{"id":8499,"date":"2020-04-18T14:13:03","date_gmt":"2020-04-18T02:13:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/new-zealand\/?p=8499"},"modified":"2024-07-12T08:53:56","modified_gmt":"2024-07-11T20:53:56","slug":"how-to-be-an-activist-from-home-during-the-coronavirus-lockdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/how-to-be-an-activist-from-home-during-the-coronavirus-lockdown\/","title":{"rendered":"How to be an activist from home during the coronavirus lockdown"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In a moment when the way to show we care is by keeping our distance as much as possible, fighting effectively for a safe and just society and planet can feel impossible. <\/p>\n\n

2019 was a big year. You went to the strikes, you made them historic<\/a>. You wrote your representative, change was made. You gathered and protested and made your voice heard. <\/p>\n\n

\"\u00a9Nicol\u00e1s
Activists holding up signs demanding clean air and system change at a climate march in Buenos Aires, Argentina
\u00a9Nicol\u00e1s Villalobos\/Greenpeace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Now we\u2019re in the middle of\u00a0another historic global moment<\/a>, one whose magnitude we\u2019re still processing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

But the fight against the climate crisis still isn\u2019t going anywhere and staying home right now, if you\u2019re able, and helping slow the spread of COVID-19 is all of our priority right now. To protect our family, our friends and do our best to relieve a strained medical system and to support communities that are most affected by the pandemic and most at risk, such as Indigenous communities<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

However, if you\u2019re fortunate enough to be able to stay home and are ready to add climate action back into your routine, read more for some of our favorite ways to stay connected to the movement wherever you find yourself: <\/p>\n\n

Dinner Table Discussions:<\/strong> Use this moment of social distancing to really engage your close ones in a conversation on the climate crisis (whether it is online, or at the actual dinner table). Spend time understanding what people are thinking, what issues matter to them in their neighborhood, community or city, and what are the potential remedies. These conversations will look a lot different than they do with climate activists, and that\u2019s okay! Remember, spend 70% of your time listening and 30% speaking. Document these conversations, if you want and share them to encourage others to do the same.<\/p>\n\n

(Here\u2019s a tip: Open with \u201cwhat are three things you would change about your city if you were mayor for a week?\u201d or \u201cas a member of this community, what do you think we should be asking of our city council to mitigate this crisis?\u201d)<\/p>\n\n

\"Ver\u00f3nica
Plastic Banquet at the Senate of the Republic in Mexico.
\u00a9Ilse Huesca Vargas \/ Greenpeace \u00a9 Ilse Huesca Vargas \/ Greenpeace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Build Bridges: <\/strong>Put your research skills to work! Find out which local advocacy groups in your city or state are active in the fight for the climate, including water rights, land use, climate justice or any other topic that\u2019s important to you. Learn more about their campaigns, their causes, and see how you start sharing the word now to start building bridges now for future collaboration!<\/p>\n\n

Get informed:\u00a0<\/strong>If you have the time, or are looking for an activity the whole family can participate in, make that\u00a0reading list of climate books<\/a>\u00a0you\u2019ve always meant to. Or\u00a0catch up on some environmental documentaries.\u00a0<\/a>Get inspired by these stories and discuss.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

\"Yang
Yang Wang relaxes on board the Esperanza
\u00a9Andrew McConnell\/Greenpeace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Participate in online forums about the climate crisis:\u00a0<\/strong>Engage in conversations around the\u00a0climate emergency<\/a> and reshaping the recovery<\/a>.\u00a0There are many\u00a0free webinars<\/a>\u00a0where you can listen to the experts\u2019 opinions. Share these webinars with your friends or, even better, open a discussion about what you have learned.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Get Social:
<\/strong>There are many ways to be an activist digitally in times of quarantine too<\/p>\n\n