Exploring Activism
“We are asked by the times we live in to be brave, and sometimes we're going to have to step outside of our comfort zone” - Margaret Killjoy (It Could Happen Here podcast, May 19, 2024)
When it comes to external activism (as opposed to internal activism mentioned in Managing Emotions), there are two considerations:
What environmental issue(s) should I prioritize?
How should I help?
To the first question I recommending picking an issue that you care most about. As discussed in Acting Local, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the number of problems in the climate-crisis, so pick one issue to prioritize and don’t feel you are committing to it forever. You can always change or expand your volunteering to other issues.
The second question is a bit more complicated. I recommend reflecting upon the assessments to consider your Interests, Values, and Personality as a starting point to consider the types of activities you may feel comfortable with.
The following resources provide an overview to activism:
Activist Handbook - An open-source guide that provides an overview of the theory of creating change, an overview of ways to contribute and resources to support your learning.
A Guide for New Activists - A podcast interview with activists on various considerations when joining activist groups including maintaining safety and legal considerations. The hosts are Anarchist in their politics but the advice shared is applicable to a variety of perspectives and organizations.
What on Earth: Emily's story: one activist's journey through climate anxiety - CBC podcast interviewing a Canadian Climate activist as she explores her experiences with climate anxiety, direct action and activism.
SoJust.net - An archive of social justice writing, speeches, and resources to develop knowledge and understanding of the many issues facing us today.
Secrets of a Successful Organizer - Handouts and strategies for workplace organizing
Bellingcat - Guides and workshops on open-source/online research and investigative journalism. They also provide a helpful resource on mental health for researchers.
If this all seems a bit daunting, another approach is to simply join an organization and discover what support is needed. As you gain experience and organizing skills, you may find yourself taking on more responsibilities.
On the topic of responsibility, how you participate can take many forms and some of these have risks attached. I have observed a desire for the disempowered to latch on to any form of action that provides a sense of empowerment or agency. This can unfortunately be exploited by unscrupulous or disorganized leaders that put you at unwanted emotional, physical and/or legal risk. To be clear, their are benefits to activism in all its forms including Direct Action and being part of a group with shared environmental interests is tremendously empowering. A discussion of conducting power analysis and political strategy is beyond the scope of this guide, and can vary widely depending on the context. It is important however to consider why you are being asked to perform an action. Furthermore, I always recommend going to public protests with a friend, tell someone not at the protest that you will be there, and review your (country specific )rights. Additionally, I recommend you consider the following questions before attending a protest…
What will be the potential benefit(s) of this action?
Can I be injured? If so, am I okay being injured?
Can I be arrested? If so, am I okay being arrested?
Can I receive a criminal record? If so, am I okay with a criminal record?
Can I lose my job? If so, am I okay losing my job?
Is my personal information at risk (are the organizers taking steps to ensure security of communications)?
Am I putting others at risk?
Everyone’s answer to these questions will differ and risk tolerance is a personal decision. What is important is that if you can answer these before the event, you will have an easier time when faced with them during the event. If you are uncertain of these questions, consider attending events and talking to other more experienced activists. While activism can mean going beyond our comfort zone, don’t let anyone use you as cannon fodder. Consider what you are being asked to do and don’t be afraid to sit out of an event or ask for an alternate role if you aren’t comfortable or have capacity for that activity.