Wow, there really is loads you can do, even when you don’t have two pennies to rub together.
That’s good to know, isn’t it? Here’s our third and final list of positive political actions you can take, even when you have no money.
Click any of the images to see them at a larger size.
GROW WILD
We depend on bees for many of our fruits and vegetables, but since 1945 the UK has lost 97% of it wildflower-rich meadows on which many species of bees depend.
Why not grow your own mini wildflower meadow or create a bee friendly habitat for your community, school or workplace?
If you have a space big enough, Friends of the Earth will provide kits and support to get you going and keep our world buzzing.
Image by Birta Thrastardottir
PUT UP A UNITED FRONT
Women have made massive strides in the workplace, but discrimination and inequality is still a daily reality of work for many women.
After being repeatedly talked over and ignored, female staffers in the White House came up with a plan to make their voices heard in a male-dominated office. When any one of them gave their views in meetings or emails, the other women would back them up by repeating that view themselves, overcoming the muffling effect of male dominance.
Image by Woodrow Phoenix
SHOUT TO THE STREET
Use your window as a political billboard.
Share your beliefs with the postman, visitors, and passers-by.
Many organisations, charities and causes offer posters that you can request by mail or print out directly from their websites.
Image by Joanna Neary
PART-OWN YOUR STUFF
When every house in the street has their own electric drill, laminator, or anything else that you might only use a couple of times a year, it only benefits one thing — capitalism!
Let’s save some money, make friends amongst our neighbours, and do a bit of good for the environment by starting a sharing group. If that goes well, you could work up to sharing bigger things, like cars…
Image by Joe Decie
BUILD A WALL OF KINDNESS
While Donald Trump was first talking about his divisive wall, the concept of a “Wall of Kindness” was blossoming in Iran.
Stretches of wall are painted and furnished with pegs. Then, people hang clothes, food and and goods that they no longer need for the homeless or poor to take.
The concept is spreading: several UK towns currently feature their very own walls of kindness (in the case of Brighton, it’s a seafront shelter of kindness…)
Image by Jaime Huxtable
DONATE SKILLS
You don’t have to have money to donate to a charity or other organisation: perhaps there are practical things you can give, like book-keeping, odd jobs, managing their social media — or even pro bono legal help.
Whatever you’re good at, there’s an organisation that will be glad of it.
Image by Dave Windett, writer John Gatehouse
BE A RAGING GRANNY
Your rampaging days are not over just because you’re a grandparent.
According to Raging Grannies International, “The delights of grannying include: dressing like innocent little old ladies so we can get close to our ‘target’, writing songs from old favourites that skewer modern wrongs, satirising evil-doing in public and getting everyone singing about it[…]. Grannying is the least understood yet most powerful weapon we have.”
This action may contravene the law in some jurisdictions (depending on what you do, of course!): proceed with caution.
Image by Rachael Ball
MEME IT UP
If something strikes you as politically outrageous, world-changing or important to know, ain’t nothing like a meme to get it out there.
Visit a site like memegenerator.net, stick it on Twitter or Facebook and bob’s your uncle.
Image by Henri Tervapuro
MAKE PICTURES
If you’re an artist, charities and campaigning organisations may value your skills over your money.
Could you donate a logo, an illustration or a comic strip to their marketing department, to help them get their point across? If you’re a photographer, could you offer to document their work?
Image by James Wilkinson
INTERPRET A NEW LIFE
If you’re bilingual, your language skills could be of great help to those settling in your country.
Contact migrant aid charities to volunteer interpreter skills, or translate vital printed materials.
Image by Hannah Berry
DONATE YOUR WASTE GOODS
If your car is only good for scrap or your phone is due for an upgrade, there are services which will take them off your hands and donate any proceeds to the charity of your choice.
Image by Paul Shinn
WRITE SONGS
The catchier the tune, the more likely it is to spread.
So, what if you wrote a hummable tune that listed all the lies politicians had told, like Chequeado did in Argentina? Or an anthem that got people up and protesting?
If music is your superpower, use it.
Image by Maël Estevez
BE A TRUFFLE PIG
Even in the city foraging is a way to find great food. You’ll also get some exercise and fresh air, reconnect with the natural world and save money. Plus, it’s the ultimate in reducing your food-related carbon footprint.
Sign up for a foraging course to make sure you’re picking the right plants, though — we don’t want any poisonous toadstools in your dinner.
Image by EdieOP
START A PETITION
Starting your own petition is really easy. In the UK, use a service like 38 Degrees to exert power on big business or non-governmental institutions.
For governmental issues, use their own petitions facility at https://petition.parliament.uk
Image by Aneurin (Nye) Wright
BE SOMEONE’S VOICE
There are those whose voice is easily drowned out: those with learning difficulties, the frail, the elderly, those who find language difficult.
For them, it can be impossible to get their wishes and needs expressed to doctors, the judiciary, landlords and others who have some power over elements of their lives.
Volunteer via local charities to advocate for people whose voice is not heard.
Image by Kate Moon
SWAP SKILLS
Save some money and make some friends: pay for services like babysitting or carpentry by doing whatever you’re good at in return. Setting up a local bartering system can bring communities together, too.
Image by EdieOP
Trying to do our part to improve the world can feel overwhelming at times. We can become discouraged, anxious, or depressed, especially when change is slow or seemingly nonexistent.
Recognise these feelings when they occur. They’re part of the wardrobe of being human. Just remember, you can choose what to wear.
Image by Sharon Lee De La Cruz
All artwork on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Draw The Line 