Activism

The term ‘activism’ should be approached carefully.  While it often conjures up images of people on picket lines, or organizers getting signatures on petitions, it does not necessarily denote such activities.  It merely refers to someone willing to go a bit beyond comfort zone, and to raise their voice, either literally or figuratively, to promote what they believe in.  Activism can be as simply as a letter to the editor.  It can mean explaining to the cashier at the grocery store why NOT to automatically bag a single item, like a quart of juice.  It may mean picking up that aluminum can to recycle for the thoughtless person who threw it away… which may require your dealing with your own beliefs about ‘kooties’ or whatever objects discarded by other people have on them (squeemishness).

Activism is merely the willingness to challenge your own paradigms and those of others.  Don’t mistake it for being a ‘radical’.  In fact, a ‘conservationist activist’, someone like John Muir, would be a laudable role model for this generation and generations to come.  He is perhaps the real father of the environmental movement!

Here are some links to encourage and facilitate the activists (current and aspiring) among us.

Here are links to online organizations which are activist in nature.  Joining these will keep you ‘in the loop’ on action alerts and allow you to make your voice heard easily.