Sun, 22/06/2008 - 12:10
Springboks are a type of antelope that love to pronk. When predators chase them, they bounce very high to show how healthy they are (this is called pronking). When applying pressure to politicians and companies, use signals that are similarly hard to fake.
I've got mixed up with a very interesting bunch of people who want to make some crucial changes to the UK's Climate Bill. We want the Bill to set a legal target of 80% carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 instead of the current 60%. Even 80% probably isn't enough to stop climate chaos, but it is a step in the right direction.
When activist NGOs ask thousands of supporters to email decision-makers, they are frequently ignored and sent standard letters. If someone goes along to their MP and talks to them face-to-face, they take more notice. That's because its harder to fake, and its harder to ignore. Its easy for someone to send an email, or a hundred, but takes effort to go and visit someone in person. We need to start pronking if we're going to get decision-makers to take notice of what we care about.
The internet remains the best way to quickly mobilise lots of people for collective action, so how do we use the pronking concept online? Enter canvasyourmp.com, which is enabling a mass lobby of members of parliament on the Climate Bill. Supporters can register to personally talk to their local MP, knowing that lots of other people will be doing the same in their areas.
Here's my co-conspirators (linked to the relevant post where possible):
John Grant, author of Green Marketing Manifesto
Steve Webb MP, Lib Dem Shadow Secretary for the Environment, Energy, Food & Rural Affairs
Leonora Oppenheim, of Tree Hugger
Lea Simpson, of Being Unchained
Tom Fishburne, cartoonist and Senior Marketing Director of Europe for method products
Dave Birss, of Dictionary of Specific Generalities
Mark Hanson, of PR Media Blog
Judit Jakab, of Business Spirit
Asi Sharabi, of No Man's Blog