EVERYDAYACTIVISM

WRITTEN BY LIA ZAWILSKA

It’s been a year. I think we can all agree that 2020 is the year that none of us asked for. I know I’ve made many a joke about how much I want to unsubscribe from 2020! Yet, I think it’s also the year that all of us needed. As our world suddenly ground to a halt, we have been granted a rare opportunity to reflect and reconsider how we live our lives and the choices we make on a daily basis. For me, a large part of that has been recognising the value of everyday activism.

Activism can seem like a big word, especially if you’re new to the space. But it doesn’t have to be! While radical activism is still important to create significant impact, everyday activism can be just as powerful - and can be done by anyone, anytime. It’s the little choices you make everyday, from buying a coffee to listening to a podcast - seemingly small, but choices that have the potential to create a ripple effect and influence the future of our world.

How? Here’s a few ideas:

SOCIAL MEDIA

Do a follower audit! If you’re only following a certain demographic of people, it’s time to diversify your feed. Love fashion? Find some Aboriginal designers. Obsessed with travelling? Follow some LGBT+ travel influencers. Want to know what’s happening in the world but in bite-sized and aesthetic forms? There’s so many brilliant anti-racist, feminist etc. accounts out there doing just that!

ENTERTAINMENT

Similar to social media! What books, movies, tv shows, music, podcast etc. are you consuming? It’s important to curate your entertainment, just as much as your social media. Are your entertainment choices diverse in voice? Do you have representation from different cultures, languages, sexualities, genders and abilities? Do you make an effort to consume First Nations and Australian content, or content in a different language?

FASHION

Look into second-hand and sustainable clothing! From op shops, suitcase rummages to local and ethical brands, there’s a world of fun and fashionable clothing out there just waiting for you. You could also learn how to repurpose your old clothing to give it a new lease of life, sew your own clothing or even look into hiring clothes!

BUSINESS

Try to support local businesses and creators where you can, especially those which are led by underrepresented groups such as women,

#EVERYDAYACTIVISM

First Nations or LGBT+ communities. This could mean finding a new regular coffee spot, jumping into a local gift shop for that birthday gift or popping into a cute neighbourhood arts market on the weekends.

ENVIRONMENT

Climate change is real, and climate change is scary. It’s tough to even know how to begin to tackle that one - especially since big corporations are the major polluters. But through your purchasing power, you can choose to invest in companies that are safer and better for our environment. Using containers or bees wax wrap instead of zip lock bags, starting to buy recycled toilet paper or using soy candles for your hygge fix are all easy swaps to be little more eco friendly. If you’re open to it, cutting down on meat and diary by even just a day or two can also help - and there’s plenty of delicious vegetarian and vegan local cafes and restaurant you can support while you’re at it!

COMMUNITY

Connect with your local community or create your own! Being an everyday activist can be phenomenal fun if you find others to share in your journey. Whether you want to join an organisation, find an online Facebook group or just chat about it with your friends, becoming an everyday activist doesn’t have to be a lonely or boring journey. It can be an opportunity to connect with people you might’ve never connected before or strengthen existing relationships through a shared goal. From weekly vegetarian brunch dates with your friends at your local cafe to finding a sustainable fashion Facebook group that shares exciting new ethical finds - if you can think it, you can either find it or create it! The most important thing to remember though, is that it’s not all or nothing - and you definitely shouldn’t try to do all of these at once! Even if you can’t do all of these things, or even most of these, that’s okay. It’s all about the little steps, and what you can do. While the destination is important, becoming an everyday activist is more about the journey and what you learn along the way - and especially, who you bring along on that journey with you. So have fun with it, learn some new things about the world and enjoy the journey of becoming an everyday activist - for yourself, for others and for the earth!