How do you actually ‘do’ climate activism? The Green Fix take
Resources, and a chat with London climate activist Samia Dumbuya on what climate activism actually means.
[This was originally published in my climate action newsletter The Green Fix. For the Christmas edition of The Green Fix, look here.]
You’re already an activist, probably.
Even if you’re not sure of your exact political views. Even if you don’t roam the streets with a microphone.
Activism is a word, and a definition: you act on what you care about.
If you’ve ever signed a petition, talked about a social issue online, proudly turned down a brand for its unethical actions — you have taken part in activism.
I used to avoid calling myself an activist, afraid of the connotations. I didn’t want to seem ‘angry’ or ‘preachy.’ I just write stuff online and retweet things on my breaks, I would say. Not proper activism.
Sure, there are levels of political participation. Retweeting a campaign is not the same as launching a campaign. But what the hell is ‘proper’ activism anyway, and can someone tell me how to do it?
There is no entry criteria for speaking up for what you care about. It counts even if you have 3 followers and just talk about social injustice to your postman. It counts, I have to remind myself, if I do my activism through late-night emails to a small group of subscribers and awkward conversations at (Zoom) parties.
I’m transparent: I want more citizen activists. I want people to know that we do all have a hell of a lot of power to create change — we just have to demand it!
You don’t have to change the whole world, to change some of it.
This article was originally published as part of my newsletter, The Green Fix.
***
I run The Green Fix for free, in my own time, alongside a full-time job *world’s tiniest violin starts playing*. This means I don’t always (read: never) have the time to promote it as widely as I’d like to. If you like this newsletter, please help me by sharing it using the button here:
Focus On… Climate Activism
Samia Dumbuya, founder of Seize the Vote, and Diaspora Dialogues, talks about what we mean by climate activism and how you can take part.
My name is Samia Dumbuya and I am a British Sierra Leonean born and raised in East London.
I introduced myself that way because my identity plays a huge role in how I navigate the world and activist spaces. I label myself as a climate justice activist, because the label acts as a signal to people that I care about the people and the planet.
I am just a person who cares about the wellbeing of communities and natural spaces. My activism is focused around providing space, time, resources to people from all communities and inspiring them to create change, particularly those from marginalised communities.
I founded two collectives: Seize the Vote and Diaspora Dialogues. Seize the Vote is a platform where young British people, who rarely get involved in politics, come together to talk about politics freely and without judgement.
Diaspora Dialogues is a collective where we encourage passing the mic to those who do amazing work fighting for climate justice. We created this collective because we were tired of whitewashed voices and the lack of space for climate activists of colour to be authentically themselves.
[Read: What is whitewashing in activism?]
What is activism?
Activism is simply taking action to make society a better place for yourself, your friends, your family and your communities.
If you asked 13-year-old Samia what activism was, she would just list you names of famous historical figures that she learnt in school, like Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, the suffragettes etc. I used to think that activism was solely for the people who shouted through megaphones and were brave enough to risk their lives for a social cause.
Over time, I realised that activism is not about being the loudest in the room. Doing research for a cause or supplying food and water for those who are active on the streets are all ways to be an activist. There is no single way to be the ultimate activist.
What does climate activism actually mean?
Climate activism is holding powerful people responsible and accountable for causing the environmental degradation of our planet through their polluting actions and corruption; whilst also educating communities on the importance of living sustainably and ethically. A nice balance, right?
Climate activism is not easy. The fight is not linear and solutions keep changing on a yearly basis. Climate activism, to me, is moving forward collectively and learning from our mistakes, in order to live in a sustainable world.
What is climate justice?
One of my favourite quotes is “Environmentalism without class struggle is just gardening” — Chico Mendes.
To me, climate justice is social justice. Climate justice is health justice. Climate justice is economic justice. Climate justice is for all. Caring about the planet is about caring for the wellbeing of every living thing.
This means that we have to address the inequalities and inequities in our global communities. No community in this world is isolated from each other.
If you buy from a fast fashion brand like Primark, the cheap clothing you bought is unfortunately sourced from a factory, often in a developing country like India or Bangladesh, that has inadequate working conditions and underpaid staff who rarely have worker’s rights.
Mass-producing these clothes is polluting the communities in these countries and impacting people’s health. Communities in developing countries are going to feel the brunt of the climate crisis faster than communities in developed nations like the UK. Why do the voices and wellbeing of these communities get overlooked?
Activism is about taking the steps forward to change: you may not see the finish line, but you can pass the baton to the next generation to continue the fight towards progress.
Simple things you can do to be an activist:
- Start the conversation! Talk to friends and family about a cause you care about. If you find it hard to open conversations, then use resources like videos and articles to provide a background. Watching documentaries for movie nights could be a thing if your friends want to learn something new.
- Check out the community groups and initiatives in your local area. You would be surprised at the amazing work already being done in your local area, you can find groups via your local authority’s website or searching on Google
- Search online to find people and groups that relate to your cause. The internet is a magical place to discover like-minded people who are holding digital platforms for people like you.
- Organise meetups to discuss the cause. It is so important to invest time in discussing causes with other people, it helps you bond and build trusted relationships, resulting in a sense of community.
- Plan actions with people that share the same passion. The conversations may turn into actions, they don’t have to be big and complex. For instance, if you care about plastic waste, then you could arrange a beach clean-up with your friends and allies.
- Make sure you rest and don’t overwhelm yourself. Rest is revolutionary and necessary if you want your activism to be sustainable and effective. Don’t beat yourself up for taking a break!
- Enjoy the process, enjoy the sense of community, collectivity and connectedness.
You can follow Samia on Instagram @samiaalexandra and Twitter @samiuhhh.
So Now What Do I Do?
LEARN MORE
- Read ‘How to restore your sense of control when you feel powerless?’
- Read: What does inequality have to do with climate change?
- How to be an effective climate activist, according to psychology
TRY SOMETHING NEW
- Have a conversation about climate justice this Christmas. Here’s how to do it without making the family Zoom call super awkward.
- Look for local groups related to what you care about. For global climate networks, check out Fridays4Future, Greenpeace, 350.org and Friends of the Earth.
- Sign up to this free online course on how to create positive change.
CHANGE THE SYSTEM
- Rich countries are buying up all the vaccines. Sign the petition calling for a #PeoplesVaccine, a COVID-19 vaccine free and accessible for everyone.
- Stuck in lockdown? Here’s how you can be an activist online.
- Host an event! Climate Action has a guide to organising a local meeting on an issue you care about (*written for the Climate Action organisation but the main advice is relevant for everyone)
IS THAT IT?
No. As much as I wish my writing skills were so good that I can summarise what you can do in a few bullet points, there’s way more than I can include in one email.
What else should this include? Leave a comment below!
If you have a topic you want the Green Fix to cover, fill out this feedback form & tell us your idea!
Stay in the loop
I share updates on the Green Fix, polls and additional resources on Instagram @coffee_and_casstaways. You can also say hi on Twitter.
