I wrote a eulogy for my father last year. It was the easiest thing I have ever written – celebrating the things I loved about him and the ways I had learnt from him. One was how to build a good fire. Continue reading “Letting Go of the Fire”
Some days Twitter feels useful, others it only acts a relief valve for the anger that I am feeling about a particular issue: lately, mostly, air pollution. Continue reading “Understanding Change: Air Pollution”
My interview for the ‘Women in Sustainability‘ series and the early influence of the Greenham Common women’s peace camp.
“What do we mean by social change? How can it be achieved?
Writing an essay on this nebulous subject when studying for a PG Cert in Media, Campaigning & Social Change last year was one of the most frustrating yet satisfying, parts of my course. Continue reading “Understanding Change: Plastics”
I spoke to Christopher Davies, International Director of Corporate Responsibility and Campaigns at The Body Shop International and Chris Gale, European Social Mission Strategy and Policy Manager, Ben & Jerry’s, two companies with a long history of social activism, to learn how business can leverage their capabilities and influence to mobilise supporters towards action in support of social change. Continue reading “The Activist Companies”
Sharing a few learnings from a talk by George Lakey this week organised by Michaela O’Brien course leader of the MA in Media, Campaigning and Social Change at the University of Westminster.
Continue reading “George Lakey’s Thoughts on Creating Change”
“The decision to protest is not taken in a social vacuum”
(Klandermans & Van Stekelenburg, 2013)
“If we can make a critic laugh, that is the first step towards subverting their homophobia.” (Peter Tatchell, 2016)
Campaigners responded in a beautiful and creative way when the authorities stopped demonstrations at the UN climate discussions following the 2015 Paris terror attacks. Thousands of climate activists had expected to march in Paris to put pressure on governments to end reliance on fossil fuels. Following the decision to ban on protests in public spaces campaigners had to think quickly, respectfully and imaginatively to make their “voices heard”. Instead of marching thousands of shoes were placed on the Place de la République in a ‘silent march’. Continue reading “Turn to Face the Change”
