PROGRAM GUIDE 2013

comfest.com community Festival 2013 31The basic necessities of lifeare a right, not a privilege.If the statement on the back of the 2013 ComFestvolunteer T-shirts sounds familiar, there's good reason.The slogan chosen by organizers for the theme of thisyear's fest leaps straight off the page of CommunityFestival's Statement of Principles:The basic necessities of lifeare a right, not a privilege.That seems entirelyreasonable, doesn't it?Healthy food on the table, asturdy roof overhead, a safeplace to study, work worthdoing. Access to affordablehealthcare, an inclusiveculture based on commongood, safe and well-fundedpublic schools, knowing thateveryone else has the sameright: the right to live in peace.Then why is it so hard toaccomplish?Certainly plenty of peoplehave been working towardsuch simple justice for whole lifetimes -- that shouldcount for something.Every day, there are hundreds of organizationsraising awareness and funding to try to fix every partof the problem: ending hunger, homelessness and war;stopping repression and oppression; securing education,healthcare, jobs; saving the planet from ourselves. Surelythat's progress?Yet Guantanamo. Yet drones. Yet wiretappingand war profiteering and pension-stripping and hatemongeringand earth-fracturing.Still rape and toxic spills and land grabs. Still morefear, uncertainty and doubt. Still obstinate obstructionismand resolute rejectionism.What can anyone do?The answer is simple: ORGANIZE. The samemessage that has built every successful movement forsocial change and economic justice, from Seneca Falls toSelma to Stonewall.Working cooperatively for the common good is theonly thing that works to bring justice. As the ComFestPrinciples emphasize, "People have the collective right tocontrol the conditions of their lives."But it's only when huge numbers of individuals takecollective action that those rights have any meaning. Whentoo many people settle for being consumers of news, ratherthan makers of history, progress falters and more peopleare outside the circle.So what can you do? Youcan become part of somethingbigger than yourself, and findout that together commonpeople really can change theworld.Right now, the greedyof the world have two thingsto support them: They haveno shame, and we have noorganization.One of these things isfixable.Right now, you can getPhoto By Mimi Morrisbeyond your comfort zone toreach common ground withother citizens of Earth. Step away from the keyboard.Meet face-to-face with others who share your knowledgeand concerns. If you're not in an organization, find onethat thinks like you do, and sign yourself up.Learn why the groups that are already working on theproblem do things the way they do. Search for training inorganizing and leadership, initiate discussions of strategy.Study what works, and what doesn't work.Seek out the coalition-builders. Find new ways tobring people together to work effectively for justice.Share knowledge and contacts and analyses.And this weekend, bring your dancing shoes, becausewe're gathering again on common ground to celebratecommon good, to awaken common dreams. There arefriends to laugh with, songs to sing, plans to hatch. Let'sget started.Happy ComFest!—Mimi Morris