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Is it all about apathy as we head into an election year?

Should we come together in 2010?

Kate Wildblood

Sunday, 24 January 2010

Recently I came together with a bunch of like-minded mates. And a mighty time was had by all. It wasn’t the sordid moment the double entendre the words might suggest, but a bunch of DJ’s playing decent music for a decent cause. The night was called Together, a concept dreamed up by a guy called Chris who decided he wanted to make a change. The story goes a flat mate’s mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer and Chris decided he wanted to raise five grand for Cancer Research UK. And in less than a year the Brighton hero has gone a done it. He’s rounded up dj’s, called in favours and rattled many, many buckets. Unsung indeed.

And his generosity of spirit has got me thinking. The media can feel like a never-ending tale of nightmares and tragedies as natural disasters, bigoted bastards and twisted souls wreck lives and threaten others. Hati has touched us all, it goes without saying, and that sense of helplessness is one I finding hard to handle.

But as we enter this UK election year will that sense of helplessness be replace by apathy? As we read of Ugandan government efforts to make our sexuality a death sentence, of gay men in China finding their taboo breaking pageants cancelled, of third world countries fight to access cheap antiretroviral drugs and of abortion providing clinics attacked in the US can we really afford to sit idly by? Is joining a group on a social networking site really the only way to support, shout and ultimately force change?

If in 2010 we are to be bombarded with reasons to vote Labour, Tory or Lib Dem isn’t time we started to ask some serious questions. How will we fare in a new government? Where will an incoming Prime Minster stand on the international stage? Will Cameron question Uganda’s position on LGBT rights? Will Brown push Barak on the States take on Proposition 8? And will Clegg ensure the rights we have acquired through Labour’s reign continue?

Politics may not seem the most exciting issue on our radar when it’s all about our social network but maybe it should be. As Chris has proved to me this year you can make a difference. Only you may have to do a little more than post a link or join a group. It’s time to engage. It’s time we got our act together!