Hello
 
I would like to echo the feelings of atrocity at recent events in Gaza and the desire to do something meaningful.  I do not object to issuing the statement.  Like some others, I am not sure how much effect it will have, but do not think it will be harmful.  
 
However, I appreciate Grant's email which raises some of the limitations of 'our community', at present, to act effectively or democratically.  I agree that we should find the 'we' in order to consider a more formal organisation that may be poised to effect action and/or build partnerships with others to that aim.  It feels to me that the current set up is not geared up for that... perhaps it was never intended to be... and so operates well as a means for many of us to share ideas, views and news etc, but is not necessarily the correct vehicle for the demands that are being asked of it?  I appreciate the list for what it is, but in recognising its limitations, I'd be supportive of opening a space in which we may move forward as a community so that we might take action in the many causes that clearly drive the passions of this list.
 
Best wishes,
 
Elaine  

________________________________

From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List on behalf of Jeffrey, Grant
Sent: Tue 20/01/2009 11:00
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] War - pause for action please!



 

I want to chip in some thoughts about this topic, from a purely personal angle. Like Rebecca, I am slightly uncomfortable about the way we are proceeding:

 

For me the key points in recent postings, made by David, Mark and Jacqui respectively include:

 

 *<https://exchange.lse.ac.uk/exchange/DOUGLAS/Drafts/RE:%20[COMMUNITYPSYCHUK]%20War%20%20-%20pause%20for%20action%20please!.EML/1_multipart/image001.gif>        A feeling that "there may be more concrete community psychological ways of expressing solidarity".

 

 *<https://exchange.lse.ac.uk/exchange/DOUGLAS/Drafts/RE:%20[COMMUNITYPSYCHUK]%20War%20%20-%20pause%20for%20action%20please!.EML/1_multipart/image001.gif>        That there may be other routes for this kind of political action (that we can share and cooperate in exploring - Wendy mentioned activites)and it seems to me depressingly true but telling that "a group of psychologists isn't the first place many of us would look to to organise political action".

 

 *<https://exchange.lse.ac.uk/exchange/DOUGLAS/Drafts/RE:%20[COMMUNITYPSYCHUK]%20War%20%20-%20pause%20for%20action%20please!.EML/1_multipart/image001.gif>        Jacqui wrote "I am also concerned about the situation in Zimbabwe which we are NOT seeing and which is NOT being reported on.". There is a wide range of topics that list members might want to make statements about or issue press releases on that are as pressing as the horror in Gaza.

 

The process of writing statements and press releases is problematic for me because:

 

 *<https://exchange.lse.ac.uk/exchange/DOUGLAS/Drafts/RE:%20[COMMUNITYPSYCHUK]%20War%20%20-%20pause%20for%20action%20please!.EML/1_multipart/image001.gif>        The 'we' of the CPUK community is a very vague and elusive 'we'.

 

 *<https://exchange.lse.ac.uk/exchange/DOUGLAS/Drafts/RE:%20[COMMUNITYPSYCHUK]%20War%20%20-%20pause%20for%20action%20please!.EML/1_multipart/image001.gif>        I do not think list discussion is sufficiently inclusive for us to be sure that the postings here represent any wider community.  I often feel discouraged from posting because of what I percieve as a lack of good spirit and a dismissiveness, or just that my ill formed and tentative thoughts will meet hostility - some other people feel the same. Email is a prickly medium.

 

 *<https://exchange.lse.ac.uk/exchange/DOUGLAS/Drafts/RE:%20[COMMUNITYPSYCHUK]%20War%20%20-%20pause%20for%20action%20please!.EML/1_multipart/image001.gif>        We had 32 error messages from the list yesterday - some people are not receiving the postings due to the length of the messages and are therefore probably not in a position to comment.

 

 *<https://exchange.lse.ac.uk/exchange/DOUGLAS/Drafts/RE:%20[COMMUNITYPSYCHUK]%20War%20%20-%20pause%20for%20action%20please!.EML/1_multipart/image001.gif>        I think we would be much more effective if any press releases or statements we release specifically represent community psychololgical ways of thinking and refer explcitly to work in CP.

 

The only two suggestions I can make are:-

 

If some of us decide that writing a 'statement' or press release is in fact the right thing to do - let's have named signatories on an 'opt-in' basis instead of assuming that those who object will feel empowered to speak out or challenge what is being done or said - some people don't find it easy to post to the list, and find it harder still to post objections. 

 

A lot of us do want a clear and explicit sense of 'we' in the CP community - if we want a strong political voice we must establish what we stand FOR in the media and wider society first.  I don't think the list is sufficiently robust and formalised to carry forward and develop CPUK in a way that will allow us to tackle the big issues that many of us care about.  Could the list develop into a more formal way of organising that is sustained by more than email circulars? I would be keen to help develop a better Internet presence that might offer more ways for people to contribute, debate, develop theory and take action - but perhaps we also need a cooperative or a membership organisation of some kind?

 

Just thoughts and suggestions - I know these points might represent a minority view only!

Best wishes, Grant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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