I always wanted to be an activist, but wasn't really sure how to make it happen. Now I have to pinch myself as I look around the Greenpeace Toronto office, taking in the walls covered with maps, photographs of wildlife, banners and placards with phrases such as “Stop the Tar Sands”, “Save the Arctic”, and “No Oil without Inuit Consent”.
I’m a student intern with the Greenpeace Canada Arctic campaign. However, had you seen my resume and lack of experience in environmental advocacy, you might share my surprise at my current position. I was born in Manchester, UK and then grew up in an outdoorsy family in the woods bordering Kingston, Ontario. When the time came to make career plans, I toyed with the idea of archaeology and studied world religions, classical history and gender studies at Queen’s University. Yet as I approached graduation, I began to regret not considering environmental studies earlier in my university career.
I considered going back to school for environmental studies but felt I couldn’t afford a second degree. Feeling a little disheartened I decided to press on and see what I could make from my current background. After an extraordinary opportunity working for a female empowerment NGO in Ethiopia I began a one year journalism program at Algonquin College in Ottawa, hoping it might lead me to a job in a non-governmental organization.
Nearing the end of my time with Algonquin, one of my instructors mentioned that a previous graduate was working for Greenpeace. Stoked by this nugget of information, I investigated, asked to be put in touch and had emailed the alumni faster than you can say “Shell NO”. As fate would have it the grad was none other than Jessica Wilson, Head of Greenpeace Canada’s Arctic Campaign.
Once in touch with Jessica, I inquired about her career path and if she had any advice for someone who wanted to enter an environmental field. She was gracious to answer my questions and somehow the timing was right and the stars aligned, and suddenly I was starting my Greenpeace student internship. I was ecstatic, but very quickly my old fears of not having an environmental background reemerged. Can I be an activist?
And then it dawned on me...
My passion for an environmentally sustainable future and my willingness to raise my voice is just as important as an academic background. With the Earth’s temperatures rising, the Arctic melting, the Tar Sands in production, oil companies preparing to drill in the North, and the Canadian government standing idly by, there is no better time to raise my voice to protect the planet.
I encourage anyone who feels their lack of expertise is holding them back from activism or social change to let go of those fears. We need you, now more than ever, to get on board make a stand to protect the planet.
You do not need superpowers to be an activist. We are all citizens of this world, and we each have a responsibility to protect it. But we need to act now before our global dependence on fossil fuels pushes the planet to the point of no return.
So this is a call to all shy activists out there, we need you. Don’t be afraid to stand up for your beliefs and for our planet. If you want to advocate for change you can, no matter your experience. We are stronger together and we will be even stronger with a diverse group of people standing up for justice and bringing their uniqueness and passion to this growing movement.
Get involved! Visit here to get started.
Stephanie Hulse is a student intern with Greenpeace Canada.