her to grow up in a world where she doesn’t have to fight for her very existence. I want her to be able to grow up and live a happy, fruitful life like I did. And I want to see her grandchildren, and make sure they have a good fulfilling life too.That is why I’m fasting today.
During the writing of this post I’ve been listening to justin.tv and periodically checking updates on 350.org. It now appears that the talks have resulted in failure. At least, 350.org is reporting that the wishy washy deal would lead to 770 ppm and not 350 ppm as they hoped.
OK, so in the words of Thom Yorke, Radiohead’s lead singer, maybe the deal is just “bullocks.” Even so, this exercise has lead to something fundamental and social media is at the heart of it.
On the tck,tck, tck website Jason Mogus’ explains that “civil society has…come together like never before.” In his post titled Climate Shame but we’re Not Done Yet he goes on to say, “Tonight and over the weekend we speak with one voice in response to this climate shame with a mass “home page take-over” of dozens of major websites around the world.”
We shall see what happens next….and where and when the next revolution will be televised.
