Many organizations around the world have been campaigning for change. In recent years, new campaigns have mushroomed in relation to the issue of accelerated climate change and conservation of natural resources. With increased global connectivity through the Internet, environment campaigns have gone online. The belief is that small actions build up overtime and produce change. Organizations that support online campaigns of both groups and individuals such as Avaaz and Change.org have built their online presence around this concept.
Online petitions
Petition signing has been particularly popular as groups lobby for change with the help of thousands of millions of signatures. Ongoing online petitions have been successful in enjoining people to sign up. Online platforms have made it very convenient to do so. A few clicks or taps to encode basic information and the person becomes part of a movement that he or she otherwise would not have access to. A few more clicks or taps and the petition is posted and shared in social media.
Protection for Antarctica’s unique ocean ecosystem
The Antarctic Ocean Alliance (AOA) is a global group composed of 30 independent organizations. Its mission is to protect the last virgin ocean frontier on Earth. But this is not true anymore as humans press on to unchartered Antarctic territories in order to fulfill the needs of an increasing population. The Southern Ocean is the home of around 10,000 species found nowhere else such as penguins, squid, whales, and seals. Antarctic waters are now under threat from humans.
The campaign being waged now specifically asks for protection of 40% of Antarctic waters. The campaign includes the Ross Sea and the East Antarctic Coastal Region. If this is approved, it will be the largest marine protected area in the world.
Saving the Arctic from multinational oil companies
Another sanctuary is being proposed at the opposite pole. The Arctic is facing a different threat. Greenpeace initiated a campaign called “Save the Arctic” which aims to ban offshore drilling of oil. A number of giants led by Shell have started prospecting for oil higher up in the Arctic Circle. It is feared that this intrusion would escalate the destruction of an already fragile environment. Arctic ice is melting at an unprecedented rate and the ice cover that’s been around for 800,000 years is becoming meltwater. Moreover, continuous use of fossil fuels is believed to be the main culprit in global warming.
This online campaign has gone beyond petition signing as concerned individuals from around the world actively participate in various local campaigns using social media to spread the word against Shell and the other petroleum companies.
Online campaigns to conserve water
One of the most immediate concerns today and in the immediate future is the availability of safe and ample drinking water. Many campaigns on water conservation can be found online. One example is the California’s water conservation program dubbed “Save Our Water.” Some conservation campaigns use the Internet for crowdsourcing, such as One Day’s Wages “Water Fund.”
Whether or not these campaigns will amount to actual change remains to be seen.
Photo Credit: Greenpeace activists at the Aletsch Glacier in Switzerland
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