What is Microactivism and How Can You Participate?

Your small actions matter! It’s my motto and I stand by it. But what small actions count as activism? Let’s chat all things microactivism today!

What is microactivism?

According to Wiktionary, it is the “Small-scale activism; activism consisting of small actions.”

It’s precisely what it sounds like! It’s activism, but make it small-scale. That’s right; you don’t have to go to the streets to be an activist. We talk more about the definition of activism in this post. Many people hear the term “activist” and shy away from using it and being associated with it. I did for years. Until I realized that my small actions ARE forms of activism.

Are these small actions alone going to save the world? Likely, no. But they still matter. Every single good action we take matters in the fight for the climate and the fight for human rights.

So here are some ways that I partake in microactivism nearly every day, and I hope that they inspire you to do the same. Drop your microactivism actions below!

For the Planet

Pick up trash: just a piece or two here and there makes a difference and could save the lives of animals and reduce microplastics in our environment.

Get a library card: borrowing is eco, and supporting this vital community-building resource is eco! Learn more about the eco benefits of libraries here.

Buy less: probably the most powerful form of microactivism is voting with your dollar. It’s our stake in the company. The more we spend, the more money they have to do whatever they want with it. The less we spend, the less they have. So quit giving especially wasteful companies so much of your hard-earned money that they are just going to do evil with. If you need tips for breaking up with overconsumption, check out this video.

Shop small: if you do need to shop, let it be a small business instead! Especially a small, eco business. Small businesses are inherently better for the planet, which you can learn more about here.

Shop secondhand: honestly, above shopping small, shop secondhand. That item has already been created, and you can help keep it out of the landfill. And nothing new was extracted, created, and shipped to you, which greatly reduces emissions and overall environmental impact. Learn more about the importance of thrifting here!

Conserve energy and water: it’s so easy to simply turn off a light when you leave the room and cut the water while you brush your teeth. It’s small, but it saves you money and conserves our precious resources while also reducing emissions. It’s a win-win all around! Here are tips for conserving water and tips for conserving energy.

Upcycle and reuse: bringing it back to not buying stuff, use what you already have! It’s also great to prevent what we send to the landfill and also our broken recycling system. So get creative and think before you throw away.

Mend and repair: speaking of avoiding the landfill, learn how to mend your items! The less we spend, the better, and the less we throw away, the better. It’s a double eco win, and you may learn a new skill. Here are some skills I’ve learned thanks to zero waste living.

Use reusables: your reusable water bottle, coffee cup, containers, utensils, and grocery bags can save a TON of waste every single year and may also save you money in the process. They all prevent new resources from being created and save room in our landfills, which are running out of space.

Compost: you’re probably sick of reading it in this post, but think before you throw away. Food waste in landfills is one of the leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, so let’s do our part by composting. It’s probably easier than you think, especially if you have space for it! Learn about 12 ways to compost here.

Bike and walk: boycott Big Oil as much as you can! The easiest way I can think of is by ditching your car where possible. I still own a car, but I walk and bike as often as I can to save money and the planet in the process. Not to mention, there are so many more benefits to a walkable society than just saving money. Can’t give up your car? Here are some other ways to boycott fossil fuels.

Volunteer: give back to the planet by volunteering! Maybe it’s a beach cleanup, a trail building event, planting trees, or removing invasive species. Whatever calls to you, get to it!

General activism

Let’s move on to some ways we can partake in activism that may go beyond the realm of climate change. But all of these issues are connected through intersectionality, and you can use many of these actions to also advocate for the planet.

Call your reps: bug the heck out of your reps. Tell them how you want them to vote, tell them that you’re pleased with them, or demand that they do better. I actually just called my reps today to tell them that they no longer have my support as they aid and abet in genocide. I love to use the 5 Calls app for their numbers and scripts, but now I have them added to my contact list so I can speed dial them.

Write your reps: don’t like phone calls? I encourage you to try, anyway, but writing emails is a great option, too! Head to Congress.gov to find your reps, their emails, and their contact pages. You can send an email through either option. Or you can try out Resist Bot, which will help you do it all from your text or other favorite messaging app. This is a little easier to do every day, I think.

Send them trash postcards: snail mail also works great! I like to send them mail that is upcycled and free. Thin cardboard from pasta boxes or cereal boxes is the same weight as a traditional postcard. So, cut out a 4-inch by 6-inch rectangle, address it with a cheaper postcard stamp, and write your message on this free piece of garbage. Of course, the stamp costs money, so it’s not totally free, but they sure are fun to make! Here is my full guide to making them.

Donate to a campaign: using your money counts as activism! If you have the spare funds, donate to a cause that means a lot to you. Maybe it’s a GoFundMe, a mutual aid organization near you, or a non-profit. Use your money where you want it to be used.

Sign and share petitions: I have to be honest, petitions are not the MOST useful piece of activism we can do, but they sure are quick. They take less than 1 minute to fill out, and they are one of the best ways to make some noise. Making noise is one of the best things we can do, so sign and share petitions to keep the fire going on these pressing issues.

Share helpful info you see online: speaking of making noise, share resources, too! If you see a good guide to reporting ICE, share it. If you find value in a voter guide, share it. Whatever you find helpful and think may help others, hit that share button or copy and send the link on another platform! Spread the word! Amplifiers are hugely important in activist work.

Read books: getting educated is another amazing thing to do. I personally like to read up on climate change, fascism, and activism. It leaves me inspired, empowered, and ready to take action. Here are my book recommendations.

Vote: yes, your vote matters. So vote! As mentioned before, it’s our leverage for our scummy reps. Tell them you won’t vote for someone who destroys the planet. If they do a good job, let them know you support them. And while you wait for the next election to come around, keep an eye on your current reps and research those who are running so that you can be an educated voter, too.

Help others register to vote: your one vote matters, but 10s, 100s, and 1000s of votes matter even more. Show your family and friends how to register and request any ballots they may get at home. Help transport people to go vote and so forth.

Help your neighbors: building community is always important, but it’s even more important now. Be there for your neighbors. Offer rides, offer dog-sitting, bake them a treat, and so forth. They may even offer help in return! Being kind and helpful can go a long way.

Of course, if you want to take it above this, go for it! The point of this post is that you don’t HAVE to take to the streets to be an activist. There are many different roles to fill in every movement. Find your role here.

If you want to take to the streets, by all means, get to it! Here are my tips for protesting and taking bigger actions. We need all forms of activism. If we all ONLY call our reps, not a lot is going to get done. If we all ONLY take to the streets, we could say the same. We need amplifiers, we need people to feed the hungry, we need people with disposable income to make donations, and so forth.

Every role matters so I hope that you see the value in your activism no matter how big or how small.

How do you practice microactivism? Follow along to stay inspired!

As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)

Emma