“Mr Gandhi, what do you think of Western civilisation?” Gandhi; “I think it would be a good idea.”
“We have to be the change we want to see in the world.” Gandhi
“We have to be the change we want to see in the world.” Gandhi
The earth needs us all to help her and campaigning is also good for your mental health. Campaigning works on several levels at once and it is always more effective than you realise because of this . Campaigning works for you – you feel more positive, more enlightened, more connected with the earth. Campaigning works for others – you can share what you are doing and inspire others to do the same or some other action suitable to them. Campaigning works for the planet and all the people that live on it. The earth’s systems do not recognise national boundaries; whatever we do affects everyone else on the planet. We all depend on ecosystems for our air, water, food, mental health and safe shelter. Campaign for protection of the earth and campaign for human rights for they are nearly always the same thing. Ordinary people the world over are not insulated from what is happening to their local environment. It is only the very rich who do not notice when their local environment is trashed, who are always protected from dangerous, polluting industry being located on their doorstep and who are so entranced with the wealth in their pocket that they can’t see the blinding obvious – that real wealth is the land, nature, biodiversity, community and love. (There are exceptions of course!)
Kinds of action you can take
Personal – make changes in your life to become more eco-friendly like becoming vegetarian or vegan, walking or using public transport and not giving away your money to multinational companies unless they are the rare multinational to have strong ethical policies. The ways you can change your life to a more ethical one are too numerous to get anywhere near listing. Everything in our society is geared to try to make you use as much of the earth’s resources as possible and waste as much as possible too. This is meant to make us feel like pampered kings and queens but when you turn against the tide and resist you realise what a lie you have been sold! Look for the leaping bunny symbol of the British Union Against Vivisection on toiletries and cleaning goods (sold by the Co-op) and the MSC label on fish (Marine Stewardship Council).
"To us, the human body is like the planet and the planet is like a human body. We have been accused of being romantic, but I say we are being practical. This is reality. Reality is what we touch, it's what we smell in the fresh earth, free from contamination." Alberto Pizango, President of AIDESEP, the umbrella group for indigenous groups in the Amazon.
Group Action –
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
Join groups or go on marches and local events to spearhead campaigns, share ideas and put LOTS of pressure on big business and politicians, and celebrate achievements. Groups to join or keep in touch with: FOE, Transition Towns, Survival, R.S.P.B., Wildlife and Wetlands Trust, Lancashire Wildlife Trust.
Online – read, sign petitions, share experiences.
Money or time – not so long ago it seemed most people had at least some of one of these to dedicate to causes. Sadly this is becoming less and less the case with people in work spending longer earning every penny and people not in work having to spend all their time justifying themselves to callous agencies, whether it is due to illness or lack of employment opportunities. Carers and parents also are finding their work devalued. But even if you have very little time you will find that there are some eco-actions you can take that actually leave you more time e.g. do you really need to decorate as often as you do, and money – so much food is thrown out by householders. Love the contents of your fridge!
Non-Violent Direct Action Campaigning also carries some risks: inevitably you expose yourself to more awareness of suffering in the world and this can be hard to carry. For every bit of campaigning you take on, even pre-campaigning such as reading up on an issue, give just as much extra time to self-care. This might mean positive self-talk, having a heart to heart with a friend, meditating or just relaxing (I’m not sure they are always different things) or listening to yourself more and responding better to your needs. Another risk is taking on too much work as you realise the sheer volume of what needs doing: Do not be the hero. Ultimately you can not change anything by yourself and you are only as strong as your network. Keep a note of how much time you are spending campaigning, whether it is affecting your sleep, eating and ability to relax and enjoy life. Make sure you have enough time in the day for yourself and loved ones. You are more use to everyone happy and healthy than anxious and worn down!
"To us, the human body is like the planet and the planet is like a human body. We have been accused of being romantic, but I say we are being practical. This is reality. Reality is what we touch, it's what we smell in the fresh earth, free from contamination." Alberto Pizango, President of AIDESEP, the umbrella group for indigenous groups in the Amazon.
Group Action –
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
Join groups or go on marches and local events to spearhead campaigns, share ideas and put LOTS of pressure on big business and politicians, and celebrate achievements. Groups to join or keep in touch with: FOE, Transition Towns, Survival, R.S.P.B., Wildlife and Wetlands Trust, Lancashire Wildlife Trust.
Online – read, sign petitions, share experiences.
Money or time – not so long ago it seemed most people had at least some of one of these to dedicate to causes. Sadly this is becoming less and less the case with people in work spending longer earning every penny and people not in work having to spend all their time justifying themselves to callous agencies, whether it is due to illness or lack of employment opportunities. Carers and parents also are finding their work devalued. But even if you have very little time you will find that there are some eco-actions you can take that actually leave you more time e.g. do you really need to decorate as often as you do, and money – so much food is thrown out by householders. Love the contents of your fridge!
Non-Violent Direct Action Campaigning also carries some risks: inevitably you expose yourself to more awareness of suffering in the world and this can be hard to carry. For every bit of campaigning you take on, even pre-campaigning such as reading up on an issue, give just as much extra time to self-care. This might mean positive self-talk, having a heart to heart with a friend, meditating or just relaxing (I’m not sure they are always different things) or listening to yourself more and responding better to your needs. Another risk is taking on too much work as you realise the sheer volume of what needs doing: Do not be the hero. Ultimately you can not change anything by yourself and you are only as strong as your network. Keep a note of how much time you are spending campaigning, whether it is affecting your sleep, eating and ability to relax and enjoy life. Make sure you have enough time in the day for yourself and loved ones. You are more use to everyone happy and healthy than anxious and worn down!