May - Environmental Activism
1. So Easy: Post or share an environmental blog post or article
Preferably one of mine #shamelessselfpromotion
2. Still Pretty Easy: Sign some petitions
This website provides brief descriptions of a variety of environmental issues complete with petitions requesting specific actions from the Canadian government.
http://environmentaldefence.ca/
For instance, this petition requests that the government stop providing subsidies to fossil fuel companies:
http://action.environmentaldefence.ca/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=20108
3. A Little Less Easy: Contact your elected official(s)
I’m not all that knowledgeable when it comes to this kind of thing and so called on my good friend Stefanie to help with this section. She worked as a writer and communications advisor for the provincial government for many years and had some great advice on how to help persuade politicians to act on the issues that matter to you.
i. Start by looking into who has jurisdiction over the issue. If you’re having trouble figuring this out, don’t hesitate to contact one of your local representatives (e.g. MP, MPP, City Councillor) to ask for guidance. Elected officials have e-mail addresses that are accessible to the public for just this purpose. Your representative or one of his/her aides should be able to tell you which level of government is responsible for making decisions regarding the issue you are concerned about and who would be the appropriate person to contact.
ii. If you have noticed a problem in your community that doesn’t seem to be on anyone’s radar, writing a letter or e-mail to your local representative is an effective way of raising awareness about the issue. So for instance if you’ve noticed garbage or bio waste washing up on the shores of your local beach you could contact all your representatives to make sure they are aware and doing something about it. If you are unsatisfied with their response, threatening to go to the media can be a very effective way of getting a politician to take your concern seriously!
iii. If it is a known issue (e.g. an environmental protection bill that elected representatives will soon be voting on), it is still a good idea to send a letter or e-mail making your position known, but you’ll be more likely to influence their vote if you can show that a large number of people in their riding feel the same way you do. Letter writing campaigns and petitions are some examples of how you can go about doing this.
iv. Use your vote wisely. Come election time local environmental organizations will often publish articles comparing each candidate’s stances on environmental issues. If environmental protection is a top priority for you, be sure to read up on how each candidate fares in this area before casting your vote. If there is a particular issue that you are concerned with and can’t find information regarding each candidate’s stance on it, send them each an e-mail asking what they each plan to do about it.
4. Not So Easy: Donate money or time to an environmental organization
If you would like to volunteer for or donate to an environmental organization but aren’t sure which one to go with, this article might help narrow your search. It describes the top 7 charities in Canada dealing with environment, conservation, and sustainability issues:
http://blog.chimp.net/top-environmental-charities-in-canada
The rankings in the above article are based on an analysis conducted by Charity Intelligence Canada. Click here for the full report:
https://www.charityintelligence.ca/images/environmental_charities_in_canada.pdf
