Activists
can no longer be defined narrowly as demonstrators.
It is easy to be a demonstrator - create a poster,
carry it, parade it through the streets, share with
others of like-mind the joy of solidarity and
camaraderie. The difficult part is living and
breathing everyday one's convictions and passionate
concerns for social injustices. Nonviolent direct
action is tougher still. It takes courage to place
your body on the line against a system that you
believe is inherently violent since it could cause
imprisonment or bodily harm as seen in numerous
antiglobalization actions throughout the world (see Starhawk's
"After Genoa" on p.17).
Activists
are needed more than ever to redefine the term to
include a vast array of activities that are promoting
viable and necessary solutions to the urgent
challenges we face. As Joanna Macy reminds us, there
are three elements of activism that are
quintessential and non-hierarchical:
"holdings" (where protests and
demonstrations are imperative); changes within the
social structure (positive new models); and inner
change (consciousness and paradigm shifting). Sitting
still, telling the truth, and/or gardening are very
radical activities.
The
question of whether to use violence as a strategy is
the wrong question to ask, according to Derrick
Jensen. Rather than
theorizing about strategies, he contends that if we
really feel the loss then our bodies will respond
appropriately (see p.6).
Bob
Banner explores what
the global activists will do when they return home to
their communities. Can they become a formidable
cultural and political force within the local sphere
or surrender to the acculturation process as did
their 60s radical predecessors? (see p12).
Eve
Ensler, who wrote The
Vagina Monologues, speaks about the impact art
can have in the political arena... and now the play
has taken on a life of its own by creating an
international movement against violence toward women
(see p.9).
The
Santa Barbara and South Coast HopeDance section has
increased proportionately to HD's popularity in that
area. Please see the photos and related story about
the People's March for Economic Justice that occurred
last spring in Santa Barbara (see p.33). With HopeDance
moving toward other parts of California as well as
gaining five national distributors, it became
appropriate to design a special section for San Luis
Obispo. New editor Stacey
Warde has
enthusiastically taken his new role and has penned
three stories for this premiere section as well as an
introductory page explaining the changes (see p.48).
For a summary of the results of a questionnaire that
HD sent out to more than 50 local activists, see
p.49.
We
also have two new columns premiering this issue. We
felt a void after Steve Eabry stopped editing the
Bike Column so we welcome Shay Wotring
who will give us news and briefs about bikes, both
locally and nationally (see p.27). After seeing Nancy
Ferraro at numerous gatherings and meeting
always with a clipboard in hand either collecting
signatures or to inform people about a specific
legislative action/decision, it dawned on me that I
ought to ask her about writing a column. She agreed
enthusiastically. See her column on Making Our Voices
Heard on p.31.
Student
activists from Cal Poly's PSA (Progressive Student
Alliance) were invited to include their activists
causes to the mix. See p.58 for their contributions.
To
reiterate from time to time: we do not receive any
monies from corporate or governmental sources. We are
primarily a volunteer venture relying solely on
advertisements, donations and subscriptions to stay
alive. If you like what you read, please contribute
in some way (sub info is on p.71) and donations of
more than $100 can receive a tax credit (please call
us for details). And support our advertisers. They
support us! (See the ad directory on p.64.)
Bob Banner
Publisher / Editor
