Workshop 3 - Theme C - Get Active

Why

Understanding options for creating eco-activism

What is and how to become an eco-activist?
Work on personal responsibility and common rules.

Aims & Objectives

What is Eco-Activism? Differentiate and find your Options.

Work on ideas & visions. Checklist on doing an activity.

Competencies

Curiosity, Justice, Motivation, Conflict Resolution, Collaboration, Compassion

How?

Workshop (inputs, interactive exercise, activities)

Offline or online - synchronised or unsynchronised

Dimension & SDG

Ecological
SDG: 1,2,3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 16

DURATION

ACTIVITY

5’ - 15’

Introduction and context 

30’ to 120’

Input: What is Eco-Activism?

30’ - 180’

Group Work: Ideas & Visions for Eco-Activism

15’ - 360’’

Action: Going for an activity

15’ - 30’

Reflection & Feedback of whole workshop

Activity: What is Eco-Activism (incl. Intro to workshop)

INTRO/FRAMING

Start with the question: “Are you (already) an Environmental Activist? No!? - YES, you are!”

●        All humans who need clean air for living - every second

●        All humans who need clean water for living - every day

●        All humans who need healthy food for living - every day

… are environmental activists. You have a need and high interest to be so…
If you do not think that you are an Environmental Activist, think twice!

INSTRUCTIONS 

STEP 1 - GROUP DISCUSSIONS

What does an environmental activist need?  

Consider Awareness of the human impact; facts and data in mind (especially in discussions, to have the best arguments); Connection to the earth, animals, plants, next generations … Sense for his/her/their responsibility now; Social skills

Ref:   (see above Activity Earth Overshoot  Day 2 : Move the date! -> social skills)

What different environmental challenges are there? What environmental aspects are the most important for me? Consider: Climate change; Emissions to air; Pollution of land; Discharge of water; Use of materials / natural resources; Solid waste management; Hazardous waste; Biodiversity loss; Noise pollution

Rights for animals & people; Social aspects that are related to environmental impacts etc.

How to work in different sectors: Agriculture; Transport & mobility; Industry; Energy; Waste-treatment; Housing & buildings; Nutrition

STEP 2  -  INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION THEN DISCUSS IN GROUP

What options do we have to get active?  Consider the following statements :

I go for action in my life.  Somehow a first step to be authentical for other actions, no?
Very needed, because we need everyone on board.

I go for action in my family. Could be one of the most challenging things to do, but easy to reach and good practice for a respectful interaction.

I became active in my circle of friends - consider if  your counterpart is more emotional -> reach the emotions, feelings or values that you have in common; or a thinker -> need for facts and data; if your counterpart has a strong opinion -> better guide with questions

I become active with an NGO e.g. Greenpeace; International POPs Elimination Network; International Union for Conservation of Nature; World Wide Fund for Nature Global Footprint Network; Global 2000 / Friends of the Earth; Centre for Environmental Research and Conservation; Earth Island Institute; EarthJustice; Environmental Defence Fund; Fauna and Flora International; Nature Friends International; NOAH - Friends of the Earth Plattform Footprint

I become active in a  community initiative Once you have an overview on important aspects  (depending on the needs of the group), go for a self-motivated “self study” on a certain topic of interest in small groups. ->Share in group

Step 3  What do I really - really - really want to do?  

Come up with possibilities for group and individual actions  (these will be developed in Ideas, Visions & Plans Activity and implemented in Action! Activity ) 

TIPS: Be patient, Very few people are able to change their mind within a fruitful conversation. Challenging one's convictions takes time - it's only natural, otherwise we would constantly waver in our opinions. So they need time and maybe in a month or year will come back to you maybe exactly with YOUR arguments.“I will be part of an NGO”

Activity: Group Work: Ideas, Visions & Plans for ECO-Activism

INTRO/FRAMING

The aim today is to identify ideas, visions and a plan for a group  action.   Explain general ideas and motivations briefly. Structure possible topics/actions & show the broad diversity on e.g. online boards (e.g. Miro) or flipchart when live.  Show and post pics / videos of actions

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1:  Each group and / or individual identify an action they want to take forward

Step 2: Make a detailed plan of activity you or your group have identified:

Consider:

What exactly do we want to do? What is our aim and desired outcome? With whom? With what organisation? What are my next steps?  What do I need? Do we need an official registration with the police or an office?  Who has experience with that? -> ask them; What’s the name of the project/action?  How to reach more people with similar interests? Action date / Where will it happen? How will we promote it?  Will we repeat it? Improve the approach later? Attention in the media or direct contact with people? Who will be the participants?

Step 3: Prep for action with posters, banners, videos, online posts etc.

REFLECTION & SYNTHESIS

Follow the inputs and complement their own experience.

Figure out “my” special topic of interest -> I am REALLY motivated for that. Prepare a summary of what they research and collect in a format of their choice (which is well suited to creative outputs like posters, videos, audios, etc) and post it to the YINT Forum. Can be also completed later on if a deadline is set and reviewed by the facilitator and reviewed and commented upon by other groups.

FACILITATOR & PARTICIPANT ROLES

What the facilitator will do:  Guide through the process of ideas & visions.  Guide the self study on a certain topic of interest

What PARTICIPANTS will do:  Open their minds and get creative; At the end find something that sounds realistic at the moment and continue to work on that (or another idea in the next element: going for an activity);

REFLECTION & SYNTHESIS

Prepare a summary of what they research and collect in a format of their choice and post it to the YINT Forum. Can be also completed later on if a deadline is set and reviewed by the facilitator  and commented upon by other groups

TIP:  The diversity of possible EcoActivism is so huge that it is not possible to show a full overview in the workshop. So from a certain point, showing the main features, the individual interest is more important than a “theoretical” approach. Once the fire for a certain topic is started, most likely just little guidance is needed. The group/ individual will find its own way to action…

Activity:  Action! Going for an activity / action

INTRO/FRAMING

What the facilitator will say, in keywords:

●        If needed (new people involved) do a preliminary discussion of today's plan!

●        If needed, remind the group of important (legal) guidelines!

●        Just go for it!

INSTRUCTIONS

 What  the facilitator will do:

●        Be part of it

●        Accompany group

●        Support when necessary

What PARTICIPANTS will do:

●        Experience their own activity

●        Prepare a summary of what they perform in a format of their choice (which is well suited to creative outputs like posters, videos, audios, etc) and post it to the YINT Forum. Can be also completed later on if a deadline is set and reviewed by the facilitator  and commented upon by other groups.

REFLECTION & SYNTHESIS

Provide space and time for participants to reflect about their insights and learnings and what they have come up with and implemented. They can/should share on the YINT Forum in any form or format they see fit (which is well suited to creative outputs like posters, videos, audios, etc). Can be also completed later on if a deadline is set and reviewed and supported by the facilitator  and commented upon by other groups.

TIP: If you are not experienced in demonstrations or other actions that require registration or certain rules of conduct, it's best to ask NGOs that deal frequently with that matter.