We’re kicking off this new format and we’re very excited for you to come along. After all, we wouldn’t continue doing this if it wasn’t for you. Thank you for being here!
You don’t know what you don’t know
This is the first issue of our monthly series – ‘The Alphabet of Climate Solutions’. For a whole month we dive deep into a topic that we think contributes to solving the climate crisis. We will look at it from all angles and perspectives. Because you can’t know what you don’t know and action starts with knowledge. If we aren’t aware of what tools, movements, theories and technologies are available to us, how can we build a better future? You can follow what we’re learning this month on Instagram as well as this publicly accessible Notion document. So off we go!
A is for activism
What do I think of when I hear the word ‘activism’? People, protesting out in the streets, chained to a tree or glued to each other blocking a road. People campaigning for a fairer, more equitable world by collecting signatures, spreading knowledge and awareness and lobbying politicians to do better. That is activism for me. And because I wasn’t doing all of these things, all the time, I never saw myself as an activist. I thought the title ‘activist’ was reserved for people who do all of the above and more. Now when I think about it I realise how toxic that point of view is and how destructive. It puts some people on a pedestal while at the same time forcing them into a box they can never break out of. “As an activist you have to be a certain way. You have to dedicate your whole life to the cause and there is no room for things other than the fight for what is good and right.” How narrow minded and self limiting those beliefs are.
What about the artists, the authors, the storytellers, the scientists, the care takers, the healers and the facilitators? (Check out Climate in Colour’s post on this here) What about the ‘knitting nanas’? The folks that cook food for hungry protesters? The lawyers defending the environment in court? The writers changing the narratives in our heads that a better world is indeed possible? The parent that teaches their children respect and appreciation for nature? The journalist centring and amplifying marginalised voices? The school kids inspiring their peers to do better? The people who have difficult conversations with their family members, friends or work colleagues.
I've come to realise that everyone can be an activist in their own way. No one act is better than another. The seemingly smallest act can have the biggest impact. When we take advantage of our own special talents and skills, activism can bring us joy, pleasure and enthusiasm. But that is not to say that activism isn’t also hard work.
‘The word activism makes me curl up small’
The word activism doesn’t resonate with everyone the same way and for some it may be connected to predominantly negative feelings. Tash has written down her thoughts on activism and why she is reluctant to going out into the streets to protest and what that has to do with burning tyres and chicken buses.
What exactly is activism?
We’re diving deep into the topic this month to try and answer all the questions we have asked ourselves over and over again on our own journey. By the end of this month we will have answered the following questions:
What exactly is activism?
How can we make activism more intersectional?
What makes an activist?
What are the tools and strategies of an activist?
Where do I start?
How to be more activist in daily life
How to find your niche as an activist
How to speak to people about the topics you’re passionate about
Learn how to be an activist with Gina Martin
Our monthly bookclub is also dedicated to our new format and for this month we will be reading ‘Be The Change – A toolkit for the activist in you’ by Gina Martin.
About the book: In June 2017, a man took a photograph up Gina Martin's skirt at a music festival. The police told her that this was not a sexual offence; the man would not be charged. Eighteen months later, she had changed the law and made upskirting a criminal offence.
Now Gina wants to empower you with the tools and the courage to challenge injustice and fight for change. Whether it's in your school, workplace or community, or even on a global scale, Gina's practical and inspiring advice will ensure your voice is heard and your actions make an impact.
Gina also writes a brilliant newsletter on Substack called ‘The Good Chat’ which we highly recommend subscribing to.
Want to make more time for action?
You care about the planet, people and taking action for positive impact, but you find it hard to make time for it and/or don’t know where to start? This is why we started Future Hour. It’s an hour where we meet up online every Friday lunchtime (1pm GMT) to work on that project/campaign/<insert what applies to you> that we haven't found the time in the week to do. You can read more about it here.
That’s it for now! If you have any questions please add a comment to this post, DM us on Instagram or send us an email to hello@andthefuture.com
Lisa & Tash ✨