Here are some views and suggestions while we work to get an intern/volunteer to help us write this section!

  • Protests and marches are mostly attempts at a one-way form of communication to our representatives and the media. The goal is to show discontent in or support for certain issues and to have enough numbers to gather attention, and thus the realization by the representatives and public that this is ‘important.’ It’s not so much carrying information, but highlighting an issue so that people will seek to learn more. But it also has a side benefit in terms of communication among the supporters. Often, a protest or march lets a person know that they are not alone. This certainly was the main benefit of the extremely large “Women’s March” in various cities throughout the U.S. in January 2016. The messaging was unclear. Besides protesting against a newly inaugurated President, the why and what to do next were very haphazard. But a goal was to find support in each other; and this it did ‘in spades.’ (meaning in abundance, for non American/English speakers.)
  • Rallies, which are about a certain subject, do this more than protests and marches – creating support for each other (and the organizer.) They are about rallying to yield support for the next step, which is hopefully clearly discussed.
  • Petitions are another one-way form of communication, going the opposite direction from notifications – from the public to the government. They are a means to try and get public comments to representatives and public service employees in the government. They don’t always work, but sometimes magic happens.
  • Strikes…. hmmm.

(June/July 2021, FB Post): For Great Britain, some interesting, good news in terms of protests: the Supreme Court rules the protests that blockade access/streets is lawful under certain contexts. In the U.S., it is such a mess with different states, and our Supreme Court today is very unlikely to come down on the protestors side. But kudos to the UK. And maybe other countries also will show the side of right.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/protest-laws-supreme-court-arms-fair-b1872636.html.

Here at Climate Steps, our Principles statement (online under www.ClimateSteps.org/about) says we don’t support violent or very illegal protests as an action – and for good reasons, as it can cause a huge backlash against environmentalists, and we want to create instead the overarching, infusive culture change needed to fight the climate crisis. But peaceful, civil disobedience may be useful in the right context However, we do not push it also here because it does depend on the context, we are applying for our IRS/government approval for tax-exempt status, and, plus, there are many groups that already do this, so we focus on other actions. Further, people come from many different backgrounds here, and many cannot afford financially to be arrested, or to risk losing their jobs. Not everyone has that privilege. I certainly can’t afford bail right now while I am help my elderly dad and trying to fundraise. More importantly, I and our volunteers feel also that our time is best served working on building Climate Steps. This has been a point of contention in the past – with some people saying protests are the only way. Instead, Climate Steps highlights multiple impactful actions that diverse peoples can take depending on their personal situation. And as we don’t know what those situations are, please do not judge people who take a different route.

BUT it is good to study and know what is in the wheelhouse for one’s particular country. So FYI, for people in Britain.


 

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