Hope or Anger?

The other day I asked a friend from Vancouver, a long time activist, why he thought that some people acted while others didn’t. “Hope” he quickly said. But I wondered if it wasn’t more about anger?

Fear of being labeled

Today, I heard an interview with Lia Johnson on CBC. Lia is a young Yukoner who is trying to motivate others, particularly youth, to act on climate change issues. (Go Lia!) During the interview, the host noted that perhaps “environmentalist” wasn’t the dirty word it used to be. I wondered what he would think of [...]

One motivating moment?

What motivates someone to speak out on an issue while others with similar values and backgrounds don’t? What is it that tips them over the edge? Is there a particular “moment” that makes people speak out? For Tzeporah Berman, one of the movers and shakers behind Clayoquot Sound campaign and lifelong environmentalist, her “moment” was [...]

What is “advocacy”?

Why is it that some people will make an effort to speak up for change – to engage in advocacy – on issues they are concerned about, while others with similar concerns don’t? Why will one person write a letter, speak out at a meeting or sign an online petition while someone else with similar [...]