Power in numbers25 May 2011
Alan Heath is the co-ordinator of Northampton Friends of the Earth. Here he tells us about the group's successes, his personal motivations and the local coalition that adds strength to their campaigns.
Two major campaigns over the past year have been Fix the Food Chain and the more recent Waste Day of Action.
We got a great picture in the local Chronicle & Echo, posing in the David Cameron mask. Last year we got an amazing 200 postcards signed in just 2 days on the Food Chain Campaign.
Motivation - an important factor in volunteering
Campaigning requires a passion for the issues. What motivates Alan?
Climate change and biodiversity must be the biggest problems the world faces today. I feel that most of the local, national and world powers want to do the right thing, but need to know they have a mandate from the public to do it.
Power in numbers
How better to make change happen than in co-operation with other groups?
It helps a lot that groups like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth all work together. This is something other local groups should try.
The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition is a great example of national and local alliance-building.
Get involved locally
Find your nearest Friends of the Earth group and get involved in your own community.
© Northampton Friends of the Earth
