I've been reaching out to people of good will, asking them to join a nationwide network of activists for the last few months. So far about 310 people have signed up (see the map).
If I try to think ten steps ahead, my vision is to eventually be part of a non-partisan grassroots network of social justice activists that have coalesced into a cohesive group capable of acting in concert in a highly strategic manner, able of effecting real change on our corrupt system of government.
But before we get there, we have to take some preliminary steps to build cohesiveness and unity of purpose. On Monday, May 13th, I will be sending an email to the group. This is a preview of the content...
Over 300 people from around the country have joined the network of activists. Now, I'm going to suggest that the next step would be to "activate" the network so we can start coordinating efforts and devising strategy.
On
my website, I'm going to create "Groups" for different States/Cities. For example, there will be one for "
The San Francisco Bay Area," another one for "New York City," another one for "Miami," "Seattle," etc. I will also invite people to
join the online community and create their own groups (depending of where they live).
Then we're going to coordinate meetings (as time and personal responsibilities allow). I know that for some people it may be very difficult to attend meetings, but if they can't, we're still going to reach out to them and see if they can help the cause by participating in other ways, like conducting research, sharing information, or reaching out to other people to join the network.
So far, I've met or spoken to a few people from Daily Kos, and that experience has been wonderful! I think meeting people face-to-face, and hearing their voices, and sharing ideas, etc., is truly priceless--and it could be the catalyst we need to become a highly effective network of activists.
I've been evaluating some ideas about finding ways to start building a cohesive team. Here's what I've come up with...
Beautiful Trouble | A Toolbox For Revolution
One idea is to start a kind of book club around this work (ongoing project), "Beautiful Trouble: A Toolbox For Revolution." I suggest focusing on discussion of the "Theories: Big-picture ideas that help us understand how the world works and how we might go about changing it." As I'm writing this, there are 29 theories listed. The leader/facilitator of each group would pick one of the theories for discussion.
Then, we would think about how these theories apply to the real world, to our concerns, and then we'll share our findings, ideas, suggestions, call for action, with the
entire network.
Here's my goal: Billionaires-funded groups like ALEC, the Heritage Foundation, CATO, and many others, are behind what is essentially a highly-coordinated strategy to tear down the proper functions of government (i.e., democracy) in favor of exploitative and predatory private interests. As a team, as a network of activists, we need to come to understand exactly how this is being done; we need to become experts about this. And then, based on that knowledge, we need to come up with a counter-strategy that is pre-emptive, relentless.
When we set up groups around the country, we would focus on identifying the patterns (and the mechanics) of corruption at ta local level, and then connect the dots nationwide so we can do both, act locally with other activists, and also act nationally (and eventually, internationally).
REPEACE (Realize Peace)
I've joined forces withe REPEACE, "an online social movement that wants to cut the ties between private interests and government." This is a fast-growing movement, with an international approach. I encourage people to visit the website (and like it on facebook).
I'll be working on REPEACE initiatives in the U.S...
Politicians and corporations ignore the demand for accountability because they profit from doing so. They all line their pockets by being dishonest and helping each other. Think of the old adage, “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” But what if the public demand for accountability was measured and held up to all institutions like a big mirror? That’s what Repeace.com wants to do. We want to help the collective set new rules for accountability, transparency, and social responsibility and to define accountability as the currency to be traded by institutions.
Market For The People
Finally, I created this site, marketforthepeople.com, specifically to promote sustainable economic practices. My objective is to promote the formation of employee-owned businesses, workers' collectives, sustainable local food production and distribution, sustainable and affordable housing (co-housing, collectives), and privately own independent small businesses.
Right now, I'm recruiting people with diverse interests in social, economic, and environmental sustainability to develop each area of the website. I also welcome ideas about how to best use this resource, which I intend it to be a type of "open source sustainability resource."
There may be some ways of monetizing some of the initiatives. For example, a team could be put together to recruit small business advertisers in different sections. Either way, I welcome your ideas...
In the meantime, I will be reaching out to individuals and organizations around the country that focus on sustainability issues, so we can start adding those resources to the Market For The People website.
Action Items Summary
On Monday, May 13th I will be sending an email blast to the people who have answered my call for the formation of a cohesive strategic nationwide network of activists, asking them to do the following:
- Chapters: Join the online community and establish a Group in your area (zip code, city).
- Meetings: Organize regular meetings (as time and personal responsibilities allow) as "book clubs" to discuss the material from "Beautiful Trouble: A Toolbox For Revolution."
- Collaborate: Let's share information about our findings, and let's start setting stage for eventual collective (concerted) action, nationwide (and internationally).
- REPEACE: Join the REPEACE accountability movement. Visit the website; like it on facebook.
- Market For The People: Share your ideas about how to best use this "sustainability open source" resource.
Finally, all these suggestions fall within a certain infrastructure. However, I'm also interested in collaborating with any group willing to consider the need for forming a nationwide coalition of activists with the goal of eventually becoming highly integrated, cohesive, capable of devising short-, mid-, and long-term strategies, and most importantly, truly grassroots and independent from the corrupt-to-the-core political party establishments.
I'm also interested in connecting with Daily Kos groups that meet on a regular basis, who may consider joining into a nationwide (cohesive and strategic) network.
Each blue dot on the map below represents a member of a growing nation-wide network of social justice and anti-corruption activists committed to finding the best way forward. Join us in the effort!
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Ray Pensador |
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