Sooo.... What Next?

Let's debrief together like good hippies.Lot of great posts on corruption! Thoughtful, informative, and well done! Link is on the sidebar if you want to check out the posts and catch up. I feel like I have a doom and gloom hangover. Nothing like a week of feeling futile and defeated while reading about how much things suck! What strikes me this week though are how many bloggers have asked "What can we do though?" "What works?" "What doesn't?" Do any actions make a difference? So, not to beat a dead horse- but what can be done? I'll share some of what might help, might not... maybe a few of you could do the same. Have you come to any conclusions or ideas?(cont.)

What can be done? Well, certainly we cannot take on the polluters and the profit menace single handedly!! Of course we are limited in what we can realistically do. And certainly not all business is bad, evil, etc. Some of us have to work, and we find that giving time to 'the man' is necessary in exchange for things we need. Thats not what we are primarily talking about though. I think we can agree that we are making a distinction here between 'business' and the 'market' and those companies that knowingly cause harm and continue in many cases to do so unimpeded. THAT is what has to stop.

*First, we have to do what we are doing. Be aware, talk about it, keep shining a light on it. Second, we have to be engaged in the political process. Take an hour or two and if you have not already done so, look up your reps and elected officials. They work for you, ask them to TELL YOU where they stand on things that matter to you. I have done this many times, such as with the PATRIOT ACT. I started by calling and writing letters asking for their specific written positions. Sometimes I have asked for information to support these positions, and many have been willing to provide this information.

*Write a well written letter to the editor. Now Editors I know tell me that the best letters are specific, relevant, and clear. This means that while it is great to rant about how much an official sucks, it does nothing to promote discussion or raise awareness on an issue. Pick a figure or research a fact and be selective. For example, "X amount of children have been diagnosed with Y disease, just in the past year, according to a report by the CDC." Then connect the facts to your issue.

*Ask an Editor why they have not had coverage of certain issues, and what their explanation is. I contacted seven different papers on coverage of Darfur, and asked them specifically why they did not think this warranted coverage. One editor even ended up asking if I wanted to write an op-ed, and this is another opportunity to speak to an issue. Do not assume that they will not listen to you or care! I have been pleasantly surprised many times by the response.

*Have a get together at your home, watch a dvd like "Beyond Treason" on depleted uranium, or "Independent Media in A Time of War". Send letters, or incorporate an action.

*Contact corporations you do business with, have credit with, have investments in, and ask for their policies on certain issues. For example, ask about their corporate giving. Many companies have specific staff just in charge of gifts and 'causes' who can talk about what they support and what they give. Do they donate to museums, hospitals? Ask how you can communicate with them on their corporate practices. They will not care for the most part,but tell them anyway. For example, businesses that use fleets of trucks or cars- ask them when they plan to switch to hybrid or other technology. Some are working on it already.

*Meet with policy reps in person, and be prepared with facts and if possible a list of groups or individuals that support the intention of your meeting.

These are just some of the things I do, which is not to say that there aren't better ways. What do some of you do to take action?