A colleague forwarded a video about building a movement yesterday, and it made me think of the moment when we see a petition, or any online action suddenly taking off. But before I get started, watch the video:
There are a lot of things people can do with Greenpeace, and starting with online actions, we need those simple things to win campaigns. Yet, we wouldn't be able to do it if there wasn't that first person who is willing to put themselves out there and spread the word for us. The first one who forwards an action alert to a friend. The first one who posts on Nestle's facebook page. Or, as in the video above, the first follower who dances with the weird guy. Once everyone starts joining, you can barely see the first follower anymore. But we know that person is there, and without them, Greenpeace would just be the weird guy dancing alone.
So while it's usually very hard for us to find the first follower in the crowd once our campaigns start to take off, I'd like to say thank you to all of you who made that difference one day. Because with you, that first follower, our campaigns become bigger than us - and it's not just Greenpeace, but everyone who took the time to join the dance, that wins them.
(And because this time, I don't want to be the weird girl that sings alone, can you be the first one to sing for us?)