Tools For Activism

Peter's Projection World Map

For me, it is true that action speaks louder than words and that walking a talk consists in part of taking action in the material world. For those who live in the United States and others places that have the opportunity to express oneself freely, it is imperative to do so for the sake of all of humanity. Being alive today is existing at a juncture that is supremely critical to the survival and thriving of humanity and Earth for now and into the very distant future, potentially millions of generations of humans. Oftentimes, "political" activism is not terribly popular, particularly because people either don't know how to get involved, they are apathetic or feel that it wouldn't matter if they made an effort anyway. We are only living in a democracy so long as we demand, require and create it. It continues to be the case, for now, that  this requires constant awareness, care and activism. Please, use the resources below to begin and expand your action, awareness and worldliness and rise to the occasion that life has presented us all in the opportunity to make a difference in the world. Activism works, action works. One of the most effective ways of political activism (by far not the only) is writing to you legislators; there is something to be said for expressing one's will and sending energy in the direction of positive, sustainable and just change, even if, at times, pleas and logic fall on deaf ears the momentum builds, and over time the tide turns. The best way to enable change is to be, speak and act your truth always in the spirit of nonviolence.

The ACLU

  http://www.aclu.org/

 So long as we have enough people in this country willing to fight for their rights, we'll be called a democracy. 

-- ACLU Founder Roger Baldwin

The ACLU is our nation's guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.

These rights include:

• Your First Amendment rights - freedom of speech, association and assembly; freedom of the press, and freedom of religion.
• Your right to equal protection under the law - protection against unlawful discrimination.
• Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake.
• Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs.

The ACLU also works to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including people of color; women; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people; prisoners; and people with disabilities.

If the rights of society's most vulnerable members are denied, everybody's rights are imperiled.

Amnesty International

http://www.amnesty.org/

http://www.amnestyusa.org/

Who We Are

Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 3 million supporters, members and activists in more than 150 countries and territories who campaign to end grave abuses of human rights.

Our vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.

We are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion and are funded mainly by our membership and public donations.

Drug Policy Alliance

 http://www.drugpolicy.org/

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is the nation's leading organization promoting alternatives to current drug policy that are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights.

Our supporters are individuals who believe the war on drugs is doing more harm than good. Together we advance policies that reduce the harms of both drug use and drug prohibition, and seek solutions that promote safety while upholding the sovereignty of individuals over their own minds and bodies. We work to ensure that our nation’s drug policies no longer arrest, incarcerate, disenfranchise and otherwise harm millions – particularly young people and people of color who are disproportionately affected by the war on drugs.

Sierra Club

http://www.sierraclub.org/

Since 1892, the Sierra Club has been working to protect communities, wild places, and the planet itself. We are the largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. And our founder, John Muir, appears on the back of the California quarter.

Food Democracy Now!

 http://www.fooddemocracynow.org/

  Food Democracy Now! is a grassroots community dedicated to building a sustainable food system that protects our natural environment, sustains farmers and nourishes families.

 Our food system is fundamentally broken. A few companies dominate the market, prioritizing profits over people and our planet. Government policies put the interests of corporate agribusiness over the livelihoods of farm families. Farm workers toil in unsafe conditions for minimal wages. School children lack access to healthy foods--as do millions of Americans living in poverty. From rising childhood and adult obesity to issues of food safety, air and water pollution, worker's rights and global warming, our current food system is leading our nation to an unsustainable future.

Food Democracy Now! members have a different vision. We know we can build a food system that gives our communities equal access to healthy food, and respects the dignity of the farmers who produce it. We believe in recreating regional food systems, supporting the growth of humane, natural and organic farms, and protecting the environment. We value our children's health, worker's rights, conservation, and animal welfare over corporate profits. And we believe that working together, we can make this vision a reality in our lifetimes.

Food Democracy Now! members organize both through online campaigns and in-person actions across the country.

Global Exchange

http://globalexchange.org/

Global Exchange is an international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice since 1988. We are a 501 c3 registered non-profit.

We’re changing the rules across the globe from a profit-centered global economy to thriving people-centered local economies; from the politics of greed to a living democracy that respects the rights of workers and nature; and from currency to community.

Enough Project

http://www.enoughproject.org/

Our Mission

The Enough Project fights to end genocide and crimes against humanity, focused on areas where some of the world’s worst atrocities occur. We get the facts on the ground, use rigorous analysis to determine the most sustainable solutions, influence political leaders to adopt our proposals, and mobilize the American public to demand change.

How to Contact Your Senators, Representatives and Legislators:

http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml