If you’re reading this it’s probably safe to say you’re kind of into the whole environment thing…. But how do you go from being interested to being part of the movement? Don’t worry, we’re here to show you how!
What does an activist look like?
You might think that in order to play your part in the fight against the climate crisis, you need to be chaining yourself to buildings, marching with a banner, or throwing paint around, but direct action is just one part of it.
An activist doesn’t always look like the protestors we see in the news. Activism can involve anything from writing and communicating (like our team here at curious.earth!), taking legal action, making art, supporting others behind the scenes, and of course it can also involve protesting in the streets. The fact of the matter is, the climate movement needs people to play all of these roles – we need everyone to bring their skills to the table.
“There is something meaningful each of us can contribute to climate solutions. This is the work of our lifetimes.”
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Ok, so how do I find my role?
Let us introduce you to the wonders of the Climate Venn tool! The idea of this tool is that it helps you to see where your skills could best be used by looking at three things:
What are you good at?
Probably a lot of things! This can be anything – your work experience, training or qualifications, and specific resources and networks. This isn’t the time to be humble! List everything that you have to offer.
What work needs doing?
Think big! You’re probably already doing a lot of everyday good stuff like recycling, shopping second-hand, or eating less meat. Think about how you could scale that up to a level of system change. Consider every aspect of the climate movement from politics to waste, from agriculture to energy, and think about what needs to change.
What brings you joy?
Last but not least, this one is so important! The climate fight is a big one and it can be daunting and draining, so you need to be doing something you enjoy and that you can sustain. Think about what you love, and what motivates you? What would you be doing if you could do anything?
Where these things overlap, that’s where you’ll find the treasure! The treasure, of course, being your own personal role in the climate movement!
Take a look at these examples we’ve created for some ideas…
Be curious!
- Complete your own Climate Venn diagram to work out your role in the climate movement.
- Watch this TED talk by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson which answers “What can I do to help address the climate crisis?”
- Check out this amazing poster by artist and campaigner Tolmeia Gregory which showcases some of the roles that you could play – everything from tea makers and live tweeters, to first aiders and legal advisors.
- Contact a local climate group to find out how you can get involved – check out the big ones like Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion, or have a search around to see what local campaigns there are in your area.
- Volunteer with curious.earth! We’re always looking out for new people to join our curious family – writers, editors, social media volunteers, email builders, web developers, and more! If you’re keen to get involved there is probably a role with your name on it! Just drop us an email to hello@curious.earth to find out more.
- Take a look at the Conservation Careers website which has loads of info about the many different roles there are available to people wanting to work in the conservation field.
- Read more about activism, sustainable leadership, and looking after your wellbeing as an activist in our archives:
Featured image by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash
1 Comment