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.
Dear Reader,
Can I be direct with you?
War abroad. Socialists on the rise. AI upending human life. Endless uproar online. The modern attention economy doesn’t want readers — it wants users enslaved to the tyranny of the present.
First Things is the antidote: literary excellence, timeless truths, and a fixed point of reference in a culture that has lost its bearings.
But we can’t do it without readers like you.
Our goal: Raise $150,000 by November 1 to sustain First Things in the year ahead.
Your gift anchors readers in the permanent things.
Make your Fall Campaign gift now using the button below.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Giovanni Del Piero, Director of the Editor’s Circle, at gdelpiero@firstthings.com or 212-627-1985.
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