How to Become an Armchair Activist

Armchair activism allows many individuals to change the world from the comfort of their homes. If you have a cause you want to support, but lack the time or money to travel the country, the life of an armchair activist could be the perfect for you.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Pick an organization. Quality is better than quantity, and selecting a cause you passionately want to help is better than trying to support every cause.

2. Request information. Most advocacy organizations have simple forms you can fill out right on their websites. Once you're on a mailing list or two, you will be updated about any new developments, and you can choose the best way to help.

4. Join a boycott. Boycotting is passive; you don't need to leave the house to not buy something, making it the perfect method of advocacy for an armchair activist. Once again, your organization will send out messages regarding any local, national or global boycotts. You also can write to the manufacturers and let them know why you don't support its products.

5. Recruit. Whether by email or telephone, one of the most important roles of any armchair activist is to strengthen the cause. From calling potential voters to spreading the word to your friends and family, even the smallest actions help.

Tips & Warnings

• Your activism doesn't have to stop at your armchair. Take any opportunity to truly get active in the trenches. Home-based advocacy should be a gateway, not a dead end.
• If your activism notices looks like spam, they probably are spam. Make sure that your petitions, boycotts and other media look like activism, not junk mail.
• If you don't believe in your cause, your cause will be lost. Even armchair activists must do their homework.

Resources

• Armchair Activist Issues