You are probably already a micro activist and don’t even realize it. Have you ever told a friend about a cause you support? Have you ever given a small amount of time or money to a cause with which you agree? Have you ever sent an email, tweeted or liked something on Facebook to support something that you felt was important? If you have done any of these things, you have participated in micro activism.
While it can be difficult for an individual to change the world, it is possible (and much easier) for an individual to do something which appears to be small in itself, but when combined with many others doing that same small thing creates something huge. A river is nothing more than a lot of drops of water all moving together in the same direction. It’s with this premise in mind that we encourage each and everyone to make the effort to participate as a micro activist in as many ways as they can each and every day. Here are a few simple ways that you can be a micro activist for the causes in which you believe.
Distributing Leaflets
Micro activism is the practice of engaging in small actions that will benefit a greater purpose. This includes methods of getting information to the general public through ordinary means. Distributing leaflets or flyers is a great way to pursue micro activism for a cause you support. While many people ignore random handouts, some people do read them and may learn about your cause and go on to support it. Getting the word out there through flyers or handouts is a step in the right direction.
Email Campaign
Email is another great form of micro activism. The great thing about email campaigns is that all you need to do is write up a short explanation about your cause or provide a link to a website and send it off to whoever you want. You can email a list, personal friends or family members, or targeted organizations or groups of people. There’s always a chance that they’ll forward the email on to other people or parties who might be interested as well.
The great thing about social networking is that it makes micro activism so much easier. You might use Twitter to follow celebrities or friend or to retweet silly pictures of animals or yourself. But how about retweeting an article relevant to a personal or social cause? Or tweeting a link to a donation page for a non-profit you support? This is something so simple and easy, but so effective, that it will take you all of two seconds to do.
Millions of people across the globe have Facebook accounts. Whether you use it for personal or business purposes, Facebook is an excellent method of creating events or groups to support a cause. Facebook groups are a wonderful way to pass along information about the cause you’re pursuing. How many of your online friends would have known about it otherwise? Think about how many social groups or non-profits have gone viral because of social networking. This small bit of micro activism could do wonders for your cause.
Writing a Blog
Like Twitter or Facebook, blogs are a great online tool to help raise awareness about a cause. You have space to write up your reasons for supporting something as well as an example of how other people might be able to help out. It’s a great way to get your thoughts and plan of action out there for people to assist with. And, like other forms of social networking, it raises awareness for the issue. Many people have used their blogs to raise money for charities or ask for information about causes they should learn about and support.
YouTube
Create a YouTube video for your cause. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. It can be a simple, heartfelt video explaining what you’re supporting and why. If you have the resources or abilities to make a marketing video, go for it! Millions of people watch YouTube and the more popular a video becomes, the more media attention it gets. A short, creating informative videos is an easy way for you to participate in micro activism for your cause.
Fundraising
Fundraising can take many forms, from hosting telethons to mail campaigns to going door to door asking for donations. However, there are also so many fundraising sites online and while any of them are a great place to check out, Kickstarter is one of the most well-known. It’s a wonderful way to support micro activism, since many of the projects are either non-profits or social causes. Posting a funding page for your project or cause is a great start.
Donating
If you’re not able to fundraise for a cause, why not donate? When most people think of donating to a cause, they assume that they’ll have to donate a significant amount of money. Micro activism stresses that every tiny bit counts, so if you’re only able to donate $5, you’re still contributing. That $5 could go further than you think, especially if it is added to hundreds of others who also make a small donation.
Organize a Local Event
People who often support political, social, or personal causes would like them to be well-known across the world. But sometimes you need to start small. Spreading information locally is the first step you should take. Organizing a local event doesn’t have to be a big hassle, either. Host a meeting in a coffee shop or set up a small display at a local building. Something simple is still supporting the idea of micro activism and getting information to the public about your goals and causes.
Volunteering
Volunteering seems like the most obvious choice for those of us who want to support a cause. But many of us don’t have the time or resources to devote to volunteering. However, volunteering doesn’t have to mean spending 20 hours a week working on a project. You can volunteer in small ways, such as being the person to send out the emails for an email campaign or signing up for a one day event. Even just spending one day to participate in something is better than doing nothing!