ORIGINALLY printed/sent in the Blackpool & Fylde Green Party Newsletter (August 2018)
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Here Tina-Louise Rothery adds comment to the discussion of what activism involves.
Identifying with any label is a risky business because the interpretation of that label is not the same for everyone. ‘Activist’ is a tough sell as far as labels go – but the act of becoming an informed and active citizen has never been more necessary. Defined by dictionaries as:
[ACTIVIST Noun: A person who campaigns to bring about political or social change.]
The definition is entirely apt and relatable to Activists but for many, there is an unavoidable stereotype associated with the term; formed from negative media and experience of inconvenience or fear. A study in 2013 prompted headlines to read
“Everyone Hates Environmentalists and Feminists”
The research from Canada, found:
[…strongly negative stereotypes about these types of activists, and those feelings reduced their willingness to adopt the behaviors that these activities promoted]
Leading the research was University of Toronto psychologist Nadia Bashir:
[“The most frequently mentioned traits describing “typical feminists” included “man-hating” and “unhygienic;” for “typical environmentalists,” they included “tree-hugger” and “hippie.”]
Making ‘activism’ accessible or even palatable has emerged as a major part of the challenge for any campaign group and one I personally recognise within the anti-fracking movement here in Blackpool & Fylde in particular. Our community catchment area embraces a huge diversity of types from low-pay workers in our Blackpool tourism industry, to better-off retirees in Lytham and yet fracking will impact us all without bias. Ensuring communities are informed and involved in the serious decisions by government that affect us directly, requires action and action by citizens IS ‘Activism’ and therein lies the problem… not everyone wants to BE an Activist, even if they do want to act to stop fracking or save a hospital from closure.
Perhaps it’s the word itself that comes with too much baggage? ‘Active Citizens’ is a more apt description for those across the country who are alert to the potential impact of a whole range of issues from cuts to public services and local issues, to arms sales, nuclear development, status with the EU and of course fracking.
Since 4th January 2017 this subject has been evident here at the developing fracking site on the A583 Preston New Road; residents and campaigners have come together daily in protest. Defined collectively as Activists in the media, I have encountered retired midwives, choir masters, monks, priests, pacifists, anarchists and all the other ‘ists’ who would not naturally land in one place together, let alone share a label.
It’s not been easy and remains a fine line between acting together because there is no choice when we are each defending our young - and avoiding all those other subjects and opinions that would otherwise divide fragile unity. After 20 months though, our actions have prevented site completion and fracking (so far), set the company many months behind schedule and raised national awareness massively; Activism works even if the label doesn’t do so well for us.
Trying to call ourselves ‘Active Citizens’ or something less sharp like being ‘Activey’ or more neutral like ‘Campaigners’ is just not practical or likely to bring much needed success but we do need more involvement and less fear of the consequences of the label – consequences that are nothing compared to what happens if we do nothing in the current climate. The research above suggests that it’s how accessible and inclusive we make the ‘acts’ of Activism, that could be key:
[...the very nature of activism leads to negative stereotyping. Participants were less interested in befriending activists who participated in stereotypical behavior (such as staging protest rallies), but could easily envision hanging out with those who use “nonabrasive and mainstream methods” such as raising money or organizing social events. By aggressively promoting change and advocating unconventional practices, activists become associated with hostile militancy and unconventionality or eccentricity.
Furthermore, this tendency to associate activists with negative stereotypes and perceive them as people with whom it would be unpleasant to affiliate reduces individuals’ motivation to adopt the pro-change behaviors that activists advocate.]
So becoming people who are more pleasant to be with because we offer more ways to be an Activist is the answer and one we’ve quite-by-chance been doing over this past 20 months. We’ve brought diversity to our days and actions that offers an in-door to many more than any rally would.
‘Green Mondays’ each week brings respected academics, politicians, authors, celebrities, environmentalists and others to the roadside to host workshops and give talks; on Wednesdays there’s a women-led ‘Call for Calm’ that revolves around a 15 minute silence in which the women call for calm amidst the protest and go on to dance, sing, speak their reasons for attending and bring shared food to raise the mood in an otherwise distressing place and on the last Friday of each month, faith groups of all denominations come together to hold prayers, silences and rituals; these events open a space in which ‘non-typical Activists’ or at least ‘non-identifying’ ones, can find a reason to relate to what’s going on and particularly in the case of the very structured Wednesdays, a safer space in which to arrive and participate.
No Balaclavas Required… just each of us who give a damn, pay attention, recognise a wrong and ACT because morally we must – that’s being an Activist. Please join us at the roadside or host a cake sale, organise a talk, attend a film showing, chat with friends, join a group, lobby your MP, share research or do whatever it is that you devise as your personal Activism.
Tina Rothery – BFGP
…………………………..
*Our Facebook Page is ‘Green Party Against Fracking’ and is a great place to start getting involved. BFGP’s Garry Richardson updates events, speakers and research that matters. We look forward to any suggestions or input that could work to engage more people to this ‘Activey’ stuff ;)
............................................................................
Here Tina-Louise Rothery adds comment to the discussion of what activism involves.
Identifying with any label is a risky business because the interpretation of that label is not the same for everyone. ‘Activist’ is a tough sell as far as labels go – but the act of becoming an informed and active citizen has never been more necessary. Defined by dictionaries as:
[ACTIVIST Noun: A person who campaigns to bring about political or social change.]
The definition is entirely apt and relatable to Activists but for many, there is an unavoidable stereotype associated with the term; formed from negative media and experience of inconvenience or fear. A study in 2013 prompted headlines to read
“Everyone Hates Environmentalists and Feminists”
The research from Canada, found:
[…strongly negative stereotypes about these types of activists, and those feelings reduced their willingness to adopt the behaviors that these activities promoted]
Leading the research was University of Toronto psychologist Nadia Bashir:
[“The most frequently mentioned traits describing “typical feminists” included “man-hating” and “unhygienic;” for “typical environmentalists,” they included “tree-hugger” and “hippie.”]
Making ‘activism’ accessible or even palatable has emerged as a major part of the challenge for any campaign group and one I personally recognise within the anti-fracking movement here in Blackpool & Fylde in particular. Our community catchment area embraces a huge diversity of types from low-pay workers in our Blackpool tourism industry, to better-off retirees in Lytham and yet fracking will impact us all without bias. Ensuring communities are informed and involved in the serious decisions by government that affect us directly, requires action and action by citizens IS ‘Activism’ and therein lies the problem… not everyone wants to BE an Activist, even if they do want to act to stop fracking or save a hospital from closure.
Perhaps it’s the word itself that comes with too much baggage? ‘Active Citizens’ is a more apt description for those across the country who are alert to the potential impact of a whole range of issues from cuts to public services and local issues, to arms sales, nuclear development, status with the EU and of course fracking.
Since 4th January 2017 this subject has been evident here at the developing fracking site on the A583 Preston New Road; residents and campaigners have come together daily in protest. Defined collectively as Activists in the media, I have encountered retired midwives, choir masters, monks, priests, pacifists, anarchists and all the other ‘ists’ who would not naturally land in one place together, let alone share a label.
It’s not been easy and remains a fine line between acting together because there is no choice when we are each defending our young - and avoiding all those other subjects and opinions that would otherwise divide fragile unity. After 20 months though, our actions have prevented site completion and fracking (so far), set the company many months behind schedule and raised national awareness massively; Activism works even if the label doesn’t do so well for us.
Trying to call ourselves ‘Active Citizens’ or something less sharp like being ‘Activey’ or more neutral like ‘Campaigners’ is just not practical or likely to bring much needed success but we do need more involvement and less fear of the consequences of the label – consequences that are nothing compared to what happens if we do nothing in the current climate. The research above suggests that it’s how accessible and inclusive we make the ‘acts’ of Activism, that could be key:
[...the very nature of activism leads to negative stereotyping. Participants were less interested in befriending activists who participated in stereotypical behavior (such as staging protest rallies), but could easily envision hanging out with those who use “nonabrasive and mainstream methods” such as raising money or organizing social events. By aggressively promoting change and advocating unconventional practices, activists become associated with hostile militancy and unconventionality or eccentricity.
Furthermore, this tendency to associate activists with negative stereotypes and perceive them as people with whom it would be unpleasant to affiliate reduces individuals’ motivation to adopt the pro-change behaviors that activists advocate.]
So becoming people who are more pleasant to be with because we offer more ways to be an Activist is the answer and one we’ve quite-by-chance been doing over this past 20 months. We’ve brought diversity to our days and actions that offers an in-door to many more than any rally would.
‘Green Mondays’ each week brings respected academics, politicians, authors, celebrities, environmentalists and others to the roadside to host workshops and give talks; on Wednesdays there’s a women-led ‘Call for Calm’ that revolves around a 15 minute silence in which the women call for calm amidst the protest and go on to dance, sing, speak their reasons for attending and bring shared food to raise the mood in an otherwise distressing place and on the last Friday of each month, faith groups of all denominations come together to hold prayers, silences and rituals; these events open a space in which ‘non-typical Activists’ or at least ‘non-identifying’ ones, can find a reason to relate to what’s going on and particularly in the case of the very structured Wednesdays, a safer space in which to arrive and participate.
No Balaclavas Required… just each of us who give a damn, pay attention, recognise a wrong and ACT because morally we must – that’s being an Activist. Please join us at the roadside or host a cake sale, organise a talk, attend a film showing, chat with friends, join a group, lobby your MP, share research or do whatever it is that you devise as your personal Activism.
Tina Rothery – BFGP
…………………………..
*Our Facebook Page is ‘Green Party Against Fracking’ and is a great place to start getting involved. BFGP’s Garry Richardson updates events, speakers and research that matters. We look forward to any suggestions or input that could work to engage more people to this ‘Activey’ stuff ;)
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Thanks for taking the time to add your voice to mine x