[afro-nets] In preparation of People's Health Assembly II - part 29

[Claudio Schuftan <claudio@hcmc.netnam.vn>]

In preparation of People's Health Assembly II - part 29
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AVENUES FOR SOCIAL ACTION IN THE 21ST CENTURY

By David Werner

1. People have to have the opportunity to participate as equals
in the decisions that determine their future. It is not enough
just to show 'concern' about this so-far partly missed opportu-
nity, because what people actually need is to figure out (soon!)
what they can do, individually and collectively to change their
deteriorating conditions for the better.

2. The forces that shape global events are gigantic and are deaf
to any rational disagreement or dissent. Powerful interest
groups are undermining democracy, concentrating power and ex-
ploiting both people and the environment. Few know enough de-
tails about this to become justifiably outraged.

3. Disinformation has become the modern means of social control.
Schools tend to teach history in ways that glorify those in
power. Conventional schooling is mainly a vehicle for disinfor-
mation and social control; it instils conformity and compliance.

4. Educated people have little knowledge of the injustices dis-
advantaged people are subjected to. Our textbooks, newspapers,
magazines and TVs keep us strategically misinformed. Hence the
biggest problems facing humanity today --i.e. poverty, growing
inequality, and unsustainable plundering of the planet's ecosys-
tem-- continue unresolved. Only when enough citizens become
fully aware of these issues, will it be possible to place the
common good before the interests of powerful minorities. But
creating such public awareness is an uphill struggle; more em-
powering forms of education and information sharing are needed.

5. To see through this disinformation and to mobilize people for
a more equitable society, we need alternative methods of educa-
tion and information sharing that are honest, participatory and
empowering and, most importantly, bring people together as
equals to critically analyze their reality and then take united
action.

6. It is thus urgent in today's world to look for alternative
media and other means of people to people communication. The al-
ternative press, alternative community radio and TV and the
Internet are viable media for the times if and when socially
committed people unite around a common concern to impact global
policy-making and key issues facing the world's people are given
center stage.

7. The People's Health Movement is a step forward in that strug-
gle fighting for a healthier, more equitable approach to par-
ticipatory democracy.

8. An empowering education is learner-centered; it enables peo-
ple to take collective action for change. In education for
change, the learners gain confidence in their own abilities and
discuss their own concerns; it frees them from the idea that
they are helpless; it transforms them. It is this that opens the
doors for collective action.

9. Community based health care programs in various countries
have brought people together to take health into their own hands
through organized action in a people's collective struggle for
health to correct inequalities, unfair practices, and/or unjust
social structures. In these programs, through community diagno-
ses, it becomes clear to people that inequality and the power
structures that perpetuate them are at the root of ill-health.

10. "Where There is no Doctor" and "Helping Health Workers
Learn" are examples of books showing a way for community based
health in action.

11. But there also is a need for networking and communications
among grassroots programs. By joining forces we become more able
to consolidate a stronger base to confront injustice and ineq-
uity. Strength in numbers gives us mutual protection and a
stronger hand. Networking allows for cross- fertilization of ex-
periences, methods and ideas.

12. A new understanding of the global forces behind poor health
makes us aware of the need for a worldwide coalition of grass-
roots groups. People need to know what efforts are being made
elsewhere to oppose global forces.

13. Innovative learning and awareness-raising methods are needed
to meet the new challenges in today's globalized world. We need
new learning tools and methods and teaching aids must be devel-
oped to help ordinary people see the links between their local
problems and global powers.


14. Story-telling, role plays and theatre can successfully be
used for awareness raising and change. They are an effective way
to help people understand and consider possibilities for strate-
gic action. Particularly useful are stories that link local
problems to global policies.

Local social upheaval can often be traced to global policies
that are deepening poverty, undermining workers rights, reducing
jobs and wages, and cutting back on public services. We need
true stories that make those links AND help people build a chain
of causes from the local to the global.

15. The "Yes, But Why?" game and the "Chain of Causes" exercise
can be used with local stories depicting good situation analy-
ses.

16. The purpose of these activities is to help participants ex-
plore issues in depth, like fitting together the pieces of the
puzzle. Studying the causal chain, the group considers which
links they may be able to break and what action to take. It also
allows them to determine when to call on others to join in to
help them achieve their goals.

17. Learning is also best when it is made discovery-based; that
is a step further from learning by doing. It develops in the
learner an ability to observe and think for him or herself.
It encourages participants to make their own observations, ar-
rive at their own conclusions, and to build on their own discov-
eries thus preparing them to be protagonists and active agents
of change. (To be is to do!).

18. Using a community based situation analyses/diagnoses is the
best way to start off the group process of learning by identify-
ing and prioritizing health-related problems or other shared
concerns. One approach is to create a graphic representation of
the problems of a given community using a flannel board. In it,
the problems identified are put in rows and the group analyzes
their relative importance. The group discusses which problems
contributed to or led to some of the other problems; a web of
causes is thus created and root causes are identified. Seeking
answers to these questions helps the group decide where to be-
gin. It is suggested that they begin attacking easy to resolve
local problems, not losing sight of the macro level though.

19. Another empowering innovative educational methodology is
found in the "Child to Child" program in which school age chil-
dren learn ways to protect the health of other children. Child
to Child emphasizes learning through experience. Children con-
duct their own surveys and discover answers for themselves; they
learn to work together to help each other.

20. Building self-esteem is one of the most difficult challenges
in empowering education. People need to rediscover the value in
their traditional belief, customs and forms of healing. They
need to discover that they have a wealth of knowledge, skills
and qualities which other folks often lack. Using awareness-
rising dialogues helps people to get a new sense of self-worth
so as to stand-up to others as equals and become committed, as-
sertive actors.

21. To transform the world we must respect our differences and
embrace what we have in common. We have to build the global
solidarity needed and find ways to communicate truthfully and
directly. The Internet, for those with access to it, provides an
avenue we must use better. Story-telling, street theater, aware-
ness-raising comics and novellas, as well as community radio and
TV, and the alternative press offer complementary vital outlets
that we also have to use more efficiently. Well planned pro-
tests, demonstrations, open fora, and strategic disobedience
also have their time and place.

22. Years of organized struggle will be necessary to achieve the
goals of action for change. People need to discover what makes
our social order tick to then figure out a course of action to
help improve the situation.

23. At the People's Health Movement (PHM), we aim at bringing
diverse people together for the common good. We help identify
common ground and help take collective action for change. The
People's Health Movement is a big step forward in these discus-
sions. Its activities are oriented toward education and action
that raise the critical awareness of people. We invite you to
join in.

--
mailto:secretariat@phmovement.org
http://www.phmovement.org