We're all in this together

By: Nicole Cruz

In this day in age, activism is very important because of all social and political issues arising throughout the world. And I know what you’re thinking, activism is a group of people joining together and chanting in the streets, I can assure you it’s not. Activists and activism come in many different forms. You’ve probably have shown a little bit activism and not even knew it.

In the article, “Wendell Barry on Climate Change: To Save the Future, Live in the Present,” by Wendell Barry himself, he writes, “The question, of course, will come: If we take no thought for the morrow, how will we be prepared for the morrow?” I think this a perfect statement to describe the need and desire for activism. In the article Barry writes that in order to preserve and offer a better future, we need to focus and fix our present state, and I think the story of Tim DeChristopher in the documentary Bidder 70, is a prime example. He lived in the present when he disrupted a lease auction between two oil companies. He was trying to protect the land he lived on. Others stood by him when he went through his sentencing and trial. This was seen when people lined the streets after his sentencing and they were arrested for civil disobedience. His struggles were documented and incited protests, and brought attention to the activism of climate change. It was impressive and inspiring to see him go through this struggle and watch all these people stand by him.

I understand that Bidder 70, is exemplifying what I said isn’t always activism, but it’s still amazing to watch the lengths people will go through to stand up for what they believe in. In “Here's How A Group Of Activists Is Using Balloons To Keep Tabs On The Environment” posted by the Huffington Post by Joseph Erbentraut on March 24, 2015, a group of activists used balloons as satellites to get images of how the oil effected communities around the coast because of the BP oil spill in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. This in turn led to the start of the Public Lab organization, which provides affordable tools for environmental investigations and explorations, a sort of DIY for environmental activism. The use of balloon satellites is pretty creative and it’s a great example of a less extreme form of activism because it’s simply people flying a kite. No one is being arrested or protesting in the streets. There is no hunger strike happening because it’s a form of activism that can easily be displayed as recreational, “Further, Diegel noted, there’s a recreational aspect to Public Lab’s work that might be just as important -- particularly when it comes to getting younger generations interested in the environment.” It’s something anyone or any club can use to find their own information when the government won’t take action. It’s also quite successful in areas with superfund sites and highly polluted areas. 

On the opposite side of the spectrum, we have The East, a suspenseful thriller film focused on a group named, you guessed it, The East. They are seen as terrorists because of the violent and criminal acts they perform on the big corporations that are responsible for the harm they cause on to others. However extreme they might be though, this is a good example of activism. They are fighting for a cause they are passionate about, though they definitely do without the violent nature. Sarah at the end finds an excellent medium between the extremist and rational point of view. With activism though, and when referring to environmental activism, we normally always hear the word environmentalist and environmentalism. This in recent years has become sort of taboo, and has a negative connotation. In the last chapter of Communicating Nature, Julia B. Corbett discusses this. She believes that instead of trying to find a new term, we change the connotation into a positive one, and try to make a difference. This in turn relates back to activism, and its importance. In order to live in the present and really make a difference, we need to take action.  If you look back at all the previous documentaries mentioned throughout my blogs, and articles, you can see the activists and activism shining through. Each one represents activism and shows how just gathering your community can make a difference. In the William Goodman article, “Deep in the Amazon, a Tiny Tribe Is Beating Big Oil” they show a community standing together to protect their home and village. They are willing to fight tooth and nail, and band together to stand up for their homeland.  In fact the 2009 movie Avatar, is a great example of activism, with a giant support to stop the desecration of their land. Any time a group comes together to fight over an issue, it’s a form of activism, and that’s a great thing. We should all band together when we feel the need to fight. It’s important to stand up for things that ignite strength and power in us. Now I’m not suggesting, that everyone pull a Sandra Steingraber and purposefully get arrested. The lengths you’re willing to go is all up to you, but if you’re itching to get involved and don’t know how, signing a petition is a wonderful form of activism (I’ve signed many and I’m sure you have as well), and it’s very simple.  I’m happy to see a lot of activism sparking up around the globe.