Q2: Is citizen advocacy at its most effective when it generates maximum “noise” on an issue , or do citizen advocates need to attach particular policy prescriptions to the noise they make? Alex de Waal: The two cases in question suggest that it is not a question of either/or but of getting the right combination […]
In favor of policy prescriptions
May 20, 2009 by Leave a Comment
In today’s posts, Eric Reeves and Erin Mazursky both argue forcefully that “noise” is not enough. In contrast to Marc Gustafson’s post yesterday, which suggested that SDC advocates may have transitioned from noise-making to policy recommendations too quickly, Reeves argues that they didn’t move quickly enough. Mazursky adds to the mix a point that I […]
Questions for the advocacy community: Q2 – Eric Reeves
May 20, 2009 by 2 Comments
Q2: Is citizen advocacy at its most effective when it generates maximum “noise” on an issue , or do citizen advocates need to attach particular policy prescriptions to the noise they make? Eric Reeves: The value of advocacy “noise” per se varies as a crisis emerges; it is obviously most useful when there is simply […]
Questions for the advocacy community: Q2 – Erin Mazursky
May 20, 2009 by 4 Comments
Q2: Is citizen advocacy at its most effective when it generates maximum “noise” on an issue , or do citizen advocates need to attach particular policy prescriptions to the noise they make? Erin Mazursky: In April 2006, 75,000 people assembled on the Washington Mall calling for “peace in Darfur.” The message was simple, and perhaps […]
Podcast: Chicago teachers on genocide education
May 19, 2009 by 1 Comment
Last week I gave a seminar for the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. There were about 50 teachers in attendence – most of whom do genocide education in Chicago’s schools. Illinois is one of just four states in the U.S. that is mandated to do genocide education – but – that mandate comes unfunded. […]
Noise-making vs. Policy asks
May 19, 2009 by Leave a Comment
In today’s posts, both Marc Gustafson and Esther Sprague point to the evolution of activism on Darfur from being focused on generating noise (what Gustafson terms “awareness campaigns”) to calling for specific policies (what Gustafson calls “advocacy campaigns”). Certainly when it comes to the SDC I see this transition as a struggle which played out […]
Questions for the advocacy community: Q2 – Marc Gustafson
May 19, 2009 by 2 Comments
Q2: Is citizen advocacy at its most effective when it generates maximum “noise” on an issue , or do citizen advocates need to attach particular policy prescriptions to the noise they make? Marc Gustafson: There can be no framework for measuring the efficacy of advocacy groups. Some are successful because they bring awareness to typically […]
Questions for the advocacy community: Q2 – Esther Sprague
May 19, 2009 by 1 Comment
Q2: Is citizen advocacy at its most effective when it generates maximum “noise” on an issue , or do citizen advocates need to attach particular policy prescriptions to the noise they make? Esther Sprague: I became a Darfur activist because a friend of mine, Mamer Kuer Ajak, was concerned about reports he was hearing concerning […]
Perceptions from outside the U.S. #4: Ethiopia
May 18, 2009 by 1 Comment
I am Mekdes Mezgebu. I am now working with the UNDP in Addis Ababa, Is there an advocacy movement for Darfur in Ethiopia? To my knowledge, there are no advocacy movements for Darfur in Ethiopia. While neighboring and very close to Ethiopia in a lot of other respects, often times, Darfur does not attract a […]
Questions for the advocacy community: Q2 – Jill Savitt
Q2: Is citizen advocacy at its most effective when it generates maximum “noise” on an issue , or do citizen advocates need to attach particular policy prescriptions to the noise they make? Jill Savitt: The answer is, of course, somewhere in between: In my experience, citizen advocacy is most effective when it generates maximum noise […]