How far can communities go? Thoughts on ‘Us Now’ film

Update: ‘Us Now’ is launched online on the 12th May 2009 with the support of FutureGov – here’s the FutureGov post on the subject

Tonight’s showing of Us Now at the RSA was a revelation. Firstly because it was completely free to anyone who registered online. Brilliant for such high quality content in beautiful surroundings. Secondly, because of the content. It’s a thought-provoking film that you should see if you get chance.

The film looks at communities and organisations that are only able to form because of the technology advances – the internet, the home computer – and the cultural shifts they’re creating – mass collaboration, social empowerment and personal publishing.

One of the film’s core arguments was that today’s generation are taking for granted (in a good way) that they will be able to effect change and have a say in how their lives are run – their bands, their communities, their government, everything.

The challenge we all face is to achieve this in areas with major influence on our lives (football evokes passion but doesn’t topple regimes). This challenge is summed up in chair JP Rangaswami’s point that “I wouldn’t want [a grassroots group] to make my pacemaker. I want a trained professional, or a group of them.” There are some areas where only an expert will do.

Communities can definately pull together in new and exciting ways, but who decides which problems they are allowed to tackle? If there is a line (and there may not be one), where do we draw it?

National government was picked out as a ’sacred cow’ that needs to be updated to fit today’s world. I wonder if this is like persuading the doctors who control the installation of pacemakers that they should try the model that an amateur posse has assembled. If I was them, I’d want to see a lot of testing and guarantees that it works and even then I’m not sure which one I’d choose.

A fascinating film that’s capable of challenging your ideas. I’d be interested to hearing from you if this post has challenged yours

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