Pick Your Cause for #IndonesiaUnite

I was gonna write a post about the #indonesiaunite movement and spirit, but I guess most of you have heard about it and how it was the #1 topic on twitter several times last week.

Since then I hear a lot of questions in the lines of "how can I join #indonesiaunite?" "what can I do to help?" etc

For the 1st question, my answer is, no, you cannot join #indonesiaunite. Because it is not a community/organisation, #indonesiaunite is a movement, a spirit to ensure this country can survive any disruption. The #indonesiaunite spirit is to make this country a better place for everyone, something that has always been there within your hearts, if you are truly Indonesian. It was awakened by the Mega Kuningan bombs, but I am sure this sense of nationalism, patriotism, or whatever you wanna call it, has always been there.

The bombs may serve as the tipping point of this spirit and movement. And to borrow Malcolm Gladwell's definition of a tipping point, is "the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable."

I think that sums up #indonesiaunite pretty well. A momentum for change. And hopefully it is unstoppable. The youth of this country have been yearning for change. Some people expect to be shown the way to change. By the government, by the leaders, by the older generation. But some people decide to BE THE CHANGE, and do something, regardless of any support from the mainstream powers.

#indonesiaunite ignites that passion again, as people realise they want to do something to make this beloved country of ours a better place. The sad thing is, some of us has been trained to be 'sheep' - borrowing Seth Godin's 'Tribes'. Some of us expect to be led by others, because that's how we have been trained and educated. 

Thus leads to the 2nd question, "what can I do to help #indonesiaunite offline?". Well, I salute you to ask this question, because you are not satisfied by just getting the world's attention in twitter. Great.

Do you realise that question is the same one that has been asked (somewhat rethorically) before? "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country". I'm sure a lot of people are trying to find the answer to that. How is this place, your surroundings, better with you in it?

Noone's gonna tell you what to do, you need to make your own choice. How you gonna contribute to this country is up to you. To help with ideas, I'm gonna share some great activities to bring the spirit of #indonesiaunite to life. Some of these have started way before the bombs. But if it takes that tragedy as a tipping point to get your attention, it's better than never.

My list so far goes like this:
And my personal cause: local tourism - Visit Indonesia (http://www.indonesia.travel or http://www.my-indonesia.info)

Do let me know if you happen to know great organisations/movements who can embody the #indonesiaunite spirit. I hope the list doesn't end here.

Other than tourism, I am a big believer of supporting local small businesses. It's my passion and my line of work. To support both local tourism and businesses, I am getting as many people as possible to visit a place you've never been before, and spend some money on local shops. If all upper-class Indonesians do this at least once every year, imagine the economic impact to Pulau Komodo, Ambon, Wakatobi, Raja Ampat, Sikuai, Mentawai, Toba, Bromo, etc etc

There is so much you can do, all you need is to have some passion, have some initiative and creativity. Look at your neighbourhood. There must be something you can do to improve it. The guys from @jogtug (Jogja Twitter User Group) is designing some 'propaganda' material to be distributed to tourists, especially foreigners, at tourist spots around Jogja. Of course with the message and spirit of #indonesiaunite. Can you imagine if those tourists put a sticker 'IndonesiaUnite Against Terrorism' on their luggage, and seen by others in their home country? Free below-the-line advertising!! Let them know these f*ckin' bombers are not part of us!!

So pick your cause for #indonesiaunite and start! If you are still confused, at least you can support one of those I listed above.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR NOW? DON"T BE A SHEEP! MOVE!