By Plot Tracer
Until recently I didn’t fully understand the term nor the danger suggested
by the term "slactivism."
What is slactivism? The “Sl” doesn’t refer to Second Life – but some
SL activists COULD be accused of slactivism, and I fear there are some in SLLU
and other SL activist groups who are dangerous slactivists. Because slactivism is dangerous, and
reactionary.
Slactivism seems to be a term meaning someone who jumps from cause to cause-
each cause being as worthy as the next, giving little thought to the cause
beyond, “it looks worthy.” The term could, at its least dangerous, be
given to people who loosely link causes together and change focus
regularly. Each cause is, at least on
the surface, one that can be supported by activists, each cause bringing with
it a new meme or a new trendy logo and visuals. The more links on the
internet, and the more trendy Youtube videos attached or witty banners etc, the
more attractive the cause will be to the slactivist.
But its
seeming worthiness is its
inherent danger as Governments take advantage of this lack of focus and
critical thinking.
Back in 2005, we were told that clicking our fingers would “Make Poverty
History.” Bob Geldoff, a huge tax
dodger, said that sharing some money and wearing a white teeshirt would force
Governments to drop 2/3’s World Debt. Of
course this altruism does not extend to the poor in his own adopted home –
welfare projects and education and health benefit lightly from his taxes as he
has found out how to hide money in properties purchased abroad. Bono etc are the same –
Ireland is in
huge crises – poverty in his own country is increasing hugely, but to him, his
tax millions are better in his own offshore accounts. Slactivist after slactivist clicked and wore
out white shirts.
I remember while giving out leaflets at a “G8” Make Poverty history demo in
Edinburgh that said, “Make Capitalism History – poverty will follow,” a
slactivist dressed in white with stickers and mobile phone in hand to text his
Make Poverty History message to the big concert screen came up to me and
berated me for “politicising poverty.” Poverty,
to the slactivist, would disappear if we paraded around Edinburgh, sang along
with Annie Lennox and clicked our fingers.
Polite cheering on Bush Blair et al would induce massive change; pull
the 2/3 world from poverty and not really effect us other than be out of pocket
on a white rubberwrist band and a sore arm from waving a placard sponsored by
the Daily Mail.
 |
| Make Poverty History Pants |
I can be sure the bloke who attacked me for thinking economics and debt and
the now failing capitalist system were political was a slactivist, but what
about Bono and Bob Geldoff? They are two
characters who are stranger than strange – both from rock bands that in some
way de-politicised music in the pretence of politicising it (the subject of another
article methinks) and both very much friends with those they were asking to
make change – ie Blair, Brown and Bush et al.
The point here is that poverty was not made history, and in fact the
continuance and depoliticizing of the message to the G8 that year actually
allowed the powers that be to make more protections of the system that
ultimately failed in 2008 and created even more poverty. Geldoff and Bono are guilty of at least the
worst slactivism in history.
A slactivist has three massively detrimental personality disorders – these disorders
can have a huge negative impact on real issues. One, a sense of
righteousness; two, a laziness and three short-termism. They have an ideological
deficit- they see only black and white in all situations and have no
"hook" - no measure of how right a cause is.
The slactivist will label him/herself with something that will sound liberal,
yet in some way make the pretence of challenging the status quo. The most recent “slactivist” I have been
talking to has labelled herself, an anti-imperialist, atheist red
capitalist. I told her she was not an
activist then. She was supporting the
inequalities that the present economic system needs.
Occupy and UK/USUncut, are disintegrating, Julian Assange is slowly being
forgotten and Anon masks will be last weeks thing in the coming weeks -
slactivists are moving on to the next big thing. Iran nor Palestine aren’t
trendy enough (they have too many of those arab looking people) - and the Tory
wrecking of the world renowned and admired UK NHS is a bit boring, but this
Kony guy has a name like Sony and the video created by these IC (JC?) people is
like far out man. It has
everything. Disfigured children, raped
women fantastic visuals and a charismatic leader holding guns in the Jungle –
almost Che/Jesus-like, but without the reference to that old fashioned
socialism stuff.
Recently
in SL, a slactivist has been punting the Kony cause across SL groups.
This slactivist has no qualms in supporting “No Attack on Iran” (he was part of
the infamous "Dont Iraq Iran- Lag for Peace" movement back in 2007)
but cant seem to see that calling for US troops to help a repressive African
regime is in any way similar. There are the resources out there for
critical analysis, if only the slactivist would go beyond the charismatic
leadership of IC and well produced videos.
Resources that not always come from the old fashioned, cynical left
(this resource is a good one – but will not convince the slactivist as, ‘didn’t
socialism become as bad as Hitler in the era of Stalin and stuff..?’
But
even the mainstream British media has become more than cynical about this
“movement” -
Of course, the IC crowd and slactivists who “don’t like to be wrong” are on
the attack, saying this cynicism is going to allow Kony off the hook (which he
definitely shouldn’t be), but what they are calling for – ie.
US intervention supporting a despotic regime
that uses child soldiers openly is way short of what
Uganda deserves. It was way short of what
Afghanistan and
Iraq
deserved – the peoples of those two countries were butchered and continue to be
because of
US strategic
interest (as most will accept, the involvement of the
US in
Afghanistan
and
Iraq
has helped destroy these countries rather than help to build). What is the common denominator in these
countries? The supply of oil to the
US. The profit bottom line.
May I suggest to anyone who calls themselves an activist – cast your eye
over our
Charter and Aims and Principles.
It was hammered out by a group of people back in 2006 – it is a document
that SLLU should be proud of, because if those who are part of our group have
any doubt over whether something is a good cause or not – test it with our
principles. Using the document as an
activism “hook” would ensure that no-one who really calls themselves an
anti-imperialist activist could be supporting any military intervention.
The first principle of a Doctor is, “Do no harm.” The USA decision to be the “healers” of the
world should be treated with the cynicism it deserves – because the ill
patients it seems to try to cure are harmed beyond healing at least within the
next few generations – and the healing will not really take place until these
exploited lands run out of oil – nor are strategically important by way of
geography. Kony is something that the US
government loves. A bad person who may
take years to find, but in the meantime they can slowly build bases within
Uganda and prop up the Government that is every bit as bad as the dreadful
Kony. The US has no qualms in propping up
despotic Governments that ensure profits keep rising and in doing so, many
thousands of innocent people have died.
Slactivists should stop propping up the despotic US military machine and
perhaps tighten up their critical thinking.
♦
Add to del.icio.us ♦
Add to Technorati Faves♦ ♦
Stumble This ♦
Reddit ♦
Slashdot it♦
