Whether you care about climate justice, protecting nature or creating a better future for your loved ones – your “why” will help guide you.
And when we speak up together, we’re louder. Collective action has driven some of the biggest wins in social and climate justice history – from joining community events to signing petitions and attending protests.
This is how you can do it.
1. Get inspired
At Friends of the Earth, we’ve got a strong history of taking collective action for the greater good. We’ve had a lot of great highlights – have a read of ours, throughout our 50+ year history.
2. Think about a topic that matters to you.
I’m sure you’ve noticed that the climate is breaking down and nature is in crisis. But you might be surprised by how much the environment links up with things that matter to you. When it comes to the climate and nature crises, the environment is deeply connected to many of the other challenges we face as a society.
Read our guide on environmental justice to learn more about this and how we can take action together.
3. Talk to someone about it.
Once you feel confident about your “why” and the issue you care about most, share it with someone – a friend, your family, someone at work. Starting these conversations might inspire others to think about their why and take action too.
4. Share it further
Post, text, or share one thing you've learned or feel moved by. It might feel small, but sometimes it can help others to understand your perspective, shift attitudes and help others feel less alone in caring about these issues.
Remember: you don’t need to be an expert to speak up – caring is the best first step. As you learn more, you’ll grow in confidence to speak out and take action on the issues that matter to you.
Try making a vision board: use Pinterest, paper or a notebook. Choose a few images, words or statements to visualise your “why” and to reflect the kind of future you care about. This could be related to areas such as:
- Clean air and thriving nature
- Fairness and justice
- Community and care
- Imagination and innovation
Keep it somewhere you’ll see often. It’s a reminder of why you’re taking action.
How we’re winning: grassroots movements helped stop fracking in the UK, won legal battles against fossil fuel companies and forced climate change onto the national agenda, all because people showed up, together.
