student activists gave me direction!
After finishing her undergraduate degree Decca could not find a job in her field of expertise. Disgusted by her bleak prospects she was targeted by student activists looking for new recruits to pressure government to get back on track, or move forward, with several issues, and she believes she’s found her destiny job.
“Firstly, let me explain what activism is,” says Decca, “and what I hope to achieve with my new found passion.”
“Motivating an activist is disgust at what some people are doing, disgust at the amount of money being earned by industries or organizations promoting the disgusting activity, disgust at governments for failing to address this disgusting activity (because they invariably earn an income from it in taxes) and a fervent desire to do something about it.”
“And another motivation, of course, is that activism in many cases brings fame and fortune to the activist (e.g. Michael Moore’s ‘fat’ campaign against McDonald’s, Erin Breckenridge’s campaign against pollution), or, more likely – and I hope this is going to be the case for me – a job for life at public expense.”
“An issue becomes a subject for activism when an individual – more likely a group of similar-minded people - become disillusioned with the democratic process (getting sympathetic candidates elected) and turn to radical action which disrupts the continuance of the activity (shaming individuals and frustrating the Industry's marketing efforts); whips up public support; and swings political opinion favorably towards banning or controlling the activity that disgusts them.”
“Most radical action in the past was directed against banning something – e.g. Ban Slavery! Ban the Bomb! – and once the goal was achieved through massive public support, the activists disbanded and went about their normal lives or championed another cause.”
“Although many activist groups still work towards banning something - e.g. Ban Whaling!,” explains Decca, “the emphasis these days has moved towards ‘controlling’ an otherwise legal activity (e.g. industrial emissions, logging, gun ownership, driving, smoking, drinking, gambling, junk foods) - or ‘uncontrolling’ an illegal one (e.g. abortion, euthanasia, drugs, homosexuality, people movement).”
“This is because much of these activities reflect not only on the global nature of the activity and the industry, but also on the emergence of a new world political system (the UN).”
“So far I have been involved in several activist campaigns and although I don’t earn a lot of money I am definitely better off than taking a menial job,” says Decca. “I feel like I am participating in the political process in a way I never did when I just turned up to vote.”
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