The Rise of Activism

First, this is a tribute to the schools, organizations, and all the thousands of individuals who participated in the March 20 Student Day of Action. And secondly, this is dedicated to the movers and shakers of Students for a Democratic Society, and their historical activism of the 60's! And SDS's current campaign...Call for March 20 Student / Youth Action Against the War.

I've witnessed arrests from sit-ins at military recruitment stations. There is an increase in organizing and new SDS chapters are showing up. I also see an increase in our students support of worker's rights.

But there are those who are critical of the new SDS. But these critics are few and far between and the majority of the reports I've been reading have been very supportive of this new level of activism among our youth! And we as citizens have learned much since the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act. Today with the technologies available, we can use the FOIA to the people's advantage.

There are now sites like David Kaplan's that offer us resources in the how-tos of obtaining government documents. Just last week, the U.S. House passed four different open government bills. And the proliferation of information has led to a huge increase in people over the entire world calling for Access to Government Records.

Transparency and accountability have never been so acheiveable as they are right now. This is primarily due to the social networks we have established on the web and the ability and speed at which we can share information. Our youth are grabbing the torch of humanity and justice, and I truly believe they know exactly what to do with it! This rise in activism that I am witnessing gives me increased hopes that our future is going to be in good hands!