Popular Mobilization & Creative Campaigning

Campaigning To exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end.

What has worked? Campaigning basics Campaigning requires 3 basic elements: - An identified problem - An identified solution - Determination to change matters

Campaigning works!

Campaigns rely on - Solid research and information - An awareness component (education work) - An activist component (events and stunts) - A media component (publicity)

A campaigning quiz Q. Why do we campaign? Q. Name some campaigns? (Think historically and recently, think globally and locally) Q. What makes a campaign successful? (Name the ingredients)

People in power don’t always see the but they do feel the We campaign to effect change.

We campaign for social justice “Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings” Nelson Mandela Feb 3, 2005

Name some campaigns: Historical Civil Rights / Anti-Apartheid/ Suffragettes More Recent Drop The Debt/ Make Poverty History/ No Sweat / Make Trade Fair Some campaigns are locally defined eg. recycling

Campaigning: Involves speaking up, drawing the community’s and media’s attention to an issue and directing decision-makers to a solution. Involves a series of actions, events, stunts, reports etc. all aimed at achieving change.

Campaigning works!

The ABC s of Campaigning - Know the issue - Be SMART - The 7 ‘C’s - And always KISS

Know The Issue How can you advocate for change if you don’t know what you are talking about? A good campaigner will take the time to learn about an issue. Note – you don’t have to be an expert, but you do need to know the important core messages. A successful campaign depends on quality and indisputable research.

Tough Issues to Understand Trade rules, patent rights, structural adjustment, the arms trade: Many of the issues Oxfam campaigns on are complicated and involve difficult technical concepts and language. That is why we rely on good background information, solid research and articulated solutions.

The Human Story It is important to tell the human story – how individuals are affected. Many people have a hard time understanding Third World Debt but most understand that all children should have access to a basic education. Yet they are related.

SMART Campaigning A good campaign is a SMART campaign. Your objectives should be - Specific - Manageable - Achievable - Results oriented - Time bound

The SMART criteria S – Specific -What is your specific ask? What do you want people to do? M– Manageable – Do you have the necessary resources to make this campaign succeed. A – Achievable – Is your goal or demand achievable? How realistic is your goal? R - Results oriented – What results are you aiming for? How will you measure success? T – Time bound – When do you expect your campaign to end? Is there a pre-determined end date that you can aim for? (eg. WTO or World Bank meetings).

The 7 Cs of campaigning Campaigning requires your goal is clear Your argument has to be convincing and credible Your presentation should be compelling Your messaging should be concise and consistent and Your actions should be creative.

KISS When deciding on your actions and messages remember to Keep It Simple and Sensible.

Where u come in A good campaign needs good campaigners who are articulate, creative, and tenacious. We need committed activists who are ready to advocate for change by speaking out at meetings, to friends, to the media; Change requires we all take action. A good campaign helps us achieve our goals.

Oh… and facebook?

Thomas Friedman, NY Times columnist and celebrated author: “America needs a jolt of the idealism, activism and outrage (it must be in there) of Generation Q. That’s what twentysomethings are for — to light a fire under the country. But they can’t it in, and an online petition or a mouse click for carbon neutrality won’t cut it. They have to get organized in a way that will force politicians to pay attention rather than just patronize them. Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy didn’t change the world by asking people to join their Facebook crusades or to download their platforms. Activism can only be uploaded, the old-fashioned way — by young voters speaking truth to power, face to face, in big numbers, on campuses or the Washington Mall. Virtual politics is just that — virtual.”

Campaigning in action!

Group Activity -Form 3 groups and come up with an action according to the following: *group 1: World Water Day *group 2: Climate change conference in Poznan *group 3: World AIDS Day