Activists!What images and ideas does this word evoke for you? Seventies style punk rockers with safety pins through their ears, rallying and rampaging. Images of women in flowing dresses, plaits and daisy chains burning the bra?
Activism is an extreme word, but is a part of society and public relations that is very much active, and not as radical as some people may think.
I have been undertaken my internship with Oxfam, and was given the fantastic opportunity to attend a Change Agency activism seminar. The Change Agency (www.thechangeagency.org) is a small NGO that trains and equips community organisers and activist with the strategic planning skills that they need to make a change.
The seminar was so similar to our Public Relations course. Strategy, objectives, critical stakeholder analysis, critical path analysis and tactics being the focus of the session. Sound familiar?
So I was pleased to learn that I had learnt and retained these skills over my years at University, and even more pleased to see the relevance of strategic planning even on the grassroots levels.
This was an event where the diversity of the group combined to create a harmonic and vibrant working environment. I met representatives of large organisations such as Amnesty and Conservation Council. Representatives of smaller local movements, such as the Joondalup Coast Care group, people working for their local MP’s and Union representatives. While there I also was able to strengthen my government relations with one of the first Green Senators in Australia, leader of the Anti Nuclear Energy campaign and many Activists mentor and idol, Jo Valentine participating in the day.
So what did I learn? The biggest lesson I learnt was of course the importance of strategic planning even in a small community action group, and not just relying on randomly constructed tactics. As Sun Tzu (The Art of War) said “ Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.”
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