the most beautiful place I was ever
arrested was a place very few people
ever get to go picture this
it’s August 1993 a group of us get in a
boat and take an hour-long boat ride in
the dark
followed by over a mile of hiking
carrying heavy packs we catch a couple
of hours of half sleep on some rocks and
it’s 6 a.m. it’s time we stand at the
base of a carefully selected tree and I
can feel my heart racing can I really do
this I am seriously afraid of heights
like terrified like not able to climb a
stepladder to change a light bulb
terrified my team is staring at me
in the early morning cool damp air I
know what I have to do one push the top
rope up with my hand to push up with the
bottom rope a loop with my foot one two
and up I go my role is to get my butt up
this tree and onto the platform that’s
been set up there by our prep team I
have to set aside my fear of heights and
get up there before anyone else arrives
about midway up I realized that my
platform is a lot higher than I was
expecting
much higher but where else do I have to
go so I continued up until I reach the
platform rope at which point I panic I
cannot actually see the platform where
is it the tree is enormous I called down
to the climber who set up my new home
and he mumbles something into the radio
about how I’m gonna have to swing onto
it swing definitely not in my wheelhouse
but again where else do I have to go so
what
big push off the tree I swing over with
my rope and very inelegantly scramble on
to my tiny platform my new home I’ve
made it I have reached my goal my
mission to stop the road building that
is coming in to clear this forest in its
tracks so here I am as I look over from
my vantage point on this tiny platform
over the tops of these ancient Cedars I
realize that the view is astonishing and
its unique how many people climb 80 feet
up into a 500 year old cedar tree and
take in this view my first day turns
into a night and then another day and
another by the third day I’ve been
sitting on this 4 foot by 3 foot plywood
platform for so long I am feeling really
spent it has been over 60 hours since my
feet have touched the ground I hear a
commotion below me and I realize my time
is limited there is a very testy Royal
Canadian Mounted Police climber slowly
making his way up to me he will arrest
me and work will start again on the
logging road that splits open this
ancient forest when he gets about 10
feet below my platform I pop my head
over the side hi what’s your name you’re
the protester I don’t know who he’s
expecting but it sure isn’t me a
friendly 28 year old former high school
teacher with a friendly grin and a
desperate need for a hairbrush
my arresting police officers name is bud
he takes a look at me I don’t know where
you’re going but I need to sit down so
there we are
shoulder to shoulder the two of us with
front row seats to the majesty of a
forest that has been growing for
centuries but looks over me I just want
to let you know I agree with what
you’re doing I agree with your cause I
don’t think these trees should be cut
down either
and then he arrests me now I’ve been
hauled away by police a lot 15 times at
least that’s me I’m an activist when you
think of that word activist what comes
to mind
protesters dropping banners from the
sides of smokestacks people marching
through the streets protesting and
blocking traffic hecklers shouting over
speeches at political conventions or
maybe somebody’s sitting 80 feet up in
an ancient cedar those are the
conventional views that we have of an
activist I admit I liked those images
for a long time I was a rebel on the
frontlines of the movement risking aware
arrests and taking a stand and it was
easy to say I was an activist when I was
climbing trees and risking arrest it was
clear as a bell I also have to admit
that during that time we used to think
about people who weren’t willing to risk
arrest for what they believed in and we
called them civilians yes civilians
bystanders on the battle for truth and
justice now when I decided that I wanted
to do good without always planning for
time in a jail cell I decided to direct
charities was I still an activist
despite my more law-abiding role yes I
thought I was because I was still do
Gooding and I could see even more impact
I had staff money my need to do stuff
and I could see the change I was making
community gardens food for the food bank
transforming schools to environmental
sustainability then I had my children I
became a mom I stepped out of my
executive director role to have more
time with my kids
and along with the tornado that is
motherhood I felt like I had left my
activist identity far behind how did I
qualify anymore when I was busy helping
small people zip up their jackets and
wipe their noses had I become a civilian
as I thought about the state of my
activism I began to look around at my
friends and neighbors and I realized
this almost nobody thought of themselves
as an activist wasn’t that the whole
point to get more people to act to care
it really struck me that the
conventional view of activism not only
it accidentally excluded a lot of people
but it turned a lot of people off they
thought of risking arrest and marching
in the street and they thought that
isn’t me
and we lost them as potential activists
when the world needed them more than
ever I realized this the world needs a
new definition of activism one in which
we recognize that every action every
decision we make in a day is changing
the world we must make those actions
count well what if you don’t want to
take on all the problems of the world
there are so many let me state this as
clearly and strongly as possible
people’s lives are at risk the earth our
home upon which we depend for our
survival is in crisis if you decide to
stay at home and not lift a finger to
help well you’re letting some pretty bad
things happen that is true whether you
like it or not the good news is that
you’re already changing the world and
you can do more with ease you don’t have
to be on planetary duty 24/7 you just
have to do something every day to help
now activist me included have been
marching around for decades shouting
about the survival of the planet and
justice and equality and although we
find that we have had some progress it’s
often two steps forward
one and three-quarters steps back we
don’t have time for that anymore not
with the challenges we’re facing okay so
our inaction personal and collective has
potentially catastrophic consequences
what to do that’s where the new
definition comes in the new activist is
someone who recognizes that their daily
actions are changing the world and they
intentionally choose actions to create
the world they want it turns out we all
are activists like it or not we all are
activists changing the world every day
with our actions big and small changing
the world for better or for worse now
one of the most radical forms of
activism on the planet is parenting if
you decide to be in small people’s lives
or bring them into this world then you
have an enormous responsibility those
are the next generation of activists
those are the people that are supposed
to be helping us figure this mess out
they need to be happy and resilient
resourceful considerate and brave and
that’s up to you as a parent it’s a big
job
there’s so many ways you can express
your activism checking in on an elderly
neighbor letting somebody go ahead of
you in the grocery store line
babysitting for someone who’s exhausted
and needs a break it’s all part of it I
have a friend who has never seen herself
as an activist and she raises monarch
butterflies from caterpillar to adult to
help their numbers activists I know of a
woman who puts love notes into library
books for strangers to find activists my
dad always stopped to help people with
car trouble activists it’s all part of
it the collective impact of these
so-called small actions
it’s enormous another powerful
expression of your activism is what you
choose to buy think as you’re out there
considering what you’re going to choose
who made this how is it made and what
was its impact on the planet activism
tends to be contagious as you realize
how much power you have to change the
world and how good it feels but if you
decide to keep your actions small that’s
okay too
not everybody wants to be up on a stage
or go viral on YouTube those actions in
your family and your community
they matter greatly okay so if it’s that
easy why aren’t we all doing it what
scares us about our inner activism the
fact that we are changing the world
every day with our actions and we must
make those actions count maybe it’s the
fear of being pulled into the pain of
the world if we matter if we actually
can make a difference then doesn’t that
mean we have to solve everything
suddenly climate change world hunger war
it’s all on us it feels too vast too big
to handle it’s easier to pretend it
isn’t happening or to pretend we can’t
make a difference I can vouch for this
because it happened to me in the midst
of all my actions in my busyness I
became profoundly saddened by what was
happening to the planet I was sitting
with a dear friend and mentor of mine
the late Bob hunter one of the
cofounders of Greenpeace I told him of
my state and he said ah yes the feeling
that you had to be between every whale
and harpoon approaching it yes yes
that’s it what do I do about that
he poured another beer Leighann do I
look like I’ve ever figured that out we
laughed but I realized there was
something that he was doing to sustain
his lifelong activism and when I studied
his
work I realized the secret was as much
as he could he had fun with his work yes
fun fun is a crucial element to
successful activism we have to do as
much as we can every day to make the
world a better place and having fun
while doing it
makes that a lot easier fun is also
persuasive having a good laugh while
you’re helping somebody change their
mind really makes that stick okay so the
good news is you’re already changing the
world you can do more with ease and it
feels great what is the new activism not
the new activism is not ranting on
Twitter the new active thank you the new
activism is not signing a petition every
now and then the new activism isn’t
going to an event once a year it’s an
intentional practice your your activism
a daily practice and it’s best done out
in the world rather than just behind
your computer and another secret you
don’t have to be angry to be an activist
we often think that in order to take
action we have to carry anger with us
like a sword I used anger as fuel for a
long time and then I realized the anger
burns hot and it often burns out and
it’s usually against something in this
world we have to have a vision for what
we want an alternative you often can’t
figure out that alternative when you’re
busy shouting at people compassion
open-mindedness those are the states
that allow us to create a vision of the
new world we want and to share it with
others and finally one other thing to
let go of is the idea of being right
that’s a tough one to let go of the idea
that us the sweet people over here we’re
on the side of truth and justice and
those people well they’re not as my
conversation with bud the Mountie who
arrested me
illuminated we can often be very
surprised and to find who is on the same
side still you can sit on the sidelines
you can stay and be the person that
doesn’t speak up who doesn’t take action
who misses the fun of changing the world
but in this world you do so at great
risk there are elections to be decided
problems to be solved challenges to be
faced okay you’re an activist so what’s
next what do you do first embrace your
inner activism celebrate what you’re
already doing that’s changing the world
for the better
talk about it model it share it with
others you are an activist now you
notice and then act and act again as
your daily activist practice and have
fun with it where you can because that
will sustain you imagine a world where
we were truly aware of the impact that
we make on others in the planet and we
made that impact better wherever we
could I think that would be a pretty
damn fine place to live the new activism
challenges us to be truly aware of the
change we make every day
and that small shift that can change
everything I think Alice Walker’s said
it best activism is my rent for living
on the planet so let’s pay our rent no
one gets to sit this one out
thank you
you
arrested was a place very few people
ever get to go picture this
it’s August 1993 a group of us get in a
boat and take an hour-long boat ride in
the dark
followed by over a mile of hiking
carrying heavy packs we catch a couple
of hours of half sleep on some rocks and
it’s 6 a.m. it’s time we stand at the
base of a carefully selected tree and I
can feel my heart racing can I really do
this I am seriously afraid of heights
like terrified like not able to climb a
stepladder to change a light bulb
terrified my team is staring at me
in the early morning cool damp air I
know what I have to do one push the top
rope up with my hand to push up with the
bottom rope a loop with my foot one two
and up I go my role is to get my butt up
this tree and onto the platform that’s
been set up there by our prep team I
have to set aside my fear of heights and
get up there before anyone else arrives
about midway up I realized that my
platform is a lot higher than I was
expecting
much higher but where else do I have to
go so I continued up until I reach the
platform rope at which point I panic I
cannot actually see the platform where
is it the tree is enormous I called down
to the climber who set up my new home
and he mumbles something into the radio
about how I’m gonna have to swing onto
it swing definitely not in my wheelhouse
but again where else do I have to go so
what
big push off the tree I swing over with
my rope and very inelegantly scramble on
to my tiny platform my new home I’ve
made it I have reached my goal my
mission to stop the road building that
is coming in to clear this forest in its
tracks so here I am as I look over from
my vantage point on this tiny platform
over the tops of these ancient Cedars I
realize that the view is astonishing and
its unique how many people climb 80 feet
up into a 500 year old cedar tree and
take in this view my first day turns
into a night and then another day and
another by the third day I’ve been
sitting on this 4 foot by 3 foot plywood
platform for so long I am feeling really
spent it has been over 60 hours since my
feet have touched the ground I hear a
commotion below me and I realize my time
is limited there is a very testy Royal
Canadian Mounted Police climber slowly
making his way up to me he will arrest
me and work will start again on the
logging road that splits open this
ancient forest when he gets about 10
feet below my platform I pop my head
over the side hi what’s your name you’re
the protester I don’t know who he’s
expecting but it sure isn’t me a
friendly 28 year old former high school
teacher with a friendly grin and a
desperate need for a hairbrush
my arresting police officers name is bud
he takes a look at me I don’t know where
you’re going but I need to sit down so
there we are
shoulder to shoulder the two of us with
front row seats to the majesty of a
forest that has been growing for
centuries but looks over me I just want
to let you know I agree with what
you’re doing I agree with your cause I
don’t think these trees should be cut
down either
and then he arrests me now I’ve been
hauled away by police a lot 15 times at
least that’s me I’m an activist when you
think of that word activist what comes
to mind
protesters dropping banners from the
sides of smokestacks people marching
through the streets protesting and
blocking traffic hecklers shouting over
speeches at political conventions or
maybe somebody’s sitting 80 feet up in
an ancient cedar those are the
conventional views that we have of an
activist I admit I liked those images
for a long time I was a rebel on the
frontlines of the movement risking aware
arrests and taking a stand and it was
easy to say I was an activist when I was
climbing trees and risking arrest it was
clear as a bell I also have to admit
that during that time we used to think
about people who weren’t willing to risk
arrest for what they believed in and we
called them civilians yes civilians
bystanders on the battle for truth and
justice now when I decided that I wanted
to do good without always planning for
time in a jail cell I decided to direct
charities was I still an activist
despite my more law-abiding role yes I
thought I was because I was still do
Gooding and I could see even more impact
I had staff money my need to do stuff
and I could see the change I was making
community gardens food for the food bank
transforming schools to environmental
sustainability then I had my children I
became a mom I stepped out of my
executive director role to have more
time with my kids
and along with the tornado that is
motherhood I felt like I had left my
activist identity far behind how did I
qualify anymore when I was busy helping
small people zip up their jackets and
wipe their noses had I become a civilian
as I thought about the state of my
activism I began to look around at my
friends and neighbors and I realized
this almost nobody thought of themselves
as an activist wasn’t that the whole
point to get more people to act to care
it really struck me that the
conventional view of activism not only
it accidentally excluded a lot of people
but it turned a lot of people off they
thought of risking arrest and marching
in the street and they thought that
isn’t me
and we lost them as potential activists
when the world needed them more than
ever I realized this the world needs a
new definition of activism one in which
we recognize that every action every
decision we make in a day is changing
the world we must make those actions
count well what if you don’t want to
take on all the problems of the world
there are so many let me state this as
clearly and strongly as possible
people’s lives are at risk the earth our
home upon which we depend for our
survival is in crisis if you decide to
stay at home and not lift a finger to
help well you’re letting some pretty bad
things happen that is true whether you
like it or not the good news is that
you’re already changing the world and
you can do more with ease you don’t have
to be on planetary duty 24/7 you just
have to do something every day to help
now activist me included have been
marching around for decades shouting
about the survival of the planet and
justice and equality and although we
find that we have had some progress it’s
often two steps forward
one and three-quarters steps back we
don’t have time for that anymore not
with the challenges we’re facing okay so
our inaction personal and collective has
potentially catastrophic consequences
what to do that’s where the new
definition comes in the new activist is
someone who recognizes that their daily
actions are changing the world and they
intentionally choose actions to create
the world they want it turns out we all
are activists like it or not we all are
activists changing the world every day
with our actions big and small changing
the world for better or for worse now
one of the most radical forms of
activism on the planet is parenting if
you decide to be in small people’s lives
or bring them into this world then you
have an enormous responsibility those
are the next generation of activists
those are the people that are supposed
to be helping us figure this mess out
they need to be happy and resilient
resourceful considerate and brave and
that’s up to you as a parent it’s a big
job
there’s so many ways you can express
your activism checking in on an elderly
neighbor letting somebody go ahead of
you in the grocery store line
babysitting for someone who’s exhausted
and needs a break it’s all part of it I
have a friend who has never seen herself
as an activist and she raises monarch
butterflies from caterpillar to adult to
help their numbers activists I know of a
woman who puts love notes into library
books for strangers to find activists my
dad always stopped to help people with
car trouble activists it’s all part of
it the collective impact of these
so-called small actions
it’s enormous another powerful
expression of your activism is what you
choose to buy think as you’re out there
considering what you’re going to choose
who made this how is it made and what
was its impact on the planet activism
tends to be contagious as you realize
how much power you have to change the
world and how good it feels but if you
decide to keep your actions small that’s
okay too
not everybody wants to be up on a stage
or go viral on YouTube those actions in
your family and your community
they matter greatly okay so if it’s that
easy why aren’t we all doing it what
scares us about our inner activism the
fact that we are changing the world
every day with our actions and we must
make those actions count maybe it’s the
fear of being pulled into the pain of
the world if we matter if we actually
can make a difference then doesn’t that
mean we have to solve everything
suddenly climate change world hunger war
it’s all on us it feels too vast too big
to handle it’s easier to pretend it
isn’t happening or to pretend we can’t
make a difference I can vouch for this
because it happened to me in the midst
of all my actions in my busyness I
became profoundly saddened by what was
happening to the planet I was sitting
with a dear friend and mentor of mine
the late Bob hunter one of the
cofounders of Greenpeace I told him of
my state and he said ah yes the feeling
that you had to be between every whale
and harpoon approaching it yes yes
that’s it what do I do about that
he poured another beer Leighann do I
look like I’ve ever figured that out we
laughed but I realized there was
something that he was doing to sustain
his lifelong activism and when I studied
his
work I realized the secret was as much
as he could he had fun with his work yes
fun fun is a crucial element to
successful activism we have to do as
much as we can every day to make the
world a better place and having fun
while doing it
makes that a lot easier fun is also
persuasive having a good laugh while
you’re helping somebody change their
mind really makes that stick okay so the
good news is you’re already changing the
world you can do more with ease and it
feels great what is the new activism not
the new activism is not ranting on
Twitter the new active thank you the new
activism is not signing a petition every
now and then the new activism isn’t
going to an event once a year it’s an
intentional practice your your activism
a daily practice and it’s best done out
in the world rather than just behind
your computer and another secret you
don’t have to be angry to be an activist
we often think that in order to take
action we have to carry anger with us
like a sword I used anger as fuel for a
long time and then I realized the anger
burns hot and it often burns out and
it’s usually against something in this
world we have to have a vision for what
we want an alternative you often can’t
figure out that alternative when you’re
busy shouting at people compassion
open-mindedness those are the states
that allow us to create a vision of the
new world we want and to share it with
others and finally one other thing to
let go of is the idea of being right
that’s a tough one to let go of the idea
that us the sweet people over here we’re
on the side of truth and justice and
those people well they’re not as my
conversation with bud the Mountie who
arrested me
illuminated we can often be very
surprised and to find who is on the same
side still you can sit on the sidelines
you can stay and be the person that
doesn’t speak up who doesn’t take action
who misses the fun of changing the world
but in this world you do so at great
risk there are elections to be decided
problems to be solved challenges to be
faced okay you’re an activist so what’s
next what do you do first embrace your
inner activism celebrate what you’re
already doing that’s changing the world
for the better
talk about it model it share it with
others you are an activist now you
notice and then act and act again as
your daily activist practice and have
fun with it where you can because that
will sustain you imagine a world where
we were truly aware of the impact that
we make on others in the planet and we
made that impact better wherever we
could I think that would be a pretty
damn fine place to live the new activism
challenges us to be truly aware of the
change we make every day
and that small shift that can change
everything I think Alice Walker’s said
it best activism is my rent for living
on the planet so let’s pay our rent no
one gets to sit this one out
thank you
you
Please follow and like us: