Everyday Activism - Vol 1 Sneak Peek
Words & Photography: Bethany Pihama
Who exactly is an activist? According to the Oxford Dictionary, an activist is ‘a person who works to achieve political or social change’.
Arguably, almost everyone is an activist – because nearly all of us would love to create change for the better, and in some way already work to further this change, be it sharing social media posts, changing diet or shopping habits, attending rallies, or donating etc.
In the environmental sector, what is considered ‘model’ activism differs wildly depending on who you’re talking to. It is often associated with the major stunts devised by Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion, conjuring up the image of activists coating themselves with oil, blocking motorways, or chaining themselves to trees in protests against HS2. Although direct action is definitely vital in making voices heard, conversely it also has the potential to push those not environmentally inclined away from the cause – which can give the name ‘activist’ negative connotations in society.
Yes, these are the stereotypical images which come to mind when the word ‘activist’ is mentioned. However, what about the ‘everyday’ activist? The person who wants to make a change, but may not have the privilege to engage in more radical acts, or simply does not know how to start?
One effective way of engaging the general public in activism and raising awareness of environmental issues has been through the rise of ‘citizen science’ projects. Citizen science, defined as engaging the public in scientific projects, has a long legacy but has recently grown in popularity as an individual action to bring about change.
These projects across the globe have assisted in collecting millions of pieces of vital data, raised awareness of environmental issues, as well as aided in shifting people’s perceptions of major issues. They have often generated behaviour changes, making participants more conscious of their lifestyle choices and being left with a wish to ‘do more’. Engaging people through citizen science, supported by new technology, has been instrumental in making the environmental movement more accessible and has inspired many new supporters…
