I don’t know about you but I often see lunchtime as the place where I can catch up on all the social media stuff that might be interesting. Well, actually, I suppose I can spend a great deal more than a lunchtime doing that, but I guess I’m not alone in that.
Because I’m having my lunch, I’m usually looking for something lighthearted, nothing too taxing on the digestive system. Today, however was different. As I clicked on a fairly random link, I had no idea I was going to be an emotional wreck, not just over my lunch, but for several hours afterward.
Before you click on it (and I really hope you do, even though it will take 30 minutes to view) let me just say why I found it so moving. It isn’t just the subject matter, though God knows, bringing an evil man to justice, is powerful enough. It isn’t just the production values of the piece, though it’s beautifully edited, if a touch emotionally manipulative (I’m nor criticising – some issues need to manipulate our feelings). No, what moved me so much was the breathtaking vision of the whole campaign. It’s a wonderfully creative response to the despicable injustice of tens of thousands of young lives being forever scarred. It also makes us realise that, with enough eyeballs on a given issue (not to mention tweets and posted comments) governments have to take action on our behalf. This campaign could be one of the defining moments of the social media revolution.
It also says something about learning and the importance of tapping in to student’s passions. It’s faintly ludicrous that most kids at school will be deprived of the opportunity to discuss these issues of injustice, because their school firewalls block YouTube.But, thanks to the Global Learning Commons, hundreds of thousands of young people around the world will gain a better understanding of child slavery, child soldiery, and the children made invisible by Joseph Kony. They will, hopefully, get involved in the campaign to bring Kony to justice and, just maybe, they’ll start to realise they can make a difference and that political action isn’t just for the over-40s. The Global Learning Commons gets active with causes like this, and, once mobilised, can, literally change the world. We’re only just at the start of this open learning phenomenon, but it is both thrilling and deeply moving to see campaigns like this using its full force, with passion, creativity and innovation. That was what moved me to tears, and to get involved.
Please watch the film and then do the same (crying into your tuna salad is optional).
