We are all activists

Vegetarian Baby and Child, Jan-Feb, 2003 by Lucy Watkins

Over the last few months, I've become keenly aware of the priority activism takes in my life. The arrest of a friend during a protest, conflict with a company over poor service, striving for integrity while balancing the checkbook, and conversations with family and friends about my beliefs and standards have all made activism a routine part of my daily life.

I came to this conclusion after a lot of soul searching about integrity and what it means to me. I wondered what it truly meant to be an activist, thought about the many forms and purposes of activism. As I often do, I looked up the word in the dictionary.

Ac'*tiv*ism

: a doctrine or practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue

As arrogant as it may sound, I'm not satisfied with this definition. Does this mean that I must have pages of civil disobedience violations on my record? On the contrary--I have a big mouth, great typing skills, and a need to express myself.

I must thank my father for this. He taught me the power of speaking out for what I believe in, the power of the dollar, and the importance of good communication skills. My father has always been one to make his opinions known. If someone provides him with good service, he lets everybody know why he will become a regular customer. If he receives poor service, he tells everyone why he is no longer a customer. He votes in every election, boycotts companies and speaks openly about it, writes letters, and makes phone calls. He's always attended community meetings and joined organizations that share his values. Dad may not have stood on the street corner yelling at people for crossing the line, but he was--and continues to be--an activist in his own right.

For as long as I can remember, I've adopted his methods as my own. In doing so, I've learned that one person s voice can inform and help people to make better choices. But there are still times when it takes a group of loud, committed people to make changes, no matter what the cause.

As the activism editor for VBC, I sometimes wonder if I'm expected to be outside of a McDonald's holding a sign and offering customers a free veggie burger, or throwing paint on a fur coat. For whatever reason, I prefer a different approach to promoting those causes nearest and dearest to my heart and my values. Honestly, my activist niche lies in speaking my mind with my wallet, my keyboard, and my mouth. I do it every day.

As a parent, I find my activism is even more intense, because I not only pass my values on to my children, I also provide a home full of items I've chosen. Every time I tell my children why they can have one product over another, I am an activist. Every time I speak to a teacher about snacks, I am an activist. Every time I ask if an entree is vegetarian and refuse it if it isn't, I am an activist. Every time I recycle a can, I am an activist. Every time I tell one company why I'm leaving it for another, I am an activist. Whether or not we like it or even intend to be, we are all activists. Every day, our dollars vote for something. Our spending habits and choices tell companies what is acceptable, what practices we are willing to put up with, how we feel about their products, and how much we are willing to pay. These simple, routine acts tell people what we value and what we want. People are listening, and companies pay attention.

There is more than one way to participate in changing the world, and we need each and every one of those methods. We need people standing outside of Tyson's with banners. We need parents talking to school administrators about lunches. We need groups writing letters to their legislatures and local newspapers. We need people spending the extra money on non-polluting sources of energy. We need all of you and whatever form of activism you choose.

My hope is that with each issue of VBC, you will feel empowered to do what you can to effect changes and to be confident in your decisions. I hope that we will all look at the choices we are making and realize the affect they have on our world. Making informed choices, being a conscientious parent and consumer, and being an example to your friends and family, have already set you apart as an activist who is having a positive impact on the state of the world.

--Lucy Watkins is the editor for both the activism and interview sections of VBC and vegetarianteen.com. She lives in Texas with her family.