Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Activism

don't mourn, organize!

kalimac — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:24:55 -0800

What can I do, while overseas, to help educate about/support/do something about the healthcare debate happening in the US? The situation: I'm a US citizen currently living in Wales, with virtually nothing to fill my time until, say, mid-September when school starts up again. Before going back to school, I worked for a company dedicated to anti-poverty work, with an emphasis on healthcare accessibility, so the current 'debate' (can you call it a debate when there isn't even a sensible counter-argument happening publically?) is somewhat near and dear to my heart.

I'd like to be able to do something, to educate, to support just...do something to channel the rage and the frustration and the wanting to do something to support the idea that health care is a basic human right. Except, not living in the US, I can't do calls, or go to town meetings, or do on-the-ground stuff.

So my question to hive mind -- is there anything I can do, essentially only via the internet? Something proactive, something that isn't just sitting around and bitching. Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks much!

Doing my part for mental health awareness

silby — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:45:49 -0800

I want to do something positive for mental health awareness aside from just engaging people on the subject when it comes up. Is there anyone out there I can consider donating my time or money to? In the last year or so, I have gotten a handle on my mental health situation, and while I wasn't in the direst of straits, I still feel like I have been spared a lifetime of anguish. My awareness of the possibility that I might have a problem was pretty minimal for most of my life (though I'm rather young), and I'd like to pay forward my recent strides by doing something for the cause, such as it is, of mental health awareness, perhaps specifically panic/anxiety/depression issues. Unfortunately, a lot of the public face of mental health treatment is put forward by the drug companies, and while I <3 my pills, they don't really present the most balanced or helpful information to people, nor can one volunteer one's time for Pfizer. Are there reputable nonprofits out there doing good work in this area, like a Planned Parenthood for crazy people or something?

What more can I do to help the environment?

Zarkonnen — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:11:40 -0800

I recycle, cycle, take the train, eat nearly no meat and don't buy useless stuff. But I know it's not enough. What can I do about environmental/consumerism issues that goes beyond that but doesn't involve chasing whalers on a tiny boat in the Sea of Japan? I'm especially interested about answers for things in the UK, but I'm academically interested in international things too. So far, I'm looking at no2id, MySociety.org and its tentacles PledgeBank, TheyWorkForYou etc. Google searches have yielded the Guardian's "Get Involved" page, this guide at OneWorld and Wikipedia's page on anti-consumerism. MetaFilter itself has yielded 350.org. All in all, a fairly good haul.

But given the Hive Mind's great insight, I thought I'd also ask directly.

Note that the answers will eventually get digested and blogged about. Given the rather abstract nature of a lot of the pages above, I'm most interested in practical advice of the form "write letters to x", "go to y on Thursday afternoons" or "start a local z group".

Do I accept a Greenpeace Internship? But first, $4000 More Student Debt!

Risiko — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 19:58:50 -0800

I'm an Environmental Policy & Planning Major (3rd year). I've been applying to internships over the past weeks for Spring and Summer positions. Great news: I've already been accepted to Greenpeace's "Organizing Term" and I have two other positions I will soon hear a yes/no on for Spring. Bad News: The Greenpeace Organizing Term program will cost me $4000. The program itself is an intensive mix of activities, virtually on a full-time basis (for 2 months of summer, out of 3), including classroom trainings, expeditions to other states (as well as another country for meeting with other international activists), media trainings, and some readings. All of it is included with the cost (including flight/transport/food for a week). What to do? (More in the extended explanation): My Dilemma: I want to be a part of this program for several reasons. But the most salient ones are: (1) This seems like it would be excellent experience, whether I choose to go on a career of political advocacy or otherwise -- environmental consulting, or non-profit office-type work, or government agency type work, or what have you. I know that my public communication skills will undoubtedly improve through the program. By undertaking the program itself, it shows initiative and passion. The not only improves my skillset in a personal sense, but it enhances my job prospects post-graduation too. Moreoever, while only 15 people are accepted for the program each summer, "hundreds" (I'm told) have applied. Might there be a prestige factor that helps my future prospects? Keep in mind, I plan on relying on internships more than most because my GPA is relatively mediocre (I'm working hard to change that though) (2) But also importantly is that I know I'll learn a lot from the experience, and will therefore very likely enjoy it, in general. And, if I find that I don't like it, I will have learned something very useful about myself also, and plan for my future accordingly! (3) Frankly, I have a lot of passion for environmental protection, especially the more I've study it. My generation and even progressively more so, future generations, will have to work harder to protect what is here for us.

On the other hand, I don't want to be a part of the program for the following reason: I don't have the money. Nor do my parents. Trust me, I've pleaded. Moreover, I have almost nothing to my name (despite that I am a sprendthrift compared with most of my peers.) I've worked part-time for part of my college experience. My student debt scares me but my parents have pledged do cut it down dramatically from where it will stand, so I am hopeful. So they're doing all they reasonably can already. Nor can extended family help, as far as I'm aware, but I plan to find out anyway for certain, through 'fundraising' that Greenpeace suggests financially-strapped acceptees to undertake. I've never independently fundraised before, but it'll be a learning opportunity. I'm hoping to scrounge $500 (with wide error margins) that way. Maybe I could do more, who knows -- but my relatives are middle class, and they're getting hit like everybody is now. I can also work part-time from March-May, so that'll net me $1000 more. Beyond that, I've been looking for scholarships through my University and otherwise. The program doesn't qualify for what's available, and there isn't much available right now anyway (says my University Counselor). So there is a big gap. I'm still exploring options, but that leaves me at a shortfall.

So.

I thought some sager advice, over and above my parent's significant uneasiness about it, might be out there.

Which path do you suggest?

What innovations of the Obama campaign could be applied to activist campaigns?

GIMG — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:49:30 -0800

Could activists for social causes (e.g. global warming) learn something from the Obama campaign in how to effectively engage and mobilize people?

"North American Union? Awesome Idea!"

StrikeTheViol — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:50:43 -0800

Are there any organizations directly supporting something analogous to a North American Union that people can join at a grassroots level? If not, what's the most integrationist? While looking at some conservative websites for a research project, I stumbled across many ominous warnings about a continental union spearheaded by various think tanks. I saw that some individuals had written about integration under their auspices, and one fringe group in Alberta (I think) advocated joining the US, but is there anyone active in the US working on integration as a cause, in a popular sense?

How do youth make a difference?

rjacobs — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:48:15 -0800

My dad says that his generation is more altruistic and believes in/practices activism more than my generation. I say he is full of it. Help me prove him wrong! I'm 26, my dad is 64. We got into a big argument about activism. He says that I don't understand the power of grass-roots organizing because I'm young and he comes from a generation that was brought up believing in the power of local change. I am certain I've read articles/studies that actually come to quite the opposite conclusion - that young people actually spend far more time affecting social change, albeit in different ways - than their parents. But, of course, when the money's on line, my google searches are coming up short. Can anyone give me some evidence to back up my side? Bonus points for anything quantitative.

What is mediation?

anotherpanacea — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:43:12 -0800

Please help me to understand and maybe learn mediation/alternative dispute resolution. My interest in this started because of scholarly work I do on deliberative forums, where ADR professionals called 'trainers' are often used to lead small group discussion of politically contentious topics. I was surprised to learn that there is a whole network of mediators and conflict resolvers out there, with off-shoots in finance and law.

1. Most ADR/mediation training seems either extremely commercialized (aimed at professionals looking to mediate divorces or bankruptcy) or is offered to students and young people pegged as potential 'leaders.' What skills and knowledge do courses in alternative dispute resolution, conflict resolution, and mediation supply? Are there ways for adults to learn these skills and knowledge outside of formal accreditation programs?

2. ADR seems ideal for resolving conflicts among faculty or within an activist organization, for instance, but maybe I'm blowing it out of proportion. I've found the top google searches already: acrnet.org, mediate.com, and campus-adr.org, and yes, I've done the rounds at the various wikipedia entries related to ADR and mediation. The lack of substance at these sites partially contributes to my skepticism. Is there a there there? Is there anything more to ADR than a set of therapeutic and diplomatic best practices, along with training in drafting contracts to protect oneself from liability? That is, is this something you can learn by reading the right book?

3. I'd love to hear anecdotal evidence from anyone who has had experience with ADR/mediation/conflict resolution, either as a participant or trainer.

What can I do to legally stop exploratory natural gas drilling within 1000 feet of my neighborhood?

TauLepton — Tue, 20 May 2008 18:54:33 -0800

What can I do to legally stop exploratory natural gas drilling within 1000 feet of my neighborhood? There is a local activism group, FRERC. However, they seem to be focusing on slowing the drilling down and asking the company to adhere to EPA standards. Which scares me to death.

The drilling would occur in the National Forest in Colorado. Because of the location, Dyad Petroleum Corporation would be exempt to EPA rules - such as what affects will occur to the water aquifers in this area. Thousands of residents water supply will be effected.

The drilling permits allow up to 465 drilling wells within visibility of my neighborhood. The compressors alone would be LOUD. Property values? Right.

I want to step it up. I want to make noise. Heck, I want Ed Begley to come chain himself to a tree with me.

What can I do from here? How can I utilize the 'net to call attention to this problem?

How would you organise a cell of people?

monocultured — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:10:00 -0800

Affinity groups and terrorist cells seem do well by them, but what possible combinations are there of autonomous organisation, and what are their main characteristics? What different ways are there to organise people according to a cell model? I'm interested in an overview of different organisational structures and ways of calculating their characteristics. I was reading Moon is a harsh mistress and although I can't visualise the system Manuel proposes in the book, it got me thinking of it as a mathematical problem.

The goals of any organisation will differ, but the roles of people should be possible to categorise - both in terms of their function as well as how trusted they are. What is the best way to plan ahead for growth without compromising function, decision making, and security? Internal strife and a resulting hostile takeover is a greater risk the more decentralised and anonymous the organisation is, so how would that be countered?

If you put a flash mob on one end - three people co-ordinating an unlimited number of others who don't know the controlling ones nor each other - and a three people per cell organisation with anonymous coordination with others and cell-level decision making, on the other end, what lies in between and how would you categorise it?

Most info on the subject that I've found has been of the pop-intelligence variation, talking about how security agencies are infiltrating terrorist organisations or whatnot, so I'm curious what you wonderful, resourceful people can come up with; What have been the pros and cons of alternative organisations you have been a part of? What experience have you had of grouping people according to personality traits (Lotsa group dynamics links at Wikipedia) which sounds like something that might be experimented with in edgy corporate enviroments?

I imagine that some of these ideas could be evaluated using artificial-life software, (A straight-forward 'structural analysis' would be simpler yet) so any suggestions for apps (pref osx) that would lend itself to this would be just dandy.

How to Fertilize the Grassroots?

Scram — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:18:22 -0800

Can you point me to a good web platform for hosting a grassroots activism campaign, including supporter mailing lists and the ability to send customized emails to people in power? A group I'm working with is about to launch a website announcing a grassroots campaign that will probably attract a lot of attention. We have worked with Drupal sites in the past and plan to use Drupal again. We are looking for a way to organize information on a large number of citizens who want to be kept informed about the campaign, and to allow them to simply send a customized email registering their feelings to people who have the power to change policy.

We are looking at the site CitizenSpeak.org, a free Drupal site which promises to do all these things.

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with CitizenSpeak as a campaign management site, or if there are other options we might not be aware of.

Free Radicals

sully75 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:55:15 -0800

Do young activists change anything? I'm speaking to a radical activist group about covering an issues and project their working on, as a photographer/multimedia producer. It's a group that I know pretty well, sort of by accident, and I like the things they do and what they produce (Educational Materials about different economic issues).

They are fairly solidly in the anarchist mode, but they party pretty well (that's how I know them). They also seem to bust their asses. The quality of this work is really high, there is no way around that. A very talented group.

Their asking me to donate some time this year for this project, and have been very positive and excited about me joining them. It would be a somewhat big commitment, with no money and a lot of travel and some crappy living conditions. I'd have somewhat free reign over what I was doing and I'd have the chance to cover an issue that is very interesting to me, in a place that I'd like to go. (sorry to be vague). It would also give me a chance to build some skillsets...they're asking me to do things that I know how to do well but haven't done a whole lot of. And to plan the project, something I haven't really done a ton of either.

At first they were looking for a larger commitment, and I was way more off the fence than on. I laid it out that I could commit for short, intense periods, and try to get as much done in that time as possible, and they seemed to think that was doable.

I should say I'm not an activist at all, and that bothers me, to some degree. But I've pretty much given up on myself as an activist. However, a lot of the issues they are dealing with have meaning for me.

That's the background. My question is, do you think that anarchist/radical organizations are able to change things? This group goes around the country with educational projects, teaching about the issues that they are dealing with. They are looking to use the materials we produce to do this teaching, and my work would feature in this process. I just can't get the idea out of my head that this will be one group of radicals talking to another group of radicals about things that they already agree on. But I have no idea what kind of people attend these things. And I have no alternative model in my head about how things get changed. And maybe going around to colleges and talking to passionate but ill-informed college students is the best thing to do?

I think part of the problem is that I'm generally well informed about the issues they are dealing with, and sometimes have a hard time understanding that other people aren't. And I wouldn't generally go to an educational meeting about this, I'd rather read about it.

Sorry if it's an amorphous question, I'm not totally sure how to ask it. I'm leaning towards doing it, mostly for my own work and experience, but would like to feel excited that the materials we produced would at least have the chance of doing something.

Great mash-ups concerning political/social themes?

liruskainen — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:33:08 -0800

What are your favorite video and/or audio mash-ups that deal with politics or social issues? A good example of what I'm looking for: the "Vote Different" 1984 Mac ad/Hillary mash-up. Interested in both serious and silly examples. Thanks!

Quote about pointless struggle against insurmountable injustice

mistersix — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:01:51 -0800

I am looking for a quote that I heard or read recently, something along the lines of "It is pointless to struggle against overwhelming injustice; it is worse not to struggle against it" or "You ask how it is that I can expend effort fighting against an unchangeable, unjust system? I ask how it is that you can live with not doing so." I'm looking for the exact quote, and the book or essay or what-have-you in which it originally appeared that I can read for some context. I probably came across the quote in the past few months, on a website or radio show. The quote, if I recall correctly, was from some philosopher, politician, or social activist; not a violent person, and not a fictional character. It may be a quote from Camus or Sartre. My impression is that the speaker meant that probably-futile action/protest against a systemic wrong you can't right is preferable to accepting that you can do nothing about it. Thanks in advance...
If you don't know the source of the quote, but know a well-written book or essay that explores the idea of it, such pointers would also be welcome.

Does a catholic left still exist in the US?

R. Mutt — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 06:04:17 -0800

To what extent does the idea of a "Catholic Left" still exist in the United States? Last night I watched Camden 28, a documentary about a group of (mostly) catholic antiwar activists who attempted to destroy draft records during the Vietnam War. One of the interesting things to me about the film was the participants' sense of their activist/pacifist beliefs being solidly based in their (specifically) catholic beliefs. Does a catholic left still exist in the US?

Activism events, links, and resources anyone?

meta.mark — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 00:57:47 -0800

We have a club that has just started and the purpose of the club is to create awareness and provide events that deal with: Humanitarian, Social, and Environmental Issues. In short it is an activism club. I was wondering of the metalfilter community could provide us with any events having to do with H/E/S issues (preferrably not just community service) and also perhaps links or resources. It would be greatly appreciated if you could all contribute before next Monday because we are beginning to lose the interest of many of our members due to the fact that we have not established any solid events. Much thanks to those that contribute! :]

Maybe I can proofread the website?

mdonley — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:13:30 -0800

What is the best way for me - a gay man living in a country where I don't speak much of the language and where gay people are relatively repressed - to promote greater rights for gay people here? I'm an English teacher in Riga, the capital of Latvia in eastern Europe. While there's a gay rights organization here called Mozaika that I'd like to work with if they'll have me, I worry that the language barrier will be a big issue, not just in the office but at public events as well, especially dealing with police, protesters, and the like.

A larger problem is that, as far as I've come to understand in my month or so here, Latvia is one of the least progressive places in Europe with regards to gay rights. I worry that playing a public role or being present in the media as an English-language resource for interviews or for other media generation would inform my students and/or their parents of my sexuality and perhaps bring negative consequences to me or my allies and colleagues at the language school I work at, anything from lower class attendance to being beat up on the street.

I realize that the threat of violence may sound a little far-fetched to those of you in more progressive regions of the world, but a look at this anti-gay Latvian website, No Pride, pretty well lays out the thesis that at least some section of the population here believes that gay people, especially gay men like myself, are out to "convert" straight people - especially kids and teens - to being gay, through things like pedophilia; check out this poll on their website. Again, back home in California, these arguments don't really hold any water, but homosexuality was only decriminalized here in 1992 and there are some pretty powerful forces at work against gay people here; gay marriage has already been banned.

So then, what can I do? I don't think I want a public role at all, but I want to help my brothers and sisters here feel a little more liberated. I don't have a lot of money, but I do have time, and I'm a hell of a proofreader. I don't want to be ruled by fear, but I'd prefer to remain safe.

My e-mail's in the profile if you'd rather respond that way.

Not another live earth.

tmcw — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:36:12 -0800

I'm a massive critic of boycott-protests, but I'd like to change some things around my college campus for the good of the environment and for the students. What are the most effective ways (no big-jam-concert-to-raise-"awareness") to do this? For instance, some things that I've noticed

- Lots of styrofoam used in all eating areas
- No recycling at dorms
- Dining services provided by Aramark and are awful
- Students massively underrepresented in the surrounding town

More abstractly, I'd like to know if there's any middle ground between total apathy and ineffective idealism in this sort of thing, because I'd like to take some action. So, any suggestions of methods that have shown results in the past?

Thanks for any help.

Book recommendations about the history of Chicago activism?

hypocritical ross — Mon, 21 May 2007 10:11:34 -0800

ChicagoActivismFilter: I need a book that details the history of political activism in Chicago. More specifically, I'm looking to pin down where exactly dramatic moments in Chicago history occurred. Info of interest include the SDS and Black Panthers' HQ addresses, the Days of Rage riots, significant points of interest related to the 1968 DNC, etc. Anyone have any ideas? Ideally, this book will CONTAIN EXCERPTS of agitprop, not BE agitprop.

Who coined this phrase?

beelover — Tue, 15 May 2007 12:56:07 -0800

What is the origin of "Nothing about us without us"? "Nothing about us without us" has been used for quite some time in the context of oppression of those with disabilities. Does anyone know who coined this phrase and whether it was used initially by a specific advocacy group? There is a book with this title, but I am really trying to tie it to a particular group if that's possible.

Thanks.

SecondLife presence for nonprofits -- Yay or Nay?

potsmokinghippieoverlord — Tue, 15 May 2007 12:50:11 -0800

My overlord has fallen in love with SecondLife, and wants our organization to build a presence there. How can I convince her that this is a dumb idea? Or is it not a dumb idea? My boss thinks it's really great (although she doesn't have a SecondLife account, has not wandered around in there, etc), but she's heard the buzz and thinks we should try it.

(We're a nonprofit with an older supporter base.)

She thinks this would be a way to get Teh! Kidz! interested in our work and our cause.

I think this is a bad idea. Our own computers don't have the horsepower to use SL, the site itself is blocked by our IT department, I've read (and shared) the stories about SL vandalism (Edwards, Le Pen) and how much effort it takes to build and maintain a presence. But she's heard that Greenpeace has a big presence there, as does PETA.

We have three people on our web team -- I can see this as a major time suck. Am I being an old fuddy-duddy? Are there statistics that show conversions of SL visitors into activists/donors?

HELP!

Name my festival!

jlowen — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 14:01:10 -0800

Help me devise a cool name for a Small music festival we are hosting to benefit a Student Organizing group. I am an organizer with a group called "Students United". Its a kick ass social justice oriented group that organizes high school students to improve their schools and communities in Wichita, KS. Lately the group has gotten some national attention on its efforts to regulate the presence of tasers in our public schools...

At the end of this month we are throwing a benefit concert featuring 6-8 different student bands to support our organization. We have the venue, we have the bands, now we need a awesome name for what will hopefully become an annual event.

Right now the flyer says "Rock for your Rights!" and I hate it.

I've seen you all get real creative before, now I need to tap the power of the hive mind. What shall we call our concert?

Viable, socially conscious small business?

coolhappysteve — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 07:42:30 -0800

GentrificationFilter: Help convince my boss that our independent coffee shop can be both profitable and actively engaged with the community. Social/community activists, please read on & help me out! I work at an exceedingly popular/hip New England coffee shop run by two exceedingly smart/hip women, and we're about to open a second location.

The community we're moving into is pushing through some rezoning, some housing development, and is welcoming in a big name in affluent white retail: my cafe. It feels like we're going to be leading the charge of gentrification, and I want our shop to be actively engaged with stakeholders and truly a part of the community, not agents in its dilution.

Our owners are open to suggestions, but see other sort of touchy-feely community-meeting coffee houses as sacrificing business viability for a 'neighborhood' feel. I'd go farther to say that often those that feel 'neighborhoody' really just feel 'white' and 'upper-middle class,' and aren't a true reflection of the diversity around them.

What ideas, proposals, activities, and habits can we develop to this end? So many thanks for all your thoughtful input, MeFites. I'm shopping this question around to a lot of people, but am especially excited to see what you have to say.

Mid twenties, moving to London. Where should I live and what should I know?

pollystark — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 03:21:28 -0800

Mid twenties, reasonable income, moving to London. Where should I live and what should I know? [I have read this and this thread, but my situation is quite specific.]

Shortly, I will be permanently relocating to London (from Leeds). My job will be in central London, probably either in Regent Street or around Tower Bridge.

* I have a number of different friends and family members scattered all around London. I will be spending time with them, but I also want to get involved in music (both playing and attending gigs), the queer scene and radical activism. I am involved with these things in Leeds, but know very few people in those scenes in London.

* I want to live in a fun, exciting area of Greater London that is within cycling distance of central London. Neighbourhood features I like: record shops, little coffee shops, greenery, a lack of yuppies, a community or family feel.

* My income will be between £25,000 and £30,000 per year.

* I would be OK with living alone, but would rather get a spare room with some nice random people (non of my current friends have any rooms in their current abodes).

* I am OK with living in a slightly dodgy area as long as it's not outright suicidal.

So, where should I live and why?

Bonus points: general advice for a person who has never lived in a city as big as London before. Good places to hang out, activist hubs, practical advice on travel and eating and living, location of any arty communities, good London advice books or websites, anything else you think is relevant.

Aqua Sevenday?

arcticwoman — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 10:21:50 -0800

Help me come up with a catchy name for my campus' "Water Week." It will be happening in late January and will be a week dedicated to discussing issues in three areas: environment, accessibility, commodification. Speakers, an art exhibition, and movies are being planned. Bonus points for recommendations of films, special topics, general advice.