Hamish Campbell<p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/ngo/" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/ngo/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#NGO</a>-driven approach to activism are a part of the challenges of <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/mainstreaming/" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/mainstreaming/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#mainstreaming</a> agendas in tech and social movements. NGOs at best aim to “make the mess work a bit better” without addressing root causes. This band-aid path aligns with the mainstreaming agenda rather than fostering systemic change. This need for maintaining “relevance” leads to shallow solutions rather than transformative action.</p><p>With activist projects struggling to build shared objectives, collaboration becomes fragmented, and efforts fail to scale and sustain impact. We have historical paths to mediate this, like the <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/pga/" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/pga/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#PGA</a> (Peoples’ Global Action) that aligning around clear hallmarks galvanizes collective action. With grassroots tech and user engagement, projects fail without users. If people remain tethered to <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/dotcons/" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/dotcons/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#dotcons</a>, our work on grassroot projects die before they take off. Activists criticize dotcons but often fail to leave them, perpetuating the systems they oppose—a symptom of the <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/deathcult/" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/deathcult/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#deathcult</a>.</p><p>Many radical/progressive tech initiatives focus on aesthetics (<a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/fashernista/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#fashernista</a>) or isolated goals without contributing to broader movements like rebooting grassroots media, these efforts become distractions and dead ends. Provide compelling alternatives to the dotcons that people can genuinely use and build upon. Stepping away as activism can play a role. Leaving the <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/dotcons/" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/dotcons/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#dotcons</a> and embracing decentralized, ethical platforms is itself a form of activism. This act undermines the <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/deathcult/" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/deathcult/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#deathcult</a> and creates space for alternatives to thrive.</p><p>Composting pointless projects, we need to identify and “compost” projects that fail to contribute meaningfully to broader goals. This isn’t about cynicism, but about redirecting energy toward initiatives that matter. Use the energy of critique to inspire better efforts rather than dismiss entirely. Key question, how do we bridge the gap between critique and action to avoid losing people and momentum in the current mess? To challenges activists to step back, think critically, and act boldly. It’s a reminder that inaction—or misguided action—is a victory for the <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/deathcult/" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/deathcult/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#deathcult</a>. How do you envision the <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/4opens/" target="_blank">#4opens</a> and <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/omn/" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/omn/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#OMN</a> evolving? What can you do to make this happen?</p> <a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/mastodon?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Flooking-at-some-of-the-issues-we-need-to-fix%2F&linkname=Looking%20at%20some%20of%20the%20issues%20we%20need%20to%20fix" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/bluesky?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Flooking-at-some-of-the-issues-we-need-to-fix%2F&linkname=Looking%20at%20some%20of%20the%20issues%20we%20need%20to%20fix" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/threads?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Flooking-at-some-of-the-issues-we-need-to-fix%2F&linkname=Looking%20at%20some%20of%20the%20issues%20we%20need%20to%20fix" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/x?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Flooking-at-some-of-the-issues-we-need-to-fix%2F&linkname=Looking%20at%20some%20of%20the%20issues%20we%20need%20to%20fix" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Flooking-at-some-of-the-issues-we-need-to-fix%2F&linkname=Looking%20at%20some%20of%20the%20issues%20we%20need%20to%20fix" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com%2Flooking-at-some-of-the-issues-we-need-to-fix%2F&linkname=Looking%20at%20some%20of%20the%20issues%20we%20need%20to%20fix" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a><a class="" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a> <p><a href="https://hamishcampbell.com/looking-at-some-of-the-issues-we-need-to-fix/" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://hamishcampbell.com/looking-at-some-of-the-issues-we-need-to-fix/</a></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/4opens/" target="_blank">#4opens</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/deathcult/" target="_blank">#deathcult</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/dotcons/" target="_blank">#dotcons</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/fashernista/" target="_blank">#fashernista</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/mainstreaming/" target="_blank">#mainstreaming</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/ngo/" target="_blank">#NGO</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/omn/" target="_blank">#OMN</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://hamishcampbell.com/tag/pga/" target="_blank">#PGA</a></p>