Back in the mid 1980’s I was briefly part of a local group of activists that were at the time protesting the spraying of DDT on bananas. I never went out to protest myself, but it was a mind blowing education on the chemicals in our food and environment. The leader of this group was often arrested for causing scenes in grocery stores. It sounds funny now.
In those days, the way to effect change was to protest. Yell, scream, wave banners and signs and just generally be a nuisance. There were signed petitions. There were demonstrations. Sometimes it made a difference, most often, not. It only served to vent the frustrations of said protesters.
Petitioning the government or corporations was about the only way to make change. And it seldom worked.
In the past protests were sometimes violent, and today that still holds true. What did that ever do but get people arrested, hurt or killed? We don’t need violence, we need hands on action.
Demonstrations continue today, with much the same result.
Today, thankfully, many people are making things happen without demonstration. We are creating change. We are doing.
Activists need to be Actionists. This is the only way to get things done. Roll up your sleeves and get dirty. Get out in the knee deep wastelands of plastic on beaches and clean it up.
We have to stop wasting our talents and get out there!
Actionists include those who educate everyone on what is happening in our world. Leaders that rally people to take action for causes. The rich who buy medical equipment for hospitals, workers who clean up pollution, thinkers inventing new ways to better our lives (not just new telephones!)
We need government leaders with balls, who make policy changes and laws that are “take no prisoners” type of legislation to stop pollution, poverty, crime and all our ills, instead of just passing a lot of hot air (and gas), appeasing big corporations and pharma, and lining their own pockets by supporting their own interests.
My heroes are people like Boyan Slat who do something, quietly, without permission, without protest, without flair, but with passion and purpose.
In my own small way, through this blog, or for some unfortunate few in grocery stores (where I helpfully point out all the poisons in their favourite foods and products and try to persuade them to use something else) I am part of the solution. I am always amazed at the number of people who are unaware of what they are consuming and using. I am far from perfect but I try.
You can too.