Are You an Activist?
http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/articles/245/1/Are-You-an-Activist/Page1.html
Sally Lever
Sally Lever is a Sustainable Living Coach who specializes in supporting those who are downshifting or otherwise moving towards a more sustainable way of life. She offers one-to-one coaching, teleclasses in “How to step off the Treadmill” and a free email newsletter. For additional information please visit http://www.sallylever.co.uk/ By Sally Lever
Published on 08/9/2009
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?
Are You an Activist?
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: http://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: http://www.38degrees.org.uk
In the USA: http://www.moveon.org
In Australia: http://www.getup.org
For world citizens: http://www.avaaz.org
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: http://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: http://www.38degrees.org.uk
In the USA: http://www.moveon.org
In Australia: http://www.getup.org
For world citizens: http://www.avaaz.org