Organizing

(2/9/2009) - Al Giordano recently wrote an article discussing the differences between what he calls activism and organizing.  While Giordano is biased toward what he defines as organizing, I think the distinctions he draws can be used to evaluate the modern environmental movement.

Giodano describes activism as “the practice of preaching to the choir, rallying the already converted, and trying to convince other "activists" to do your work for you (say, call your Congressman, or write your Senator for or against a piece of legislation)...Activism seeks media attention through protests and other means, errantly thinking it will draw others to its cause by doing so. This dominant tendency in "activism" becomes a circular, self-reinforcing, self-marginalizing, chest-thumping, bureaucratic and anally-retentive activity and a big waste of time with little impact on the issues or policies it seeks to change or defend.”

Organizing, on the other hand, “is based on attainable and quantifiable goals (be they small, as in, "put a stop sign in the neighborhood," or be they large, as occurred last year: elect an underdog as president of the United States). Here's a simple yardstick by which to measure: If it doesn't involve knocking on doors, making phone calls or otherwise proactively communicating with people demographically different than you, it's not organizing.  If it happens only on the Internet, that's not organizing either.”