Effective change-making

[fortnightlily]

The recent threads about climate crises and some other issues have me thinking: anyone know of any particularly effective efforts people can join up with to affect change? Which politicians or nonprofits are actually moving the needle on things like climate change, gun control, healthcare reform, election reform?

[macmars45]

Moms Demand Gun Control have aided in laws being passed in some states and some members ran for office at the city and state level and won. I'm not sure what states. I just remember seeing articles on Twitter.

[minzy]

If you figure it out, let us all know!

Climate is my big one. I realized a few years ago that I wasn’t seeing enough/any top down action, so I have tried to do more bottom up. For me, that has involved letter writing at elections, joining my area’s waste committee (to try to dilute its’ suffering from “old white man-itis,”), and supporting our somewhat new green team with money and time. I have hosted (and need to again) a few science parties, which elements have included the aim of a zero waste gathering, non-red meat food purchased from local female owned businesses, a clothes swap, and mini TED-like type talks with my friends/women in my neighborhood about different facets of the climate crisis. (They were huge hits, I swear! 🤣) I led an All We Can Save book discussion circle for ten(?) weeks. Because of my waste committee work, I’m speaking to our school board about sustainability issues next week, and because I commented on a climate crisis publication that my undergrad issued, I’m set to talk to students in some Q&A session in the next few weeks. I truly try not to alienate people by talking about climate all the time, but they learn to trust me in other ways, and then I finesse it in, and a few months later, they’re no longer driving a gas car, either. 😉🤣 Of course, I can’t give myself that much credit but talking about it absolutely moves the needle in the sphere you can control (your own).

I’ve found this Venn diagram by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson pretty helpful at getting me to focus on how to best utilize my time: www.ayanaelizabeth.com/climatevenn

[pixy0stix]

I have no idea. I just bring the bad news.

[wawa]

this isn't really what you're asking for - but you can have a TON of impact at the local level on policies that impact climate change. 
Specifically transportation and land use (which are very intertwined).  There are a ton of issues decided on the county/town/city level by a very small groups of people that have big impacts on things like transportation sector emissions forecasts for your specific area. 

You helping get your county to approve a land use plan that has appropriate multi-use density centered around transit nodes, and an operating budget that allows for local transit headways that actually support ridership, and a capital improvement budget that will build safe comfortable facilities for transit, walking, and biking doesn't move the needle for the whole country, but it's something that absolutely HAS to happen nearly everywhere for that needle to move.

Find the groups supporting those initiatives and join then and start writing regular emails to your local electeds and boards.  I can tell you for absolutely certain, that even in progressive areas, the people who are afraid of change EASILY drown out those who see what needs to be done.  

[waverly]

I agree with starting locally. Where I work, we host the elections, so I would say volunteer to be an election judge. Those are always needed.

Emailing the people in charge. I've gotten easy local projects done that facilitate pedestrian safety. I've attended school board meetings for Covid safety during the pandemic.

On a national level, it can often look dire or that there is no change. Some of the good national non-profits will lay out the changes that they have made on their website, so you can see their progress. Knowing your donation has led to some progress can make it seem more worthwhile.  An example, www.everytown.org/about-everytown/victories/.  

[minzy]

Jan 26, 2023 10:53:31 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

I have no idea. I just bring the bad news.

And you do it so well! 😉