Weathervane
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There is no formal school for activists. No university degree qualifies the graduate to practice grassroots organizing. Environmental activists, like many other practitioners of social change, come in all shapes and sizes, from all walks of life, and even from all political parties. And all of us learn from experience. On the other hand, we should be able to benefit from the experience of others. Unfortunately, more often than not, people suddenly find themselves in a situation that requires a certain moral heroism. They had not planned to become activists. Elizabeth May will present a lecture entitled How to be an Activist. She has delivered this presentation across Canada. It covers areas of productive activism, such as: how to be well informed, how to conduct oneself when meeting with business and government, strategies for lobbying, letter writing, and suggestions for fundraising. Elizabeth May, who has no academic credentials for activism, has based the lecture on 30 years of campaigning. She is a writer, activist, lawyer and mother living in Ottawa. Since 1989, she has held the title of Executive Director of the Sierra Club of Canada, an organization dedicated to the development of a diverse, well-trained grassroots network devoted to protecting the integrity of global ecosystems. Among many awards bestowed on her, May has received the United Nations Global 500 Award in 1990 and, in 1996, the Award for Outstanding Leadership in Environmental Education by the Ontario Society for Environmental Education. In 2005, she was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. |
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