Hi All,
Wow just had a quick flick through others discussion board topics and it seems the community work even with support is difficult for each and every one of us.
For me though I have to say that I have loved the challenges that have presented to me this week- , concerns re marking of assignments, meeting work commitments, placement commitment, the semester fast running out of time, the highs and lows of getting community projects off the ground.
But again like last week I have found my self pulled towards a larger community issue - the depletion of fish in our oceans. There is a new documentary out 'The End of the Line' which discusses the issues of over fishing pour oceans and the gravity of which this is fast becoming inevitability.
The connection of becoming involved in collective community action is something that we can all contribute to in meaningful ways with our level of involvement varying. I am proud to say I am 2 weeks into my fair trade chocolate collective action and I am thus fair doing very well. The fish is something that I am considering with seriousness to become involved in as part of the global community action.
So the what are we doing and why are we here - community action and using technology to enhance this, I came across an article that I felt really captured the importance of technology in collective community action about the labour and union movement in Malaysia. 'The use of the new information technology enables the representation of past victories, experiences and problems: it permits history to be re-integrated and not to be simply lost or fragmented by lack of access to the means of communication. Retaining the integrity of a history is important in achieving the solidarity for present rounds of bargaining' ( Greieco Pg 113) Grieco, Margaret (2005). "Globalisation, collective action and counter-coordination". Critical perspectives on international business 1 (2/3)http://www.emeraldinsight.com.ezproxy.library.uq.edu.au/Insight/viewContentItem.do;jsessionid=4D17DF655D7294F41481A6746BC78794?contentType=Article&contentId=1502662
Technology is truly the new tool to connecting and developing local and global community collective action. As community workers it will become more and more the methodology that will be used to engage with our communities to involve them to commit to action.
Karen
I have a mixed feeling on techonology. Sometimes I like it and sometimes I fear and hate it. I have an assignment working on wiki with a group of 7 people this semester. We only discuss over computer and never met face to face. I invited people to add me in my facebook but no one did. I feel odd like working with machines. I once engaged an online training across several continents in work. All participants must submit a photo because whoever gave the lecture or asked question, a cursor would point to his/her photo. It was cool and we save cost in travelling. For community development, I think it is important to consider the relational aspect of the work. Otherwise, technology only separate people rather than building the community.
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