Comments ascendency has made
Moving beyond a bloodbath...
First, this topic obviously struck a chord, both positive and negative for this audience. So, I want to point to two quotes that point out what is currently happening.
"Alas, that tidbit is not as satisfying as the meat on which too many environmentalists feed: the flesh of their own." - biggie green
"I don't think the real issue here is whether the Fund Canvass is good or bad." - emaharg
We are divided over the value of the canvass. One argument goes like this: Canvass operations provide vital money that allows env. groups to operate, is anti-elitist, some canvass operations are better, and that Nathan is young naif who will learn over time.
The other argument goes like this: Canvass operations mostly pay only for themselves, that canvassing the choir is counter-productive, that canvassers are exploited and often disillusioned, and that we should value new ideas especially as we aren't doing great as a movement.
Well, perhaps we can move beyond these arguments. I think we can all agree that the canvass can be better. How about, rather than yelling at each other, we get some suggestions about how to do it. Like with "The Death of Environmentalism", you don't have to agree with their diagnosis to admit we can and must do better. So, what kind of a canvass do we want to see?On Why green-group canvassing operations need an overhaul posted 3 years, 6 months ago 28 Responses
Missing the Point!
All those dedicated canvassers critiquing this article are simply missing the point or using ad hominem attacks on a dedicated activist. Wyeth never argued that canvassing should be shut down or that they shouldn't ask for money. Instead, he asked us to take a hard look at what we are trying to get out of canvassing. If it is just money to support advocacy, well, canvassing rarely makes that much. Yet I and many of my friends have canvassed and some love it and some hate it, but they all agree that more time organizing and less time meeting exacting quotas would lead to less alienated canvassers, a more engaged community, and maybe less people would be turned off from organizing or slam doors in canvassers' faces.
Everybody who has canvassed knows how people's faces change when you ask them for money. Most veteran canvassers are dedicated activists, but to stay sane they often flout some of the rules about limiting conversations in order to educate the home-owners, or to tell them how to get involved in the community, or just to answer some environmental questions. Most groups actively discourage spending time talking to much to someone if they aren't donating, already donated, or simply want to know more. More groups have to realize that at some level, all politics is local and spend more attention to how they use their best local resource, their canvassers and members.On Why green-group canvassing operations need an overhaul posted 3 years, 6 months ago 28 Responses
Backseat Activism
I have to say, as someone who has been in the trenches of campus energy activsim, that OutdoorsPro comments reveal a deep ignorance of how this type of activism works. The fact is that the Kyoto Now! activists have gotten over 10% of the campus, 4000 students, to sign a document supporting their claims. This is not a survey or some poll, which typically results in much more positive results in the 80% or so range. Instead, in a partly commuter campus, they have worked for two years organizing around the issue and more recently took time out of class and work to get 4,000 other busy students to sign their petition and support their cause. While I am not always the biggest fan of green tag purchases, I have to admire their efforts. On Students tell Penn State they want Kyoto now! posted 3 years, 6 months ago 5 Responses