from Lawrence, Sunday PhiloMadrid meeting: Can protest politics change anything?

Dear Friends,

This Sunday we are discussing: Can protest politics change anything?
The facts and the evidence suggest that yes, of course, protest politics can change a lot of things.
However, what is of particular interest to us here is what is the tipping force that transforms a
protest into a change? And following this we have investigate whether the change is for the better
or for the worse?
There is a prima facie difference between running away from something and running towards something.
Thus, by definition, protest politics is usually running away from something. Which is well and
good, but unfortunately this is not that terribly interesting on the grounds that those who are in a
bad situation already know about it and do not need the protesters to tell them about it. And in
anycase we might run but to do what?
But as always, the key factor, in my opinion, is not the protest, but the information conveyed by
the protesters. And even more important the information conveyed by those who oppose the protesters.
Then there is the interpretation we put on this information.
Indeed, without information there won't be anything, politics, change or development. Which probably
explains why those in power busy themselves trying to give information that is full of "wow" but
many times very little "Ah!"
Indeed, those in power or politics are in the business of information. Of course, this does not mean
that we are given the right information, useful information, told the truth or worse, told anything.
Whilst protest politics does bring change the kind of change probably depends on who can interpret
the available information correctly. In the meantime, those who ignore protesters do so at their own
risk and peril.
See you Sunday
Best
Lawrence

Meet 6:30pm
Centro Segoviano
Alburquerque, 14
28010 Madrid
914457935
Metro: Bilbao
PS don't forget that Ignacio and friends are now meeting at Triskel Tavern (San Vicente Ferrer 3) on
Thursday at 7:30pm.
from Lawrence, Sunday PhiloMadrid meeting: Can protest politics change anything?