A Practical Guide to Beginning Activism: 7 Days of Actionable Ways // Day 3-7
Howdy y’all! Videos will be made eventually, but life and work and everything else got on top of us. We are fighting back against the overwhelm, we are resting when we can, but wanted to bring the rest of the guide out as we can.
Day 3: Privacy and Data – Protecting Your Personal Information
Current Legislation
Currently, privacy laws in Texas and nationally are being updated, but much work remains. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) has inspired similar privacy legislation, but in Texas, there is no state-wide comprehensive privacy law, leaving citizens vulnerable to data exploitation. Former President Trump’s push for relaxed privacy regulations and his attempts to limit corporate accountability have raised significant concerns about how much personal data companies are allowed to collect without oversight.
Why Is This Important? Why Should You Care?
In a world where data is a commodity, your privacy is increasingly at risk. Corporations, especially tech giants like Meta (formerly Facebook), use your data to sell ads and track your activity, often without explicit consent. The more you understand and take control over your data, the safer you’ll be from privacy breaches and exploitation.
Steps You Can Take/Actionable Items
Disable Third-Party Cookies on Meta Apps (Facebook, Instagram):
Open the app (e.g., Facebook or Instagram).
Go to the "Settings" menu.
Click "Privacy" and then "Off-Facebook Activity."
Select “Clear History” and toggle off "Future Off-Facebook Activity" to stop third-party tracking.
This will prevent Meta from tracking your data across other websites and apps, thus protecting your privacy.
Delete the facebook app after, and try to only use it in its own web browser or web profile.
Use Privacy-Focused Apps: Switch to apps that prioritize user privacy, such as Signal for messaging or DuckDuckGo for browsing.
Support Data Privacy Advocacy: Advocate for stronger data privacy protections through petitions and by supporting organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).
How This Hurts Companies Financially
By disabling third-party cookies, you stop Meta from collecting your browsing history to target ads across the web. This disrupts their advertising model, which relies heavily on personal data to target specific user profiles. When users limit their data collection, it reduces the effectiveness of targeted advertising, which in turn hurts companies' ad revenue. As more people take control of their data, it forces companies to reconsider how they operate and, potentially, invest in more ethical practices.
Expected Outcome from the Action
Taking these steps limits the amount of data Meta and other companies can collect, making it harder for them to monetize your information. It also sends a message that privacy matters, pushing companies to adopt better practices.
Link to Further Reading/How to Get Your Community Involved
Day 4: Community Building and Mutual Aid – Stronger Together
Current Legislation
While no specific legislation governs mutual aid, the importance of community-based organizing is becoming more evident. Local governments, especially in times of crisis, have often failed to provide sufficient support for marginalized communities. In Texas, the response to natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey and the first “Snowpocalypse” highlighted the value of mutual aid networks when official responses were slow or inadequate.
Why Is This Important? Why Should You Care?
When we build and support mutual aid systems, we create stronger, more resilient communities. Mutual aid is not charity but a shared effort to meet each other’s needs, ensuring no one is left behind.
Steps You Can Take/Actionable Items
Join a Buy Nothing Group: Participate in or create a local Buy Nothing group to freely exchange items and services with neighbors.
Support Mutual Aid Networks: Volunteer with or donate to mutual aid groups that provide direct support to marginalized communities.
Start Your Own Mutual Aid Initiative: Gather resources like food, toiletries, and school supplies to distribute to those in need.
Attend Your Local Library Board Meeting: Libraries are often community hubs that provide free access to resources and support for everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status. By attending library board meetings, you can advocate for programs that benefit marginalized communities, such as LGBTQ+ resources, educational support, and public access to information. Additionally, if local libraries are facing threats like censorship or restricted access to books, attending these meetings gives you the opportunity to stand up for free expression and library services that benefit the entire community.
Expected Outcome from the Action
By participating in mutual aid, you create a network of support that helps people directly. These systems can respond more quickly and equitably than larger institutions, especially during crises.
Link to Further Reading/How to Get Your Community Involved
Day 5: Physical Health in Activism – Fighting for Ourselves and Others
Current Legislation
Access to healthcare is a constant battleground in the U.S., especially in Texas, where Medicaid expansion has not been adopted. Additionally, proposals under Trump’s administration to roll back the Affordable Care Act have made it harder for low-income and chronically ill individuals to access care.
Why Is This Important? Why Should You Care?
Physical health is essential for sustaining long-term activism. For activists, taking care of your body ensures that you can continue to fight for change, both for yourself and others. Chronic illness advocates have highlighted that rising fascism is often accompanied by inadequate healthcare access, leading to more inequity.
Steps You Can Take/Actionable Items
Know Your Insurance Rights: Understand what healthcare options are available to you, even if you live in a state like Texas that hasn't expanded Medicaid. Use services like OpenPath for affordable therapy options.
Exercise for Mental Health: Incorporate daily physical activities like yoga or walking to help maintain both physical and mental well-being.
Support Chronic Illness Advocacy: Get involved with organizations that fight for the rights of those with chronic illnesses, like the Texas Disability Project.
Expected Outcome from the Action
By prioritizing your physical health, you increase your energy and resilience as an activist. You also contribute to the broader movement for accessible healthcare and chronic illness rights.
Link to Further Reading/How to Get Your Community Involved
Day 6: Labor and Unions – Supporting Workers’ Rights
Current Legislation/News
Texas is a "right-to-work" state, meaning workers cannot be compelled to join a union as a condition of employment. This weakens union efforts, but despite this, unionization movements are growing, with successful campaigns in sectors like Amazon and Starbucks. Trump’s policies, particularly his deregulatory stance, continue to undermine workers’ rights by reducing workplace protections.
Why Is This Important? Why Should You Care?
Unionized workers are better protected from exploitation and often achieve higher wages and safer working conditions. Supporting labor movements strengthens the rights of workers everywhere.
Steps You Can Take/Actionable Items
Help Build Unions: Go to https://workerorganizing.org/resources/cards/ and download the PDF. If you have a printer, print out these cards and distribute them to coffee shops, grocery stores, restaurants, and other businesses you frequent. If you do not have a printer, reach out to someone who does or visit your local library.
Support Union Workers: Stand in solidarity with workers on strike, and do not cross picket lines.
Learn About Labor Laws: Get familiar with your rights in the workplace, especially regarding unionization and collective bargaining.
Encourage Unionization: If you work in a non-unionized workplace, support efforts to organize and raise awareness about the benefits of unionizing. Interested in knowing more about your rights? Check them out here.
Expected Outcome from the Action
Supporting unions strengthens the bargaining power of workers, leading to better wages, benefits, and working conditions. It also helps promote a fairer economy.
Link to Further Reading/How to Get Your Community Involved
Day 7: Hope, Dreaming, and Radical Love – Self-Care for Activists
Current Legislation
While there are no specific laws about radical self-care, the current political climate – with the rollback of mental health services and community programs under both state and federal administrations – demonstrates why we must build our own networks of support and care.
Why Is This Important? Why Should You Care?
Activism is demanding, and without self-care, burnout is inevitable. The Assata Shakur chant, “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win, We must love and support one another, We have nothing to lose but our chains” reminds us that hope, rest, and care are part of the revolutionary process.
Steps You Can Take/Actionable Items
Create a Self-Care Menu: Design a self-care routine that balances activism with personal rest and recovery. Prioritize mental health and relaxation. Check out our “Net 0 Self-Care” Template here.
Radical Love: Focus on showing love to yourself and others, celebrating community victories, and nurturing hope.
Celebrate Small Wins: Take time to acknowledge progress, no matter how small, to keep momentum going.
Expected Outcome from the Action
By integrating self-care, you will maintain energy for long-term activism and avoid burnout. Radical love and hope create spaces for collective healing and growth.
Link to Further Reading/How to Get Your Community Involved
