I wouldn’t describe myself as an activist per se. I support causes like the feminist and anti-palm oil movements, but really I should be doing more. With life being so fast-paced, it’s hard to take on another commitment that requires a lot of time and energy. But today I’ll be sharing why activism is important and how you can get involved easily.
What is activism?
An activist is a person who believes in social or political change, and campaigns for it to become a reality. Activism is ultimately an important part of society. It shows those in charge that people want to see change and helps to educate others to see the possibility of a change for the better.
Why is activism important?
Nothing in life comes for free. Everyone needs to hustle at some point in order to get where they want to be and activism is pretty much just that. Nowadays, most things we take for granted are a direct result of past activists campaigning for future generations (us) to have better lives.
But as far as I can see, our world is still far from perfect. The gender pay gap continues to exist, climate change isn’t getting any better and much of the not so developed world is severely poverty-stricken. There’s still a long way for us to go and if we don’t stand up for what we believe in… who will?
Not everyone can just walk out from their day job or school and go to a protest. But this has become the thing most associated with activism. Although I do agree that it’s important to grab the government’s attention with civil disobedience and demand change, I believe that activism begins with an individual caring about a cause and doing what they can to raise awareness and make a change – no matter how small.
Activism in the news
Recently there’s been news of activism in headlines nearly every day. Between the Extinction Rebellion protests in London, the Youth Strike for Climate across the world and the riots in Hong Kong, there are many causes out there calling for change.
There are also some pretty incredible women out there, well-known for their activism and dedication to their causes that I can’t not mention. Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old fighting climate change on an international level. Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist who was shot in the head for fighting for every girl to have the right to have an education. Jameela Jamil, a Hollywood actress who is fighting for radical inclusivity and a culture without shame. These women are only a few of the vast amount fighting for change across the world.
In a way, you have to admire these people. They are fighting for the change they want to see and although some of them go to very extreme measures, they are out there, whether they’ll be heard or not.
This being said, you yourself can raise awareness for a cause, without having to dedicate your life to it.
So, what can you do that won’t take much time, effort or money but can still make a difference?
You can vote
I know with the election coming up you are probably sick to death of hearing about it, but voting is really important, especially for young people. Bear in mind, that women have not always had the right to walk directly into a voting booth and have their say. Activists had to fight for that right!
The Suffragettes are a bit of an extreme example (though I will always feel indebted to their efforts). Doing things like chaining themselves to fences, being thrown in prison and in particular, Emily Davison, hurling herself in front of the King’s horse. After all their campaigning, just over 100 years ago, don’t we owe it to them to get into the booth and give our two cents?
Yes, all of the politicians now are idiots – I am unbiased in that sense – but your vote can make a difference in the way the country, and even your area, is run. Democracy is a big part of life in the UK and everyone has the right to have their own opinion. I know that as soon as I’m able to vote, I’ll be the first in my local polling station, gladly giving my opinion on politics, for just one day every so often.
Do some research and find a cause you can get behind
You don’t have to join a massive global movement if you don’t want to. For a first-timer, you may want to start local or even start your own initiative. Do you feel that hedgehogs in your area are struggling to find shelter for hibernation? Is there a lot of litter on the streets around your house? Are there a lot of homeless people where you live? You can start a cause for just about anything. If it’s something you care about, you’ll be able to do it justice and make a change. If starting your own cause on the first try is a bit daunting (I get that), then there are plenty of local causes that need the support that only you can give!
These causes can give you some leaflets to hand out, ask you to share it on your social media or suggest you go and save those hedgehogs yourself! Whatever you do, if you make a difference, you’re doing it right.
Sign petitions
Change.org and the UK Government’s petition page are good and easy websites to use if you want to make a change without leaving the comfort of your sofa. All sorts of petitions on there are raising awareness for their social movements and all you need is your name, email address and postcode to support them. If you have a spare five minutes, it’s all too easy to scroll through and support a few campaigns that you believe in. You’ll also be helping a movement get the attention of the government, without having to go to a big protest.
Volunteer
If you have a spare few hours, you could dedicate some time to a local cause. You could clear some litter off the streets or take food to a homeless shelter. Small acts can make all the difference.
Causes are always looking for volunteers. You’re likely to get to know more people in your area. And you can even gain a good reputation that could come in handy if you decide to set up your own cause (wink).
Fundraise
This is one that not everyone can get involved in if they don’t have the money. But if you have the funds to donate to a movement, a good website to have a look through is JustGiving. There are plenty of causes on there that need financial backing and donating to one of them is sure to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.
If you’d prefer to be more hands-on when it comes to fundraising, you could get a charity box and go out and collect money for a cause.
Share on social media
Even if you’re not an ‘influencer’ with thousands of followers on social media, sharing a cause that means a lot to you will help to spread awareness. Maybe one of your followers will be able to support it too or even donate. You just never know.
In this day and age, everything is on social media. Millions of people use it at any given moment, so why not post your cause in a place where people will take notice?
To conclude, even if you lead the busiest life going, you can always make time to add some activism into your routine. Heck, I’m no doctor, but the feeling of giving back can also be good for your well-being. So even if the only thing you do is vote, sign petitions or just share the cause, you are making a difference.
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Written by Yana Trup
Illustrated by Francesca Mariama
