Spain: Cyberactivism is the grassroots answer to the virtual world

Eladio Dìez is vicepresident of the Fiap, a forum that promotes an open information society, based on the principles of participatory knowledge, democracy and social justice for all.

The concept of social networks, cyberactivism and even “infocitizenship” is quickly making its way into the news. What is the real impact and potential of the blogosphere?
Information technologies today hold a crucial role in our lives. Without it, economic, political and social globalisation – whether for good or for bad – would not be possible. At the moment, however, it is mostly the large multinationals that are taking advantage of technology.

Cyberacticism is the grassroots answer to this new world. On the one hand, it aims to be the social counterbalance of a virtual world that is dominated by the powerful. On the other it is a collective effort to counteract the growing tendency towards privatisation in the internet world.

How can society benefit from social networks?
Social networks can have three main positive effects: extending democratisation and making information accessible; generating collective, open knowledge for everyone; and facilitating simultaneous, independent social action beyond the geographic and socio-cultural borders that limit us in our physical world.

Can you give us any best cyberactive practices?
Every day there are hundreds of cyberactive actions related to one or more of the above. Take, for example, the democratisation of knowledge, the thousands of educational blogs, or blogs dedicated to the scientific discussion of any imaginable issue. Or take collective knowledge systems, like open encyclopaedias, or again, the environmental and social campaigns undertaken by non profit organisations from all over the world, sending out emails and petitions to the president of a government or to protest against something.

Can internet help defend civil rights?
Certainly. The basis of democracy is information and participation. Internet facilitates both. There are many examples, like Amnesty International who, through cyberactivism, have managed to avoid death penalties and to free people who were unjustly imprisoned.

What is the key to digital alphabetisation?
The main key is: managing to get past the mechanical steps and learn how to use the technology, and e use of technology, and be able to approach the transformational side of the education, that is to say, to learn why to use them. Passing from mere consumers of technology to active subjects who are conscious of their impact and their contribution to a more open and just society. 

How can one loose their fear of technology?
By using it! It is only by using it that one can discover its true utility. There should be incentives from the outside, for example, the day that local government opens an electronic booth, many people will loose their fear, as they will see a real and tangible use to technology, applicable to their day to day lives.

How can blogs be used as an educational tool?
Unfortunately, the educational world still holds on to its prejudices and mostly the extent that is reached in school is an information technology class. There is still a huge cultural barrier to overcome.

http://www.fiap.org.es/