WE ARE THE CHANGE

by Charmaine Loren A. Abella

BBC’s The Virtual Revolution proves that the internet is a very powerful tool in achieving the change we want. Internet, being the new media, allows everyone to become journalists in their own simple ways. The videos uploaded by the Iranians are clear evidences that every person connected in the internet has a voice. The internet gives us the freedom to broadcast issues not presented in the mainstream media. Everyone has this opportunity. However, it is still up to us on how we want to use this privilege. When we come to think of it, we use the internet for entertainment and leisure purposes most of the time. We sit in front of the computer for hours to check our friends and stalk people on Facebook and Twitter. I do not declare these habits as a bad thing. It’s just that I realized that these social networking sites can be a venue for a change. The tweets of the Iranians during their protests evoked action from the people outside Iran. Individuals from all over the world extended their help in any way to the Iranians. Even when Iranians were prohibited by the government to access certain social networking sites, people outside their country didn’t stop connecting with them. This is true for Austin Heap’s remarkable action in creating Haystack. He generated the software that would allow Iranians to access the blocked sites and to still get in touch with people outside their country. Austin Heap is just an ordinary citizen like all of us. However, he collated all his skills to provide help to the Iranians. His bravery affirms how we can make a difference in the society through the use of the internet. We don’t need to become as genius as Austin Heap to offer change, we just have to maximize the big world of the internet. It can all start from reading articles or watching videos on the internet regarding important issues. Then, we make our own decisions. Do we end there or do we begin to act for a change?