New medium for a change

Not so long ago, organisations with a social-justice focus had to rely on traditional media to get their message across. They might have campaigned for a better deal for poor people, who supported justice movements in other countries or who were concerned about the environment.

The media they relied on were newspapers, magazines, radio and television. These media can reach big audiences, but even getting a mention in them is hard work and too often depends on a sympathetic reporter, editor or producer.

Then came video. In the past 20 years it has become possible for relatively small organisations to put together a film of their activities giving the message they want to give. With luck, the video might be shown on television - though by and large it goes to small, selected audiences at meetings and on courses.

But now social-justice groups have gained a new means of controlling and distributing their message: the Internet. Anyone who thinks the Internet is only about fun, games and downloading music should take a look at how groups are using the web.

For instance, I get e-mails from the Jubilee campaign (www.jubilee2000uk.org) which is pushing for the cancellation of the debts owned by the poorest countries to the richest. They ask me to send a petition (also by email) to Jubilee supporting its aims and which it can then forward to various governments.

Similar campaigns are organised by environmental groups in advance of important meetings and summits.

Casa Alianza (www.casaalianza.org/) which campaigns for an end to the murder and exploitation of street children in Guatemala and Honduras regularly e-mails supporters asking them to send messages (by fax, email or post) to government agencies, seeking investigations into such murders.

The jewel in the crown, as far as access to social action on the Internet goes, is the website www.oneworld.net which has brought together no fewer than 724 organisations concerned with justice and environmental issues. Every day it produces an authoritative news service on the issues which concern its members. Some of this week's headlines: "Olympics falls at green hurdle, says report"; "East Timor police poised to bring charges over 1975 killings"; "Burmese democracy leader freed from house arrest"; "Lives of refugees in Guinea under threat"; "German experts issue urgent call to shield biodiversity".

Behind these headlines is an extraordinary amount of content and links on these issues; anyone interested in social action via the web will find plenty to do.

Trust's Transition Year project is using all the media mentioned above: print, video and a website (www.trust-ireland.ie), also designed by Esperanza.

Trust is a small organisation and one that intends to remain small - but the Internet gives it a long reach. Every school in Ireland has an Internet connection and the Department of Education and Science is promising an Internet connection for every classroom - so that reach is not only long but very powerful too in its ability to reach huge numbers of the leaders of the future.