Divide and conquer problems, not people!

“Divide and conquer!” For millennia, this strategy has been used by people in power, most often men (always the ignorant), to control groups of people and to keep them subservient. More often than not the group being controlled, used and abused have been women. And it only takes a glance at the news to see that this power dynamic isn’t producing the best of results.

Executing a successful divide and conquer strategy involves segmenting a population, then keeping the segmented groups in ignorance and isolation by both preventing access to education and by feeding them misinformation that fosters fear. This divide an conquer strategy can be observed at work in the smallest of units, the family, all the way up to entire nations.

What excites me the most about Web 2.0 is that for the first time in history women all over the world can use these free or low-cost online tools to come together and to use our innate power as a force for good in the world.

How? By sharing our experiences and knowledge with each other in order to become informed and educated. And by using our education to divide and conquer problems rather than people.

Thanks to social media, I have been able to connect to group of women that care deeply about our world and that take daily actions, big and small, to make it a better place for all. I no longer feel isolated. Thanks to social media, I am living out my dream of teaching photography to at-risk youth living in orphanages. Thanks to social networking, I have been able to make business connections to bring in money. Thanks to new media, I am becoming more educated and my understanding of the world is growing.

Thanks to Web 2.0 I feel empowered. I know that I can reach out and connect with others. And I have proof that with accurate information and education comes the power of understanding. With understanding comes unity, courage and solidarity. And against unity, courage and solidarity violence, torture, pain and abuse cannot prevail.