Dear all,
I have been following the work of the EA community for a few years now, and have seen a signifcant existential gap that exists in th causes that are supported. To be able to effectively create any of the positive change EA aims to deliver, there has to be a bedrock of democracy and freedom in society. Without those fundamental conditions, no EA work can take place on any topic. Without democracy and individual freedoms, there is no climate action, no AI risk mitigation, no intergenerational justice, no environment or animal rights.
Democracy is under attack, and immediate risk of collapse around the world, for example: * The US is in constitutional freefall - the administration has cut any development, climate action, social inclusion or science funidng. People are disappearing of the streets. The US government is aligning with Russia and promoting far-right extremism around the world, especially in Europe.
* The war in Ukraine is ongoing, Putin is emboldened, and it will not stop in Ukraine - the EU is under hybrid attack, and could end up in hot war.
* Tthe Global South is dominated by the autocracies Russia and China.
*Europe faces rising extremism supported by those autocratic powers. Far-right extremism is on the rise in essentially every European country.
If there is no urgent determined action now, we will find ourselves in an autocratic unfree world, controlled by EA, and facing climate destruction for the many, while oligarchs hide away in palaces.
Exactly now, when democracy defence and innovation must be amplified and supported, funding is being withdrawn. Civil society organisations, campaigners, defenders against disinformation are scrambling to find resources. There is an urgent need for the EA community to step up - this is the key existential challenge which binds together the other threats. There can be no long-term solutions if there is short term collapse.
There is a range of solutions and effective organisations and initiatives out there including:
* Embryonic networks of campaigners and strategic communicators innovating on how to reach and activate different audiences for civic action eg voter turnout, or citizen participation, or advocacy campaigns.
* Networks of analysts, researchers, journalists, and communicators work together to counter disinformation, and hybrid threats by autocratic governments, and recommending strategic communications and law enforcement.
* A community of civic tech and political tech companies and civil society develop new tools to become more effective and impactful.
* Civil society organisations are advocating for European and national policy to address threats for democracy.
These efforts are there, but they are massively underfunded and overstreched.
At the end of the day, change will only come when more people vote for democrats than for extremists, and when effective campaigning and advocacy to shape policy. More action is needed.
If you are interested in developing a funding or fundraising strategy around this, please get in touch.
Thank you,
Omri
Edit: retracted the downvote.
I agree that preserving democracy is important, but I downvoted this post:
I've listened to your podcast and there I learnt things. This post, however, does not provide me any information.
Hi!
Thank you for the feedback! I took it on board and made some edits.
I could push specific initiatives if you think that would help, the aim of the post here was to collect together the people who might be interested.
Happy to talk if you are interested.
Bests!
I like the post much more now ;) - clearer where you are coming from and, indeed, a conversation starter.
Thank you for that!