Home › Blogs › augustin's blog

Brainstorm action points to #BringBackOurGirls

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 16:09 — augustin

Without the limiting factor or 140 character tweets, use this blog entry as an open thread to discuss and brainstorm ideas to help the poor schoolgirls....

Check the wiki for more info:
http://en.minguo.info/wiki/forgotten/schoolgirls

Comments

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 17:09 — ElleChic

What next?

Hello I'm Lydia,

I'm here to join (or start) the conversation on what can be done to bring more attention to this issue and pressure the Nigerian governments as well as foreign governments and international institutions to take action.

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 17:20 — augustin

Hi Lydia

Thanks for joining us here.

I have already (roughly) outline several types of action we could take, depending on time and manpower, ranging from marches (demonstrations), letter writing to influential people, offering specific skills to help the cause, etc.
Have a look at all the sub-sections.
http://en.minguo.info/wiki/forgotten/schoolgirls/action

Importantly, we want to work hand in hand with other similar activist networks elsewhere on the internet. If we know about them, we can promote them, too.

But right now, it really depends on manpower. 172 followers in 24h would have been excellent for a normal account, but it's much less than what we could have expected. And how many of those followers are like you, willing to come up front and offer to do more... I don't know.

So, I think that at this stage we can work on 2 things:
1) keep on promoting https://twitter.com/BringGirlsBack and ask for more follows. This is the source of our manpower.
2) you and me, we chose one item in the laundry list of action points in the wiki and work on it together. Chose something that appeals you the most and that we could start working on together. Advertise this in order to attract more activists.

Where are you situated, exactly? In the US, I presume. Where? I am a French guy living in Asia (Taiwan).

Blessings,

augustin.

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 17:30 — augustin

mobile app

ElleChic mentioned by direct message on Twitter that many friends may prefer using an app to use on cell phones, on the go, with instant notification. I know the limitations of this site.

A few comments in reply:
- The wiki section we provide here is essential to my overal strategy. I think that properly used it can be an asset.

- People are welcome to use whatever tool they like the best and that offer the best oppornutities for connections and coordination. The wiki is precisely here to list all the places and all the ways people use to campaign for the release of the girls. We are not limited to any single tool.

- We will continue using Twitter inasmuch as it's useful to our cause.

- On a personal note, I may show my slowly advancing age, but I don't even own a cell phone. I may not be able to use such or such app. It doesn't prevent others from using it, but I'll probably stick to Twitter, this web site and a few other web sites where I am involved.

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 17:53 — ElleChic

Re: app- something even like

Re: app- something even like a Facebook group that is accessible via computer and phone could work. People are glued to FB, incorporating this with something people already use so much would make them that much more likely to join.

I am American based in Paris. I have focused the majority of my efforts on informing friends, family and acquaintances back in the U.S.

That being said I wouldn't feel comfortable spearheading a march here alone as I don't fully know the limits and boundaries of society here, if that makes sense.

I've already been contacting influential people and will continue to do so. I've also been posting repeatedly on my Twitter and Facebook accounts. I have and would like to continue reaching out to more independent blogs/sites with substantial followings.

As far as my ideas:

I think the more influential people get on board the farther this story will spread. News outlets follow our attention for the ratings/advertisements, so getting this topic to dominate social media is crucial to getting news coverage. I think that should be the most immediate goal.

Also there's a petition on change.org, I'll find the link and post it, if it hasn't been done already.

Now the question is, apart from making noise what other concrete steps can we take to make this a high priority issue for western governments and international institutions (AU, EU, UN, etc.) (which would consequently increase pressure on the Nigerian government) ?

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 18:18 — augustin

FB is a good idea. I've never

FB is a good idea. I've never used it (!) but I know many do.

I'm not surprised you're in Paris, given your handle ;) Merde! It's a shame we're so far away. We could have organized something together there.
One never knows: https://twitter.com/BringGirlsBack/status/461566235356848128 But what you say completly makes sense. I feel the same way in Taiwan.

Anyway, I tried to push the idea of marches earlier but I didn't get much feedback if any. I don't think we have reach the critical mass that would make it happen.

I have an account at Daily Kos, if you know. I'll post there, as soon as I have time.

I agree about the importance of social media.

change.org petition: is that the one? http://en.minguo.info/wiki/forgotten/schoolgirls/other_activists

Making noise, one way or another, is just about our only weapon in our arsenal. Politicians won't move forward unless we show that masses of people demand them to.

I think, given our limited human resources, is that starting a phone/letter campaign to some targeted, key individuals is our best option. We can see how many people actually join in the effort.

Hey! Do you speak French at all? I can help you draft some letters in French and together we write to some key French officials!

I am too tired to come up with anything better, now. I really need some sleep. I'll check on the latest posts, tweets and development after catching a few hours sleep.

Wed, 04/30/2014 - 18:54 — EmilyB

Fb group already exists, lets get on board

Hello,
Just searched and found a fb group already formed. Lets join forces! https://www.facebook.com/bringbackourgirls

Thu, 05/01/2014 - 03:42 — augustin

Facebook

Thanks. I have added the link to facebook in the wiki:
http://en.minguo.info/wiki/forgotten/schoolgirls/other_activists
We need a volunteer to act as a liaison.

Thu, 05/01/2014 - 13:52 — EmilyB

I can. I'll share the twitter

I can. I'll share the twitter and this wiki, anything else?

Thu, 05/01/2014 - 14:10 — augustin

a team of liaison officers

I don't know if you saw my latest update to the wiki:
http://en.minguo.info/wiki/forgotten/schoolgirls/other_activists

People who are part of the Facebook group should feed this wiki with their latest action plans.

Basically, both groups need to be aware of each other.

We want to add to our wiki all of the action points of the Facebook group. We need someone to publicize the efforts by the Twitter community in the Facebook group.

We are not in a competition of twitter vs facebook. Both groups should work hand in hand to have an impact.

so we need at least one, maybe more people who can act as liaison between our wiki, our twitter group and the facebook group.

It's an important job and may be time-consuming, so it's better if there are many liaison officers.
Festus Adun https://twitter.com/Senatorbabyboy already agreed to act as liaison as well, so there are two of you: it's a good start.

1) everything they do at facebook must be reflected in the wiki here so that we can inform our twitter friends accordingly.
2) people at facebook must be kept aware of the progression of our efforts.

Most importantly, thank you very much for all your help and for coming forward!

Thu, 05/01/2014 - 14:15 — EmilyB

re: a team of liaison officers

Makes sense. I think it can be based on what groups you contacted, and then the job is to continue the connection with that fb group. I've contacted 3, I think I'll see if I get any response and see what else I can handle from there.

Thu, 05/01/2014 - 14:27 — augustin

Yes.

I personally didn't contact any FB group. I don't have a FB account and I cannot do everything myself: I am way over my head, with many things I'd like to do but don't have time to do. Another reason why I'm grateful to you for helping out.

Yes, handle things as you think it's best, according to the response you get. Make them understand that we're not 'competing' social networks but we want to strengthen each other, with the best interest of the girls in mind.

Thu, 05/01/2014 - 14:10 — EmilyB

also reached out to other fb

also reached out to other fb groups working on this https://www.facebook.com/GirlRising and https://www.facebook.com/everynigeriandosomething

Thu, 05/01/2014 - 14:14 — augustin

Oh, great!

I was not aware of them. I just added those two new groups to the wiki page
http://en.minguo.info/wiki/forgotten/schoolgirls/other_activists

That's precisely why we need liaisons, and the wiki to keep track of who does what.
It's OK if there are many communities, but we need coordinated efforts for the best impact!

Tue, 05/06/2014 - 09:55 — GirlGirlGirl1

Guardian UK today

The leader of Nigerian Islamist extremist group Boko Haram has said that more than 270 schoolgirls snatched from their dormitories were "slaves" whom he planned to sell in the market.

Abubakar Shekau, the group's leader, said in a video seen by the Guardian.

"Women are slaves. I want to reassure my Muslim brothers that Allah says slaves are permitted in Islam," he added, in an apparent reference to an ancient tradition of enslaving women captured during jihad, or holy war.

Speaking in northern Nigeria's Hausa language during a rambling hour-long speech, he threatened further attacks on schools and warned the international community not to get involved in Nigeria. Shekau has previously called western education "a plot against Islam" and urged his fighters to kill students and teachers.

"I will marry off a woman at the age of 12. I will marry off a girl at the age of nine," he said at another point in the video.

The chilling message came as police questioned 'Gbenga Sesan – the activist behind the popular Twitter campaign #BringBackOurGirls – and two women who helped organise protests calling for the government to do more to rescue the girls.