Just the word “activist” can
conjure up all kinds of conflicting images
in our minds from violent, civil unrest to
peaceful, cooperative dialogue. When we consider
our need to live more sustainable lives,
we are being called to face some very tough
challenges, personally, in our local communities,
nationally and globally.
How can we follow our hearts and speak out
for what we believe in without causing further
suffering or hardship? How can we be effective
and consistent in how we decide to act? How
do we engage in non-violent methods of transformation?
According to Joanna
Macy, author of “Coming
Back to Life: Practices to Reconnect Our
Lives, Our World.” There are three
dimensions to shifting towards a more sustainable
way of living. They are:
1) actions
to slow the damage to the Earth and its
beings;
2)
analysis of structural causes and creation
of structural alternatives; and
3) a
fundamental shift in worldview and
values.
Whilst
we can see that it is necessary for all
of these
to happen, we might wonder why any of us
as individuals should take part in number
(1), which is basically about becoming
activists.
Becoming an activist
can mean putting ourselves in the spotlight,
opening ourselves to criticism,
aggression and stress. So why would we do
it? The “holding actions” and
campaigning that activists engage in as part
of point (1) are necessary to buy us more
time to carry out parts (2) and (3). There
will be government legislation needed as
an inherent element of part (2) and some
of this will require campaigns by the public
to bring necessary laws into existence or
to ensure that they are drafted to allow
for optimum resilience and sustainability.
The cultural shift mentioned in part (3)
can be achieved through a softer form of
activism in terms of education, mentoring,
coaching and training, writing and journalism
and facilitating discussion. So there are
many different ways in which we can choose
to become an activist.
On a personal level,
being involved in activism and campaigning
on sustainability issues
can add meaning and purpose to our lives
and a tremendous feeling of achievement that
we know will serve not only ourselves and
our contemporaries, but possibly many generations
to come.
The 7 “Hows” of
becoming an activist.
1. What are you passionate
about? What are you angry about? What breaks
your heart?
Follow the answers that feel strongest for
you. This is where your motivation and energy
lie. These are your chosen areas of engagement,
your “causes”.
2. When you think of each of your causes,
what needs to change? What needs to happen
for this area to be heading in the right
direction for a sustainable future?
3. What kind of obstacles are standing in
the way? Legislation? Bureaucracy? Lack of
education?
4. Who else thinks the way you do? Find others
you can join forces with. E.g. campaign groups,
charities, online forums.
5. Decide how much of your time, energy and
skills you are willing to devote to your
activist role. Be clear on your boundaries
(especially with respect to time) and responsibilities
(what actions you’re happy to do and
what you’re not prepared to do.)
6. Decide on what methods you will use to
stay informed on events in your chosen areas
of engagement (your causes).e.g. newsletters,
specialist magazines, blogs, google alerts.
7. Be mindful of the 5 tiers of service:
Serve i) the divine by expressing your gratitude,
ii) yourself by staying healthy and inspired,
iii) others through random acts of kindness,
iv) your local community by getting involved,
v) the world by taking responsibility as
a global citizen.
Anita Roddick is an
example of an activist who achieved much
through her campaign work
and her business in her short life. Anita’s
website (set up by her husband Gordon following
her death) contains some useful ideas to
inspire you and I will leave the final words
to her:
From: www.iamanactivist.org
“I am not an
activist in pursuit of recognition or fame.
I am not an activist so that strangers will
think I am a good person.
I am not an activist because it is good for
business (although more often than not it
is).
I am an activist because being an activist
makes me feel alive.
Activism is being
a voice for the voiceless, standing up
for the weak and the frail, engaging
the human spirit. It’s putting your
head above the parapet, being heard, being
seen, being counted…Do something. Do
anything. Just do something.”
Dame
Anita Roddick 1942-2007
Some other, related, websites that you might
also like to have a look at are:
In the UK: www.38degrees.org.uk
In the USA: www.moveon.org
In Australia: www.getup.org
For world citizens: www.avaaz.org
