Does the idea of testifying before a city council or state legislature raise a sweat? Is calling your representative on the phone something you’ve thought about, but you never mustered the courage to dial the number? If you answered yes to either of these, it’s time to revisit your earth story.
Everyone has an earth story—a time or place where they have found deep connection with the earth. Maybe it’s a special place you go to refresh and regenerate. Maybe its an event that touched your heart like the birth of a child, a brilliant sunset over the ocean, or the sparkling snow after a storm. Your earth story may be one of loss— your favorite swimming spot is now too polluted for swimming, or something you loved to do like gathering wild berries, is no longer possible. Whether your earth story is one of love or loss, it is the starting place for advocacy.
Environmental advocates draw on their personal stories to ground themselves and to find the courage to speak out on issues that matter to them. Grounding is so important when you are planning to share your heartfelt views in a public forum. In my book, I talk about specific ways you can ground yourself before attending a public meeting.
A well crafted story is also one of the most important tools in the advocates’ toolbox. If you have direct experience related to the issue at hand, your testimony is vitally important. Your personal story might be about the effects of a new development, or the health effects of air pollution, or polluted drinking water. Your personal story is critical for decision makers to hear. Without it, decision makers will not know how their decisions affect real people, like you.
As I prepared for a recent legislative hearing, one of my college students asked me if she thought it was worth her while to testify. “Absolutely”, I told her, “because as a student, you represent the future, and decision makers need to hear your point of view. “
By random chance, my student was the last person of over 40 to testify in front of the legislative committee. Her closing statement went like this: “I love living in Maine and I do not want to this beautiful state become urbanized and crowded like Massachusetts, where I’m from.” Her heartfelt statement broke through all the facts and figures, and summed up what the issue meant to many people. She provided a powerful ending to a three hour hearing, and this was her first time speaking before a legislative committee!
Like my student, you too can make a difference. All it takes is focusing on what you care about, and then communicating this to decisionmakers.
For more on how to become an effective advocate, read my new book,
Advocating for the Environment, How to Gather Your Power and Take Action.
Find it on Amazon, or at your local bookstore. or Order Here