1. Beat Republicans in the 2020 elections.

This is no small feat in the case of Tr*mp, an incumbent and cheat who is backed by billionaires and Big Oil. To help dump him: Give time or money to progressive candidates; join your favorite local rabble-rousers to mobilize voters everywhere, or find your local chapter of Indivisible; host parties –online or on a lawn at a safe distance—to write postcards to Democratic voters in swing states. It’s a proven way to Get Out The Vote!

 

2. Join or support local grassroot groups fighting fossil fuel infrastructure.

The fiercest warriors in any battle are those whose personal health, livelihoods, and sovereignty are threatened. Find and join local allies. If you’re short on time, give money. Show up when numbers matter. Get on mailing lists to know when those times are. Often, what’s needed is as simple as making one call to oppose a particular permit, or to flood a governor’s office with No Pipeline! messages.

 

3. Learn how pipelines are defeated (spoiler: activism!)

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve been called “The Thin Green Line – where energy projects go to die.” Dozens of new coal, oil, and fracked-gas projects have been proposed since 2013, yet not one has been built, thanks to fierce civic resistance. But Tr*ump has fast-tracked the Jordan Cove fracked-gas-export pipeline on the Oregon coast, which means the fight is back on and bigger than ever. It’s worth noting last week’s victory against the Williams pipeline in New York City and what tactics the grassroots coalition Sane Energy Project used. They overtook company meetings and public hearings in person and online. They also make a lot of protest art as a community.

 

4. Make art together.

Here’s Sane Energy Project on why they use the arts as an organizing tool: “Art speaks faster than words. Art is a way to quickly explain an often-complicated story: what the issues and solutions are. It starts conversations, engages the public, and changes consensus.

“Art builds community. We believe that not only is the outward-facing art itself important, but that facilitating the process of making art is an act of ‘in-reach’ for activists. Coming together to MAKE art is a powerful shared experience; we facilitate art builds where it’s easy to meet new people, learn, discuss, relax and share stories.”

The photo above is an art-against-pipeline build I led with my family and 350.org Eugene. The widespread publicity it received helped spark a statewide resistance coalition. It also united my neighborhood. Kids from preschool to grad school drew postcards for the governor, hung “CONDEMNED” signs on their own homes, and got interviewed for the evening news (more photos from the block-long art protest here).

 

5. Celebrate wins.

Crow about them everywhere. Spreading the word encourages others fighting similar fights all over the world.