talk like never before

Once you pass the Obama images that wallpaper the front pages of our newspapers today (and probably for a few days to come), we get to the ‘closer to home’ issues. It is here I see a unique and important opportunity emerging for our sector.  A new and potentially influential (no matter what some may say) political party is about to ‘happen’ in South Africa.  Is this not the time we in the NGO sector should be making our voices heard (loudly) and doing our best to influence this emerging party?  Now, when it is still molding itself?

We don’t have to become members of the party if we don’t want to – but we should be using every platform available to talk with its leaders  (and members) as they evolve into a formal body. We should be doing our best to influence them about the issues we as a sector face, about our concerns and our dreams for a better society (sounds a bit like an old campaign slogan we may all remember).  We need to talk to them, and talk loudly too, about rights, poverty, justice, health, social services, the list is endless – but so too are the opportunities to influence.  Perhaps I am naïve, but I do believe that this is a point in time at which they may want to hear what we have to say.  As new parties emerge their need to listen (or even just to be seen to be listening) becomes increasingly important. And, even if they are just pretending to listen, a word or two may get though and stick… this is exactly what we need (okay – we need more than a word or two ‘sticking’, but it’s a start in a worst case scenario).  So let us play politics for a moment, let us use the moment that history is giving us, and talk like there is no tomorrow!

05 November 2008