Transforming Power - A Light of Hope

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the Ottawa Book Launch for Transforming Power, that was held at the Raw Sugar Cafe earlier today.  The cafe was definitely packed with people who came to both see Judy & celebrate Octopus Books' 40th Anniversary.  The venue was intimate and everyone was interested in hearing from Judy.  We have been doing the Website for Octopus Books now for probably 8 years (Krishna & I put up what was at the time a fairly complex site at that time) and also helped Judy Rebick put together her site over the past couple of months.

We took a leadership role in supporting Judy's site because we saw the potential for this project to mobilize the social justice movement in Canada.  When we (Krishna & I) first worked with Judy it was when we helped to launch rabble.ca back in 2001.  Rabble.ca has done a lot to help to focus left leaning media and discussion since that time and it was with rabble.ca that we were involved in our first advocacy campaign to build a petition to release Jaggi Shing. 

In Judy's book was just launched today, but already it's popularity is greater than anticipated.  The power of social networking through the website and other social media has helped to increase the initial sales of her book.  The website however is more than just a platform to sell the book, it's a place to start organizing for change. 

We've supported the early development of this site, primarily because Judy's book not only needs to be read, but needs to be discussed, challenged, extended and applied.  Judy will be going across the country talking to people about the ideas which went into the book, but this should just be the beginning of a dialoge with concerned individuals who passionately want a better future.

I also liked Judy's references to Rev. Van Jones & Velcro Ripper.  Back in 2006 I blogged about a very nice podcast that the Rabble Podcast Network released prior to Velcro's movie Fierce Light, which looked at the requirements to combine spirituality with social activism.  It's a really empowering podcast, so would recommend people download it.  It made me reflect too on the choice of the phrase Transforming Power which I know from my personal Quaker faith and past involvement in the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP). AVP was started by Quakers, but the very core of AVP happens to be this very concept.

This is a great initiative.  There is something in this book to upset and excite everyone.  Go buy the book, read it, join in on the discussions and let's start making the world we want to live in!