Freedom – Embrace It, Fight To Keep It

When I think about being a westerner, I think about having certain freedoms. Having traveled to and lived in the east, I particularly appreciate that I was born and raised with a privilege that many women don’t have in other countries, freedom.

There’s a lot of hoopla lately about censorship of the internet, privacy acts and democratic rights to peacefully protest. I’ve been paying close attention not only to my corner of the Universe but to the world in general and I’m a bit disturbed by what’s going on. A general movement towards the erosion of our freedoms seems to be taking place.

(c)Eric Drooker

I wouldn’t believe it if it wasn’t happening to me personally or if I hadn’t witnessed first hand some pretty weird shit. I know I just used a cuss word in my blog and I rarely do that (actually never) but I wanted to get your attention. I’m sure you’ll agree that there’s a lot going on in the way of people-powered change this past year.

Political upheavals, mass occupations, record numbers of signatures on petitions and generous support of humanitarian causes have been front and center both in the mainstream media and our private social networks. I spend 2-3 times more reading and sharing information than I did last year. My social reach has increased and my Klout score has risen.

I’m not alone, I swim in a sea of activists.

Why? Because besides being fed-up, people are afraid. Shit’s going down and we don’t like it. (there I go again with the cussing) We want change, and we’re demanding it. When we discover something that smells rotten, we share it with our friends, and they share it with their friends, and so on and so on.

I no longer think of myself as an individual; as a woman born and raised in the west. I think of myself as part of the whole, part of the solution, part of the mass. My horizons have broadened and my connection to fellow beings has strengthened. Through internet and on the street, I am joined in solidarity. I am no longer alone in my struggles for justice. My posse is behind me, we shout in unison at injustices.

The Big Boys have noticed that we’re stepping up and speaking out… and guess what? They’re starting to play even dirtier. Manipulating government, lobbying for stricter controls, arresting peaceful protesters, suing whistle-blowers, launching smear campaigns and producing anti-truth propaganda… They have deep pockets and will stop at nothing to protect their interests.

Who are THEY? The greedy corporations, corrupt politicians, CEO’s with carbon footprints big enough to stamp out us little guys. And they are trying to do just that… and they will continue as long as they can get away with it.

So what are WE supposed to do about it? How do we protect our rights, salvage our crumbling democracy and protect our precious wilderness and resources? We do exactly what we are already doing. We stand up, speak out, sign petitions, write letters, sit-down (or sit-in) for those who can’t and blow whistles to sound the alarm.

Who are We?

Well first off, what we’re not…

• Radical Ideologists
• Anarchists
• Terrorists
• Wing Nuts
• Hippies or Homeless

We are citizens of the world. Global ambassadors of humanity and preservers of the planet. We are proud and strong. We are determined and steadfast. We are NOT giving up.

WE ARE THE 99% and SO MUCH MORE!