Pomo politics

In 1991, Jody Williams and two other people formed the “International Campaign to Ban Landmines.” During the following six years, the group had entered into a coalition with over 1000 Non-Government Organizations and got 121 nations to sign a treaty to ban landmines, which took effect in March 1999. Along the way, Williams won the Nobel Peace Prize.

It’s not only the use of NGOs that makes this a classic case of pomo activism. It’s also her relentless use of communications technologies: From her farm in Vermont, she sent out emails to officials and activists all over the world. And it’s also the use of celebrities: Williams and her group were able to win the public support of Princes Diana.

Next
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

The Church in the Age of Therapy

Matthew Loftus

In 1966, Philip Rieff wrote in The Triumph of the Therapeutic that “Religious man was born to…

Canada’s Deadliest Blind Spot

Anna Farrow

On September 20, the Daily Mail ran a story with the provocative headline, “Our 83-year-old Christian grandmother…

The Faithful Joy of Dolly Parton and Fulton Sheen

Mike Aquilina

Dolly Parton and Fulton Sheen seem to have had little in common. She favored rhinestones; he wore…