Just recently a friend gave me a copy of the book, from ACT UP to the WTO (urban protest and community building in the era of globalisation). Here’s an excerpt which I’ve contextualised a bit for Zimbabwe, and which I think gives a lot of food for thought amidst the challenges we’re all facing. Now, more than ever, is the time for community building. Consider adding other suggestions, sharing them with friends, family and colleagues – and, of course, putting them into action.

Turn off your TV. Leave your house. Know your neighbours. Look up when you’re walking. Greet people. Plant flowers. Plant trees. Use your library. Buy from local vendors. Share what you have. Help a lost dog. Support your suburb’s schools. Fix it even if you didn’t break it. Pick up litter. Talk to the postman. Get to know the people who remove your rubbish. Listen to the birds. Help carry something heavy. Give lifts. Ask a question. Hire young people from your suburb for odd jobs. Ask for help when you need it. Look out for each other. Share your skills. Drive slowly and respectfully. Turn up the music. Turn down the music. Listen before you react to anger. Mediate a conflict. Seek to understand. Learn from new and uncomfortable angles. Know that no one is silent though many are unheard: work to change this.

This entry was posted on July 10th, 2007 at 2:51 pm by Bev Clark and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.