Today we feature new resources to support your activism, putting an array of resources right at your fingertips, plus an inspiring video from an Iraq vet on what we need to do to stop our government’s failure to represent us.
Retake Our Democracy on KSFR 101.1 FM, Saturday, November 23, 8:30am– 9 am. I will do a solo show on recent direct actions focused on our Governor, on the possibility of continued and escalating direct action, and also about the coming 2020 legislative session. I’ll also have some personal ruminations about seeing and caring for my first grandson while reading Dar Jamail, Extinction Rebellion, and Chris Hedges. Access podcasts of our radio shows by clicking here.
Saturday, Nov. 23. Noon-2pm. 1420 Cerrillos Rd., Santa Fe. Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) is holding a meeting to train participants in direct action planning and how you can help expand their movement. They will also discuss next steps in their actions and update you on the status of communication with the Governor. Please bring friends and food to share. If you lament the absence of youth at our Retake meetings, come to one of theirs and help build an inter-generational alliance. Click here for information and to RSVP.
Click here for more events and actions including a meeting with Sen. Sedillo Lopez on her plans to introduce a fracking moratorium in the 2020 session, a Retake potluck, and discussion on civil disobedience actions in 2020, and more.
Making Your Activism Easier
Retake Our Democracy was created to make it easier for people to be effective in their activism. Very often our posts include “actions” with links to contact information, background information, speaking points or guides, But days later we often field emails and comments asking us:
- How do I find contact information for my legislator? The Governor? A PRC Commissioner?
- How can I get more information on community solar? The Permian Basin? Rep. Ben Ray Lujan?
- Do you have a meeting coming?
- I have a family full of moderate or conservative folks who I see during the holidays — how do I talk to them about climate change and the political crisis we are in?
We have had this information on our website, but it hasn’t been organized in a user-friendly format. Over the past month we have organized these resources under our Resources menu so that you can more easily find what you need when you need it.
Since it is challenging to scroll through a pull-down menu, now if you click on “Resources” in the home page menu bar you will find a description of the resources available and links to take you directly to them. Below we have provided a tour of what you can find.
But before you begin the tour, look to the left. This is a screen shot of the right side of our Home Page. Right below the “Subscribe to Blog” you will find “Search for Information.” Type in “Governor” or “climate” or “YUCCA” or “produced water” or “public banking” and you will instantly find a series of blogs on the topic. We’d encourage you to use the search engine whenever you are going to write a letter to the editor, anticipate a conversation with a moderate friend, or any number of other contexts where you want information.
Activism Resources
- How to Use the Retake Website: A tour of the wide array of resources available on the site, how to find them and how to use them.
- A Personal Activist Tool Kit. A range of options for your personal activism, for how to engage others and strategies for involvement in a wide range of actions and organizations.
- Media Kit & Guide to Writing Letters to the Editor. This page includes only a brief explanation of Media Kit contents and links to all of the items below.
- Tithe Today. Links to non-profits doing the hard work and how to donate. Make a habit of contributing every month or so.
- Reliable Reading Materials
- Video Inventory
- U.S., State & Local Elected Officials Contact Info.
- New Mexico State Senate Map of District Boundaries
- New Mexico State House Map of District Boundaries
- Roundhouse Advocacy Strategy 2020. A description of how we advocate at the Roundhouse and how you can plug in.
- Criteria for Prioritizing Bills. Do you wonder how we identify our MUST PASS and Priority bills? Here is the criteria.
- Roundhouse Abbreviation Definitions. There are so many acronyms. Here is a guide to making it easy.
- Rethinking Thanksgiving. Especially for those outside of NM, Thanksgiving is just about turkey, football and family. It is also a teaching opportunity. Here’s how.
- How to Talk About Climate Change Effectively with Different Kinds of People. Many links here with guidance for doing this well.
- How to Talk with Conservatives About Climate Change. We all know them, here is how to reach them on this issue.
- Boycotting for a Better World. Link to an online guide and a book that can guide you through using consumer boycotts to raise your voice.
- Research ToolKit. A guide for how to support Retake research efforts, something that can be done from anywhere.
- Activist House Party Guide. There is no better way to get a group of friends together with food, wine and conversation. This guide makes it easy.
- Swing Left: A Guide to National Advocacy. This site is a tremendous resource for people living outside swing states or districts. You can plug in a zip code and find races nearby that are swing races. Maybe you moved to NM from one of those districts and so know people there who could be activated.
Iraq War Vet Nails Why We Need to Act and What We Need to Do in 4 Minutes
This speech was made ten years ago, in front of the White House. His impassioned speech calls on all of us to get in the streets and “stop business as usual.” He was right then and that exhortation is correct now. If we had done what he calls for ten years ago we might not still be mired in war and if we don’t do what he calls for now, ten years from now when the IPCC deadline is but a year away, we may very well be out of options in facing the climate crisis. A great speech.
On Dec 12 at 6:30pm at 1420 Cerrillos we will have a share food and ideas as we convene to discuss what non-violent direct action YUCCA, Extinction Rebellion and Retake are considering for 2020. We want to hear from you and we want you to join the efforts. We are running out of time. Details coming but save the date and you can RSVP by writing to: RetakeResponse@gmail.com
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Sometimes it feels like we’re right on the brink of doing what the young man in the video is saying.
Sometimes it feels like we’ll never change, that wealth and power are too attractive and too entrenched.
I guess we need to encourage each other and keep on going.