Even the White House was in on the tweeting - "Text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to @RedCross relief efforts in #Haiti. Learn more: http://bit.ly/6KiRtE @dipnote".
What I find so fascinating is that amidst a tragedy, everyone is capable of having a voice. The public sphere makes it possible to not only receive news, but to give an opinion on it, or even ask for help. The ability to post a link for others to see to donate money and interact in the even has been utilized by many - just take a look at the examples of Jessica Simpson and the White House from above.
Henry Jenkins invites us to, as he puts it, "reconsider what it might mean for citizens in a participatory culture to get "too close to reality" and whether this is a new kind of political power that we could deploy to transform society." Responding to this, I feel that for the situation in Haiti, the public sphere has given bountiful opportunity for citizens to participate in culture. While there are a variety of situations we could analyze concerning the public sphere, regarding the situation in Haiti the public sphere has proven to serve as an outlet for people of all different walks of life to share a common idea and come together in times of tragedy. Thus, in a participatory culture like ours, the public sphere is capable of and has been used to transform society.
One captivating example of participatory culture in the public sphere is a blog shown to me by a friend. This blog comes right out of Haiti. Karen Bultje is a woman who has been updating others on the tragedy in Haiti by posting her pictures and stories of life in Haiti just days after the earthquake.
I just want to end this post by commending those who have been exercising their right to participate in culture. By posting pictures, links, blogs, thoughts, etc., it becomes very apparent that the ripple effects of such disasters can be felt around the world. We can all catch a glimpse into the kind hearts of others, and the unity of mankind can genuinely be experienced.
The blog that you posted by Karen Bultje is a really good example of what we have been talking about in class recently. She is participating in the public sphere by presenting information and photos directly from Haiti, avoiding the biases imposed by that the large North American media conglomerates. The heartbreaking images and personal commentary make the people there more like victims, like real people. This contradicts much of what we are shown on the news. More of the images presented are of Westerners as saviors, while the Haitians are depicted as taking advantage and “looting” the area. An example of this is on CBC’s webite, their coverage on “The Disaster in Haiti” includes photo albums, the latest one entitled “lawless and looting.”
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