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Five reasons why taking a stand for nature will ease your eco-anxiety
Have you ever logged into social media to be met with a slew of shocking headlines, resulting in hours of doomscrolling? Have you switched on the TV, only to be bombarded with bad news?
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Climate-anxiety and eco-anxiety are now common phrases in today’s vocabulary. Through global surveys and university studies, the implications of these feelings on our wellbeing are becoming more and more evident. The findings are clear: climate anxiety is rational and a feeling experienced by many of us.
The doom and gloom you’re faced with when thinking about your future might make you feel hopeless, powerless and alone. But with 75% of millennials said to be experiencing similar feelings, it’s important to remember that you aren’t powerless, and you certainly aren’t alone.
So, what if we could all come together to make a real change?
What is campaigning?
Studies have suggested that taking action could alleviate some of the negative feelings associated with eco-anxiety.
The energy from apprehension and nervousness can be used to fuel a positive action. And that’s where campaigning comes in! The definition of campaigning is to work in an organised and active way towards a particular goal, typically a political or social one.
When it comes to political decision making, nature doesn’t have a voice of its own. Yet, it is heavily impacted by many of the decisions made. Nature has the ability to help us to store carbon, reduce flooding and build more resilience in the face of a changing climate. Now is a critical time to speak up for UK wildlife – for our bees, birds and hedgehogs - and champion nature-based solutions to fight the climate emergency.
We campaign because they can’t. Together we can influence and challenge those in power to make sure they make the right choices that benefit both nature and all of us.
Why should you campaign?
1. Campaigning works for nature
Looking back through history, we can see plenty of examples where campaigns have had immense impact on individuals and across society. Organised protests were responsible for the introduction of the Disability Act 1995, and the Bristol Bus Boycott in 1953 resulted in the UK’s first ever laws against race-based discrimination.
Campaigning, when organised effectively, has the power to change the world.
You might think sustainable materials and second-hand shopping are trends of recent times, existing as an antidote to the mass produced, throwaway clothing of modern society. But did you know that the RSPB’s founders were originally campaigning for ethical womenswear over 100 years ago?
In 1891, Etta Lemon, Eliza Phillips and Emily Williamson joined forces to form the RSPB, united by their determination to put an end to the plumage trade which was driving Little Egrets and Great Crested Grebes to extinction.
The fashion for feathers in headwear was valued at around £20 million per year in Britain alone. That would be similar to taking on a fashion industry giant today, but without the use of phones or the internet to organise! And guess what?
They won!
The RSPB is still rooted in science-led campaigning. Since then, with over one million members on board to back us, we have celebrated even more wins together. With your support, we were recently able to push for the banning of industrial sandeel fishing, in English and North Scottish waters, and help to pass a bill in Scotland to protect our peatlands and our birds of prey.
We’ve proved we can do it – and with you on board, we want to do so much more!
2. And campaigning works for you
So, what do you have to do to become a campaigner? The answer is: whatever works for you. The most important thing is to have a clear goal in mind. Then you can decide the actionable steps, little or large, that you’re going to take to get there. From signing an online petition to attending a march, there are plenty of different ways you can campaign to suit you and your needs.
Here at the RSPB, we’re using our platform and our reach to do the organising to achieve maximum impact. Join our email list to get the latest updates on where you can take action with us.
3. It's hopeful
Can you imagine a future where towns suffered from fewer floods, because the water upstream flowed more slowly and naturally? A meandering river’s gravel banks are also used by Salmon to spawn and its slow flow helps vegetation to grow, enriching the food chain.
Perhaps you’d like to picture a world where we’re effectively locking up carbon in our peat bogs to combat the climate emergency? Meanwhile, Golden Plovers pick through the invertebrates in these wet uplands, while Golden Eagles glide overhead looking for prey.
Campaigning asks you to have a clear, positive vision for a world you would like to see. You need to do some big picture thinking, coupled with some actionable steps to help you get there. Instead of being caught up lamenting losses, you have to imagine the future you would like to see!
Best of all, campaigning also gives you the opportunity to celebrate because there will be wins (and plenty of them!).
4. It's community
Most importantly, campaigning can give you a sense of community. It offers you the opportunity to meet others working towards the common goal to help resolve any feelings of isolation you might be experiencing. Making a stand alongside people who share your passion is a powerful thing. Meet friends and be part of a movement fighting for a cause you really care about. Every action, every placard and every chant shows that you’re not alone. Together, each one of us can make a real difference.
If you’d like to get stuck in straight away, then why not join us at the Restore Nature Now march on Saturday 22 June? It’s a great way to meet other people taking a stand for nature. We’ll be joined by other environmental charities, including the National Trust, The Wildlife Trusts and WWF-UK, and their supporters.
5. And now is the perfect time
A General Election is imminent. We’re nearly halfway to 2030, but we still have a long way to go to reach the targets that have been set to help nature’s recovery and build resilience to climate change.
Now is the time to send a message to political parties, who are currently vying for your vote, that their electorate would like to see nature as a priority in their manifestos.
The RSPB has more members than all the political parties combined. Standing shoulder to shoulder with other nature organisations, our demands to uphold these targets will be impossible to ignore. With you on board, we can ensure that nature has a voice in the next election.
Want to learn more about how the RSPB campaigns and how you can get involved?
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