If you want to make a difference and promote change by becoming an activist, you're in the right place!
This short, to-the-point guide, will cover the most important aspects of how to become an activist.
No matter how young you are, or how limited your means, if you are determined and really believe in something, you have the power to change it.
That's what activism is all about; change.
If you're shy, uncomfortable with public speaking, or new at activism, you may feel like you are all alone. But it only takes one individual to reach hundreds of people and influence their often-unwittingly exploitative attitudes and lifestyles. Perhaps there are no animal rights groups in your area, but there is at least one animal rights activist. You.
Anyone can be an activist. It doesn't take special skills or superhuman abilities. You just need to care enough about animals to want to help them.
Grassroots work is essential to the success of fighting world hunger, poverty and oppression, as well as environmental, civil, human and animal rights movements. There are many organizations committed to helping activists around the world organize and succeed with their causes, so you are not alone.
From shopping compassionately to cooking delicious vegan meals for friends, acting to help animals is easy and fun!
Everyday Activism
Get rid the unnecessary, usless waste of time watching TV or playing video games and do something worthwhile instead! Work on your cause, starting with an action plan and finding others who share your ideals.
You can use your trip to the mall, the game, the movie, anywhere and everywhere else to proudly express your message.
Take literature with you wherever you go and leave it everywhere, like in waiting rooms, on the bus, in bookstores, coffee shops, and grocery stores. Never go by a bulletin board without tacking up a flyer.
Display your message proudly with a bumper sticker on your car.
Make or get buttons, patches or pins that spread your message and wear them on your shirt, backpack or hat. You would be surprized at how effective these simple activities can be.
Quick, easy and affordable actions like these can help you get your message to dozens of people every day. You'll be amazed by the conversations one little sticker can start! It's also a great way to meet people that share your values.
Grassroots Activism
Get permission to set up an information table. A great way to reach a large number of people is to set up an information table in a busy area of your town, like the mall, fairs, library or even a busy street corner. Stock your table with fliers, factsheets, polls and questionnaires and educate passersby!
Organize a demonstration. It's not as scary or hard as it sounds. Demonstrations can involve as little as passing out leaflets.
Expose thousands of people to your cause by getting on cable-access TV. It's not as difficult as it may sound either, as many media outlets are happy to support worthwhile causes. It makes them look good!
Social Activism
Start a Facebook page about your cause. It's free and puts you in touch with millions of potentially likeminded people. Facebook even has applications designed specifically for causes, charities and nonprofits. I recomend you download the DigiActive Facebook Activism Guide, for free (just click on the link).
Use Twitter, FriendFeed, Amplify, Gather and the many other microblogs and social media outlets to spread your message. Like with Facebook, they are free and enable you to get in touch with millions of people from all walks of life. I recomend you start by downloading The DigiActive Guide to Twitter for Activism, considering you can use it with Twitter, while adapting it for use with Amplify and most of the other social networking platforms.
Start a website or blog about your cause. Using Blogger.com, WordPress, Yola or any of the many other blog hosts you can launch a free, easy to build site within hours. These sites have such userfriendly sitebuilders that you don't need any computer experience. Even a caveman could do it!
Use your contacts. Members of local organizations can talk to their clubs about your cause. Church members can speak with pastors about benefit dinners and fundraisers. Be sure to write letters your cause to the editors of all magazines that you subscribe to.
Sponsor a speaker or give a lecture yourself. Again, it's not as hard as it sounds nd it's very effective. Many local schools, universities, and civic clubs will host speeches about worthwhile causes.
Make a Commitment
Volunteering in your community is a great way to spread the word about worthwhile causes. Volunteer at your local animal shelter—most animal shelter, homeless shelter orphanage or hospital and welcome volunteers who can help walk dogs and give out love and attention to needy animals, lonely seniors or forgotten children.
Hold a weekly volunteer meeting to write letters, make banners or plan a demonstration.
I recomend you buy, Yes You Can; Your Guide to Becoming an Activist, available at Amazon.com for $9.95 as a Kindle ebook, or download for free, How to Coordinate a Campaign for Change, one of the many free ebooks available at Assetebooks.com without sign-up or obligations, to prepare for your activities as an activist.
Then you will be ready to join the fight in a proactive fashion to bring about the needed change.
Written By: Tom Retterbush
