I am not single handedly expecting to change the attitude of the world, the country, my city or even my workplace to the issue of Poverty on Blog Action Day this year. What I am hoping to do, together with over 10,000 other bloggers across the world is to say stop and think – individual actions can make a difference, and individual actions when collected together can begin to have a larger effect.
We may think Poverty is something that you see on those news features you accidentally catch when looking for the sport on News 24, or the “annoying bits” that get in the way of the jokes on Red Nose Day, but Poverty is closer to home, its the people sleeping rough on the streets, the older people not able to pay fuel bills, those in rural isolation, the single parents ….
We all just need to do a bit, not a lot, just s bit, as collective actions make a difference,
I am not preaching, and some may think “it’s not for me”, but I felt uneasy reading in my Twitter Tweetstream about the launch of the new Apple products yesterday (other launches, were available!). We all need reliable, fit for purpose, tech equipment, but why not think about donating to others a portion of the money set aside for the next “technology-must-have” – just a thought.
The Social Media Club in Austin, Texas have been busy raising awareness of Poverty situations in their community and this evening I will be joining the BrumBloggers at their “Surgery” to help voluntary and community organisations in Birmingham use Social Media, (blogs, flickr, facebook etc.) in their outreach to the community causes. (Pictures and an update to follow here – or on the blog of Podnosh)
Finally just a few links to read and think about – The Jubilee Debt Campaign, The Change.Org website and Emmaus – the Homeless Charity in Preston.
Filed under: Social Action, social media | Tagged: bad08, blog action day, poverty, social media
Great post..For a great issue! x
Loved your really thoughtful post!
Right on the button Paul, poverty is about lack of access as much as lack of “stuff” and when I see community groups getting support through people giving time and skill and not just financial support that’s what makes me feel proud of our society.
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We are trying out how to leave comments on a blog at Blog Action Day in Birmingham