Category: Direct Action

MTV Helps Youth Think

A study done by none other than MTV has found out a few reasons why youth are disengaged from activism. The results of “Just Cause,” a research study that deconstructs how youth perceive “activism” and explores the motivating factors and barriers in their decision to become involved in social causes.

The study includes more than 1200 young people, including expert interviews, ethnographies and a national poll of a representative sample with participants ages 12 to 24. Findings deconstruct youth activism and find an “activation gap”, showing a strong disparity between interest in and involvement in social causes. Anecdotal responses from respondents also offer clues into successful strategies into closing the “activation gap”

It is one thing to complain that youth are disengaged, it’s another to know why they are disengaged, and now we have a better idea to engage youth.

Spontaneous Rebellion Against Starbucks

A Canadian blogger was taking some pictures of a Starbucks and an employee ran out and told her that she can’t take pictures of Starbucks! An argument ensued.

A large group of tourists overheard this exchange and decided to rebel against Starbucks by taking a whole lot of photos!

Kate writes:

“However, the large tour group standing outside had heard all this and started collectively grumbling “you can’t take a picture of a starbucks? it’s public property!” and they all whipped out their cameras and started snapping shots, while the manager looked at us from inside the store, quite clearly in a huff.”

A fun story!

The Best form of Aid

People are going to buy things they don’t need, and now there are ways for people to buy those objects in a good way. Many consumer goods are made in questionable ways and stores around the world are starting to commit to fair trade practices.

Fair trade is arguably the best form of “aid” an individual can give to developing regions. By buying fair trade people support small, local businesses that treat employees well and encourage local economic growth. The best example of this is fair trade coffee growers.

So this Saturday May 13th is World Fair Trade Day. One company has a list of their fair trade stores in Canada.

Go out and support people, not corporations!

Operation Photo Rescue

Operation Photo Rescue is a group of people who are helping those who had their photos damaged in natural disasters recover their pictures. They are looking for people with Photoshop and image restoration skills. A very easy way to make someone’s day better and help keep history recorded visually.

OPR has a blog:
“In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, photojournalist Becky Sell and photo editor Dave Ellis have embarked on a mission to recover the photos and memories that would be lost to the storm.”

Peace in Darfur??

All over the world, people are celebrating: the road to peace in the Darfur region of the sudan has been paved. The question now is weather or not we shall all walk it together.

Over 400 000 people have lost their lives in the continuing genocide in Darfur. The signing of this peace deal marks the beginning of the process of ending the genocide.

For more information, including things that YOU can do TODAY to help, visit these websites:

www.savedarfur.org
www.darfurgenocide.org
www.projectequity.org