Hey Everyone–because we’re all gearing up for the Global Youth Assembly here at GYA/JHC Headquarters,we’ve decided to let one of Edmonton’s very own change agents write a guest post for us! You might know him by his real name of Dave Cournoyer or you might know him by his online brand as Daveberta. Either way, Dave is a young engaged Albertan whose passion for public engagement, especially amongst youth and young professionals, really shines through on his blog and his grasp of the issues reflect that passion. But we’ll let you decide–check out Dave’s guest blog below!
For a long time I embraced the age old myth that young people are becoming increasingly apathetic to the world around them. As a young person who has been heavily involved in politics at a number of levels, I have been told that I am a rarity, but I have a hard time accepting that as a fact. Sure, voter turnout from citizens in the 18 to 30 age range has steadily declined over the past decade, but so has voter turnout in older age demographics. It’s true that young people aren’t rushing to get involved in political parties, but neither are many older citizens.
With the large exception of the widely pop culturized 1960s, I’m willing to bet that young people have always had lower involvement in traditional political institutions. Look outside of the traditional political arenas occupied by members of our parents and grandparents generations and you will find some impressively vibrant political communities that transcend demographic assumptions.
Locally, a community of active Edmontonians has used online social networks and social media like Blogs, Twitter, and Facebook to engage on important issues in our City. The recent debate about whether to close the Edmonton City Centre Airport is a fascinating example of how a group of engaged citizens used social media to spark ideas and conversations. Not satisfied with the status quo, many younger Edmontonians used social networks to engage the City Centre Airport issue and urge friends and followers to contact City Council.
While Airport debate was only one example of how the positive merger between social media and citizen engagement is evolving, there are other shining and nascent examples of emerging groups of active citizens such as ChangeCamp, CivicCamp, Better Calgary, and Better Edmonton who are taking to the internet as a strategy for promoting positive change.
While the organic nature of social networks allow for the kind of direct interaction and conversation that radio ads and giant billboards could never, our democratic institutions are lethargically struggling to keep pace, and being left in the dust.
It is easy to become cynical and disenchanted with traditional politics when there is so much focus on grandstanding politicians, old-style political parties, and dropping voter turnout, but I am constantly encouraged by the exciting citizen engagement and important debates that are spreading through online social networks.
