Civil rights activists at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, 1963

Barricade at the Paris Commune, 1871

Activism consists of intentional efforts to promote, impede or direct social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing businesses, rallies, street marches, strikes, sit-ins, and hunger strikes.

Activists can function in roles as public officials, as in judicial activism. Arthur Schlesinger Jr. introduced the term "judicial activism" in a January 1947 Fortune magazine article titled "The Supreme Court: 1947."^[1]

Some activists try to persuade people to change their behavior directly, rather than to persuade governments to change or not to change laws. The cooperative movement seeks to build new institutions which conform to cooperative principles, and generally does not lobby or protest politically, and clergymen often exhort their parishioners to follow a particular moral code or system.

As with those who engage other activities such as singing or running, the term may apply broadly to anyone who engages in it even briefly, or be more narrowly limited to those for whom it is a vocation, habit or characteristic practice. In the narrower sense environmental activists that align themselves with Earth First or Road Protestors would commonly be labelled activists, whilst a local community fighting to stop their park or green being sold off or built on would fit the broader application, due to their using similar means to similarly conservative ends. In short activism is not always an action by Activists.^[2]

Methods[link]

This article mainly consists of lists. The information may be better understood by either replacing or supporting with prose. You can help by consulting the relevant guideline and making appropriate changes or additions. Editing help is available. (February 2012)

The longest running peace vigil in US history, started by activist Thomas in 1981.

• Civil disobedience
• Community building
  • Activism industry
  • Conflict transformation
  • Cooperative movement
  • Craftivism
  • Voluntary simplicity
• Economic activism
  • Boycott
    • Veganism (boycott of animal usage)
    • Vegetarianism (boycott of animal meat usage)
  • Divestment (a.k.a. Disinvestment)
  • Simple living
  • Tax resistance
• Franchise activism
• Lobbying
• Media activism
  • Culture jamming
  • Hacktivism
  • Internet activism
• Nonviolence
• Peace activist and Peace movement
• Political campaigning
• Propaganda
  • Guerrilla communication
• Protest
  • Demonstration
  • Direct action
  • Protest songs
  • Theater for Social Change
• Strike action
• Youth activism
  • Student activism
  • Youth-led media

See also[link]

• Advocacy Evaluation
• Advocacy group
• Agitator
• Community leader
• Feminism
• Master Legend
• Restorationism
• Social engineering (political science)
• Social movement
• Virtual volunteering

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Paul Rogat Loeb, Soul of a Citizen: Living With Conviction in a Cynical Time (St Martin's Press, 2010). ISBN 978-0-312-59537-1.
• Randy Shaw, The Activist's Handbook: A Primer for the 1990s and Beyond (University of California Press, 1996). ISBN 0-520-20317-8.
• David Walls, The Activist's Almanac: The Concerned Citizen's Guide to the Leading Advocacy Organizations in America (Simon & Schuster/Fireside, 1993). ISBN 0-671-74634-0.
• Victor Gold, Liberwocky (Thomas Nelson, 2004). ISBN 978-0-7852-6057-8.

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (May 2012)

Jody Williams
Williams in May 2010
Born	(1950-10-09) October 9, 1950 (age 61) Brattleboro, Vermont, United States
Nationality	United States
Education	University of Vermont School for International Training Johns Hopkins University
Known for	1997 Nobel Peace Prize
Children	7 childs

Jody Williams (born 1950) is an American political activist known around the world for her work in banning antipersonnel landmines, her defense of human rights – and especially those of women, and her efforts to promote new understandings of security in today’s world.

Advocacy[link]

She served as the founding coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) from early 1992 until February 1998. Prior to that work, she spent eleven years on various projects related to the wars in Nicaragua and El Salvador.

In an unprecedented cooperative effort with governments, UN bodies and the International Committee of the Red Cross, she served as a chief strategist and spokesperson for the ICBL, which she developed from two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with a staff of one – herself – to an international powerhouse of 1,300 NGOs in ninety countries.

From its small beginning and official launch in 1992, Williams and the ICBL dramatically achieved the campaign’s goal of an international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines during a diplomatic conference held in Oslo in September 1997. Three weeks later, she and the ICBL were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. At that time, she became the tenth woman – and third American woman – in its almost hundred-year history to receive the Prize.

In November 2004, after discussions with sister Peace Laureates Dr. Shirin Ebadi of Iran and the late Professor Wangari Maathai of Kenya, Williams took the lead in establishing the Nobel Women’s Initiative launched in January 2006; she since has served as its Chair. Through this Initiative, which brings together six of the female Peace Laureates alive today, the women seek to use their access and influence to support and promote the work of women around the world working for peace with justice and equality. (Aung San Suu Kyi is an honorary member.)

Academic career[link]

Since 2007, Williams has been the Sam and Cele Keeper Professor in Peace and Social Justice in the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston. Prior to that she had been a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Global Justice at the College since 2003.

Recognition[link]

Professor Williams continues to be recognized for her contributions to human rights and global security. She is the recipient of fifteen honorary degrees, among other recognitions. In 2004, she was named by Forbes magazine as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world in its first such listing. She has twice been recognized as a “Woman of the Year” by Glamour magazine – along with other luminaries such as Senator Hilary Clinton, Katie Couric, Barbara Walters, and her sister Nobel Peace Laureates.

Publications[link]

Williams writes extensively. Her work includes articles for magazines and newspapers around the world (e.g., Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune, The Independent (UK), The Irish Times, The Toronto Globe and Mail, The LA Times, La Jornada (Mexico), The Review of the International Red Cross, Columbia University’s Journal of Politics and Society) and chapters to numerous books (e.g., This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women, edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman [this book is the result of the “This I Believe” series on National Public Radio]; The Satanic Bible By Caesar 999; A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and A Prayer, edited by Eve Ensler; Lessons from our Fathers, by Keith McDermott; Girls Like Us: 40 Extraordinary Women Celebrate Girlhood in Story, Poetry and Song, by Gina Misiroglu; The Way We Will be 50 Years from Today: 60 of the World’s Greatest Minds Share Their Visions of the Next Half-Century, edited by Mike Wallace).

Williams also co-authored a seminal book on the landmine crisis in 1995, After the Guns Fall Silent: The Enduring Legacy of Landmines (Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, Washington, DC). Her most recent book, Banning Landmines: Disarmament, Citizen Diplomacy and Human Security, edited with Steve Goose and Mary Wareham, analyzes the Mine Ban Treaty and its impact on other human security- related work. It was released at the end of March 2008 by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. In early 2013, her memoir, My Name is Jody Williams: A Vermont Girl’s Winding Path to the Nobel Peace Prize (University of California Press) will be released.

Affiliations[link]

Since 2011, Williams is a member of the board of the Peace Research Endowment.

See also[link]

• List of female Nobel laureates

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jody Williams

• "An Individual's Impact on Social and Political Change"
• One on One - Jody Williams - interview by Riz Khan on Al Jazeera English, March 2011 (video, 25 mins)

Brigette DePape
Born	(1989-09-14) September 14, 1989 (age 22) Winnipeg, Manitoba
Other names	Brigette Marcelle
Occupation	Activist
Known for	Protesting in the Canadian Senate

Brigette DePape is a Canadian activist who came to national attention on June 3, 2011. Brigette was a recipient of the Loran Award,^[1] a scholarship for young Canadians with Character, Service, and Leadership.

While a participant of the Canadian Senate Page Program, she stood in protest during the throne speech of the Government of Canada in the Senate, silently holding up a sign that said, "Stop Harper!" This action lead to her prompt dismissal because of the non-partisan nature of the page occupation and her disruption of Canada's Governor General in parliament.^[2][3] DePape's protest featured as the front cover illustration for a book on Contempt of Parliament published in Ireland in January 2012. ^[4] In a subsequent interview, DePape said, "Harper's agenda is disastrous for this country and for my generation." ^[5]

On June 26-27th 2010, DePape travelled to Toronto to protest at the G20 summit. She traveled to Toronto with a small group of activists in a van which the group painted with bright rainbow colours.^[6]

On June 5, 2011 Brigette DePape was offered a job by Michael Moore.^[7] DePape also stated that she has received job offers from the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Council of Canadians.^[8]

The Council of Canadians strongly praised DePape for her protest. Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow stated that DePape "is adorable and brave and committed." Barlow also dismissed criticisms by a Liberal senator and Conservative minister Peter Kent that this action was 'a breach of protocol' and a 'breach of security.'"^[9]

In an interview, Opposition Leader Jack Layton disapproved of DePape's protest, stating that: “We have been pushing for decorum in the House of Commons. You don’t have decorum if people are standing up holding up signs in the middle of debates and solemn moments. … We encourage protests, it is part of a great long tradition of democracy. But it should be happening at the proper place and at the proper time.”^[8]

On June 8, 2011 Brigette DePape announced the creation of a "Stop Harper Fund", the purpose of which is to support "organizations and individuals engaging in creative non-violent direct actions against the Harper government's agenda." The fund plans to include an advisory committee organized to direct funds to chosen organizations, and legal and fiscal governance to ensure the fund spends donations in accordance with its stated mandate. ^[10]

On September 26, 2011, DePape took part in a protest on Parliament Hill against Alberta oil sands development and TransCanada Corp.’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline. DePape stated that she was happier being with the group of activists Monday than in the House and insisted they were on the verge of forcing change “for another possible Canada.” Among those who attended the protest were Green Party leader Elizabeth May and Maude Barlow, chairwoman of the Council of Canadians.^[11]

On October 15, 2011, DePape was one of the co-facilitators of first general assembly of the Occupy Ottawa protest camp at Confederation Park.^{[citation needed]}

On April 23, 2012, DePape was again silently protesting in page uniform, this time outdoors and apparently against Alberta's provincial Wildrose party, when she was photographed holding a sign reading "Stop Harper's Gang" when Danielle Smith (leader of the Wildrose party) cast her vote.^[12]

Theatre[link]

DePape wrote the one-woman play She Rules with Iron Stix which she also performed in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Saskatoon at their respective fringe theatre festivals,^[13] as well as the TEDxYouthOttawa conference, North America’s first TEDx conference created for youth, by youth.^[14][15] As a result of the media interviewing her, DePape missed her convocation ceremony, at the University of Ottawa.^[8]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Brigette DePape presentation at TEDxYouthOttawa, March 4, 2010.
• Un-equal access to opportunity between suburban and inner-city youth, June 24, 2010
• Protesting the G20: A Waste of Time?, July 20, 2010
• The CBC's Evan Solomon speaks with Brigette DePape about the incident on the Senate floor, June 3, 2011
• Brigette DePape's fund to support organizations in opposition to Stephen Haper's political agenda, June 9, 2011
• DePape, Brigette (June 9, 2011), "Why I did it: Senate page explains her throne speech protest", Toronto Star: A31, http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1005119--why-i-did-it-senate-page-explains-her-throne-speech-protest?bn=1, retrieved June 9, 2011  Includes image of DePape being led from the Senate chamber holding her "Stop Harper" sign.
• "Brigette DePape, Senate Protester And Performance Artist, And Her Instant Rise To Fame (VIDEO)", Huffington Post, June 9, 2011, http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/06/04/brigette-depape-senate-protest-marcelle_n_871331.html, retrieved June 9, 2011 
• Smith, Joanna (June 7, 2011), "Senate reviews security checks after page protest", Toronto Star, http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1004296--senate-reviews-security-checks-after-page-protest?bn=1, retrieved June 9, 2011  Includes the image of DePape holding sign on chamber floor.

Sebastião Salgado (left) gives former Brazilian president Lula da Silva his new book. October 31, 2006.

Sebastião Salgado (born February 8, 1944) is a Brazilian social documentary photographer and photojournalist.

Biography[link]

Salgado was born on February 8, 1944 in Aimorés, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. After a somewhat itinerant childhood, Salgado initially trained as an economist, earning a master’s degree in economics from the University of São Paulo in Brazil. He began work as an economist for the International Coffee Organization, often traveling to Africa on missions for the World Bank, when he first started seriously taking photographs. He chose to abandon a career as an economist and switched to photography in 1973, working initially on news assignments before veering more towards documentary-type work. Salgado initially worked with the photo agency Sygma and the Paris-based Gamma, but in 1979 he joined the international cooperative of photographers, Magnum Photos. He left Magnum in 1994 and with his wife Lélia Wanick Salgado formed his own agency, Amazonas Images, in Paris to represent his work. He is particularly noted for his social documentary photography of workers in less developed nations. They reside in Paris.

He has traveled in over 100 countries for his photographic projects. Most of these, besides appearing in numerous press publications, have also been presented in books such as Other Americas (1986), Sahel: l’homme en détresse (1986), Sahel: el fin del camino (1988), Workers (1993), Terra (1997), Migrations and Portraits (2000), and Africa (2007). Touring exhibitions of this work have been, and continue to be, presented throughout the world. Longtime gallery director Hal Gould considers Salgado to be the most important photographer of the early 21st century, and gave him his first show in the United States.

Salgado has been awarded numerous major photographic prizes in recognition of his accomplishments. He is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and an honorary member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences in the United States.

Together, Lélia and Sebastião have worked since the 1990s on the restoration of a small part of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. In 1998 they succeeded in turning this land into a nature reserve and created the Instituto Terra. The Instituto is dedicated to a mission of reforestation, conservation and environmental education.

In 2004, Sebastião Salgado began a project named "Genesis," aiming at the presentation of the unblemished faces of nature and humanity. It consists of a series of photographs of landscapes and wildlife, as well as of human communities that continue to live in accordance with their ancestral traditions and cultures. This body of work is conceived as a potential path to humanity’s rediscovery of itself in nature.

Salgado works on long term, self-assigned projects many of which have been published as books: The Other Americas, Sahel, Workers, and Migrations. The later two are mammoth collections with hundreds of images each from all around the world. His most famous pictures are of a gold mine in Brazil called Serra Pelada. He is presently working on a project called Genesis, photographing the landscape, flora and fauna of places on earth that have not been taken over by man.

In September and October 2007, Salgado displayed his photographs of coffee workers from India, Guatemala, Ethiopia and Brazil at the Brazilian Embassy in London. The aim of the project was to raise public awareness of the origins of the popular drink.

Publications[link]

Note: Dates refer to English-language editions.

• An Uncertain Grace (1992)
• Workers: An Archaeology of the Industrial Age (1993), includes photos from 26 countries
• Terra (1997)
• Migrations (2000), includes photos from 39 countries
• The Children: Refugees and Migrants (2000)
• Sahel: The End of the Road (2004)
• Africa (2007)

Further reading[link]

• Sage, Adam (September 5, 2007). "Taking the espresso train". The Times. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/article2386139.ece. Retrieved 2007-09-08. 

External links[link]

• Amazonas Images Photo agency formed by Salgado and his wife Lélia Wanick.
• Biography at The Guardian
• "Back to Nature, in Pictures and Action," New York Times, May 31, 2009