Turning up the Internet Environmental Advocacy
Clicking the mouse to sign a petition could simply be the start for
you, not the end. Why not up the tempo with getting the entire school
involved?
Your school’s website could be a powerful tool in getting the
message across. With the Internet, you and your school can communicate
with like-minded people anywhere in the world. And you could usher in
the era of the Virtual Activist.
Undoubtedly, the Web makes more people pay attention, what with its
graphics, streaming video and interactive capabilities. With email and
the school website, more can be done for the environment.
In the US for example, did you know that approximately 100 million
Americans use the Internet? Overall, 35 percent use the Internet to
catch up on the politics and other social issues related to them. In
the Philippines, the number and the percentage is constantly growing
and can serve as a strategic way to enhance awareness campaigns.
Tools
Interactivity can be divided into two: Immediate and
Nearly-Immediate. The former means there are no archives (like chat or
chat rooms), and the latter is sometimes archived for later reference
or participation (like a forum or bulletin board).
You can utilize these, along with email and traditional school
activities, to spread the word about what ordinary citizens can do to
save the environment.
Resources
Since information is the best weapon to combat old, environment-destroying practices, it is best to fill up on these:
Managing the Media: A Guide for Activists
Raising Our Voices - a Tool Kit for Activists
ConsumerNet's "How To Work With the Press" –a guide to press release writing
On Media Activism
Online Media and News Services
Build green schools – Powerpoint presentations, videos, case studies
About Green Schools- website of the US Green Building Council
Greening America’s Schools: Costs and Benefits
Back to School: Become A Green School Advocate
The Top 10 Green Schools in the Country, 2005
The Sierra Club’s Top 10 Sustainable Campuses
Green Schools Initiative - a pilot program providing school districts in Massachusetts with the information for energy-efficient green schools
New York City Green Schools Guide
EnergySmart Schools
Go-Green Initiative - initiatives on how to green the schools’ waste streams
Green Charter Schools – schools with environment-focused educational programs
Green Schools Alliance - to show how schools can help solve climate challenges collectively
Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool - a way to evaluate how environmentally sound your school is
The Sustainability Initiative - the Sustainability Initiative of Ithaca College
Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future
Campus Climate Challenge
Student Environmental Action Coalition
World Watch Institute Campus Greening Initiatives
After gathering information, think up of ideas that you can bring to your own school.
Collaborations with others in the community, petitions that can use global petition hosting services like Go Petition International, and environmental messages from Hollywood stars at ECO can all help encourage fellow teachers and students to action.
Sources:
“Green Schools Campaign.” Retrieved March 14, 2009 from
www.greenupstateny.org/uploads/AdvocateTrainingResources.doc
“The Virtual Activist: A Training Course.” Retrieved March 14, 2009 from
http://www.netaction.org/training/
(Published 30 March 2009, Smart Communications, Inc.)
