http://www.parakhi.com/blogs/2011/11/25/a-nation-of-in-activists

A nation of in-activists

I had a hard time choosing what to write about this week. I contemplated writing about the MLTR concert, but that’s so last week. I considered writing about the Russian Ballet that is in Kathmandu right now, and I almost wrote another post about stories my parents have told me, then while checking my e-mail today I figured what I’d write about: activism, or in Nepal – the lack of activism (thus my clever title naming us ‘in-activist’ hahah).

As the Occupy movement takes over America and spreads to the rest of the world, it’s an example of how people can unite globally for something that can make a difference. If I think about successful campaigns, I think about HIV/AIDS awareness and bringing it closer to home, the efforts to increase sanitation and hygiene in Nepal.

Thinking about Nepal, there are so many projects and efforts happening that I am in support of: removing caste-ism, anti-nepotism, keeping the CA accountable, anti-corruption, pro-gender equality, equal education… and the list goes on.

I’ve received ample Facebook invitations to sign up or show up to display my support, I’ve got emails asking for signatures, and I’ve got texts and phone calls inviting me to events, I’m sure all of this has happened to you too but how did I respond to most of these things? By doing absolutely nothing.

At best, I aim for a better Nepal by making gross faces at people who spit/piss on the road (and I do make excellent faces), and asking people who litter to use the trash bin that is two feet away, but for the most part I leave the ‘activists’ to their active-ing and I waste my time on Facebook.

Today, I got an email from a friend imploring me to sign a petition and she asked me to pass it along, and for the first time in who knows how long (possibly the first time ever) I did! I’ve seen news everywhere about Monsanto seeds but I wasn’t entirely sure what it was about (at first I thought it was the name of the seed itself, turns out it’s the name of the company!) but now I’m somewhat well informed (if not ‘more’ informed) about it.  I clicked the link, put in my information and found myself thinking – that was surprisingly easy. This website in particular has a little progress bar on the side so you can track how many of the required 2,700 signatures have been collected.

Maybe it was seeing the number go up by one, maybe it was something else, but I mass emailed all my friends and demanded that they participate. It literally took me 30 seconds and was almost no effort. But I am a firm believer that one signature can make a difference.

What’s my point? My point is, people are trying to do something for a good cause, to save lives, to save the environment and while we can become so apathetic towards all of the pleas asking us to join it wouldn’t hurt for us to learn about something and play our small little part. I’m sure everyone agrees that there’s room for improvement in Nepal, maybe we should be more vocal about where we stand.

So when Nepal Unites or some art school was having other events, I thought “Oh, that’s nice” but took no responsibility – I believe this is the attitude that most people in Nepal have. But the few times the entire population has come together, great changes have come about – Nepal now having democracy is one of them.

 

Saani has no real goals and aspirations but she sees opportunity in everything and goes with the flow. This is probably because she loves exploring and discovering. She writes for fun but for the same reason she also cooks, reads, and spends a lot of time on random websites that offer a chance to learn all sorts of tid-bits on life.

 

 I think we let it go because we think this is just another facebook invite. But once everybody is aware of it I m pretty sure more people will actively participate.