Want Change?What should you do about it?

Brainstorm!

With a partner, come up with a list of how citizens can create change in society.› Think of different ways they can be

involved or influence the democratic system.

What did you come up with?

Power and Privilege Power is the ability to change the

ability of others and to get things done. What are groups in society that have

power over us?› Government, schools, peer groups,

parents, etc. Two types of power:

› Hard power – used to force people to do things out of fear or threats of punishment.

› Soft power – change behaviours through persuasion and influence.

Sources of Power Authority – formal position or role that

comes with specific powers and abilities (Prime Minister, MPs, principals, police).

Reward – capacity to reward people. Material (money/privilege) or emotional (affection/acknowledgement/praise) can be found in the corporate world.

Force – capacity to threaten, harm and punish. Examples are physical (armies), economic (financial loss), or emotional (abuse).

Sources of Power cont. Knowledge – specialized knowledge and

skills. (scientists, professionals) Respect – people who are highly trusted,

respected and admired. Elders, friends and family. Some can be religious.

Power is neither good nor bad – it is HOW people use or abuse power that matters.

Citizens and democratic societies need to be aware of who has power, how it is used, and how it can be used for positive change.

Active Citizenship

Knowing who has power

Identifying abuses of power

Getting and using power for positive change

What is Privilege? It is a special benefit or advantage that is

available only to certain people or groups. Earned privilege – a result of effort and

achievement. Unearned privilege – advantage people

have based on social class, gender, physical abilities, geographical location or others.

Which is more fair?? Privilege applies to one person and rights

apply to everyone

Examples of Privilege

What are some groups that have privilege in Canada?

Watch the following video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VZxwY523Ok What are your thoughts on what

happened in the video?

The Underprivileged The gap between privileged and

underprivileged can be significant. This gap can affect fundamental

aspects of life like:› Health› Education› Basic Mobility› Income› Safety› Access to Justice

The Underprivileged Often people with fewer advantages

have difficulty breaking the cycle of these conditions.

Social programs, such as financial aid for education, are designed to help overcome these barriers.

What are other social programs that can do this?

Injustice When power and privilege reinforce

each other they can create injustice. People who have power often try to

hold onto it. The more they want to keep it, the

more it will be kept at the expense of others.

There are many examples of people giving up their unearned privileges and using their power to help others.

Fairness and Democracy In a democracy, it is important that everyone

feels they are treated fairly. This requires balancing a lot of competing

needs and interests. Is it fair that students who are the first in their

families to go to college or university may be eligible for special funding from the government? Yes or No?

Yes – students from these families face more barriers to continuing their education than others.

No – not fair to other students who are in financial difficulties but don’t qualify.

Consequences of Inaction Have you ever been in a situation

where you could have acted to prevent an injustice but didn’t? What were the consequences?

Not speaking up against bullying, failing to report abuse, ignoring discrimination, or not voting can all have a devastating impact.

Prolonged impact can affect the lives of thousands or millions of people.

Inaction Example: Canada Residential Schools

› Starting in the 1800s, 150,000 Aboriginal children were taken from homes and sent to government run schools

› Forbidden to speak their own language, destroyed culture

› Saw family only a few months a year› Many were subjected to physical, emotional and

sexual abuse› In spite of calls to end the schools, the

Government of Canada continued to operate them for decades.

› Results were devastating and the government finally made an apology in June 2008

Inaction Example: Global Rwandan Genocide

› UN Peacekeeping mission to the African country

› Goal was to keep peace between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes

› Hutu extremists slaughtered Tutsis and moderate Hutus

› 12 peacekeepers were murdered and many nations pulled their soldiers out of the country

› Despite pleas for more troops, the UN refused, argued and ultimately did nothing

› After 100 days of massacre there was 800,000 dead

Pondering Questions1. Should people be punished for failing

to act? Why or why not?› Consider witnessing: bullying, theft,

murder

2. Is government inaction more significant than individual inaction?

3. How do you decide when to get involved? What would motivate you to act?

Activism Means taking action to bring about social

or political change. We live in a democracy so you, as citizens,

have the ability to address injustices, make your point of view heard, and create change.

You can also try and stop a change you don’t think should happen.

Examples are persuading governments to change laws or joining social organizations (Me 2 We, Amnesty International).

Activism cont. What are some other ways that you can

be an activist in a democratic society? Examples:

› Sign a petition› Write your government (letter, e-mail)› Charitable work or donation› Wear a t-shirt (pink for anti-bullying)› Social Media – posts, likes, tweets

When you make your voice heard or advocate for what you believe, you are taking civic action.

Options for Action

Complete the ‘Options for Action’ sheet

Donate

Donate money, clothing, food Donate your time/volunteer Fundraise Buy Ethical Goods Positive – Builds on what others have

accomplished Negative – Leaves decision-making to

others

Educate

Educate yourself or others Stage a media event Lead or organized group events Positive – Great foundation for future

change Negative – Takes time

Communicate

Speak your mind Wear a T-shirt Raise Awareness online (social media,

blog) Create posters, flyers, art, music, or an ad

campaign Vote Positive – Directly influences others Negative – Must be willing to accept

criticism from others and respond

Agitate Sign a petition Join a march, rally or protest Boycott or support a business Organize a protest Positive – Gets a lot of attention Negative – Can only convey a simple

message

Why Might Action Not Occur? Are people aware? Is the story hidden,

ignored, not affecting people? Do people understand? Is the story

overwhelming, not well known or only seen by one perspective?

Are people committed? Story conflicts with beliefs/values or isn’t significant, not concerned with results of inaction, think someone else will fix it.

Are people taking action? They don’t know what to do or who can fix it, feel powerless, no clear objectives or plans.

How Do You Raise Awareness?

Key Questions› Why aren’t people

more aware?› Who needs to be

more aware and where are they?

› What activities will best raise awareness?

Possible Actions› Tweet› March› Email› Protest Share› Photograph› Record Video› Advertise

How Do You Increase Understanding?

Key Questions› What facts are

people missing?› What evidence will

be most compelling?

› What different perspectives should be considered?

Possible Actions› Write› Blog› Publish› Report› Post› Visit

How Do You Build Commitment?

Key Questions› Do people believe

it’s politically significant?

› Are the ethical considerations obvious?

› Are the consequences of inaction clear?

Possible Actions› Collect› Join› Petition› Rally› Organize› Lobby

How Do You Generate Action?

Key Questions› What do you want

other people to do?› Are the objectives

state and understood?

› Is everyone clear on the intended results?

Possible Actions› Plan› Share› Anticipate› Communicate› Measure

Canadian Difference Makers

David Suzuki – environmental activist Tommy Douglas – universal health care Terry Fox – cancer research Nellie McClung – women’s rights Stephen Lewis – AIDS activist Craig Kielberger – children’s rights

› https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afClM91uQFU

Pondering Questions Would you, or have you, ever choose to

break a rule or law? Under what circumstances do you think

it is acceptable to break the law? If someone broke a law to fight an

injustice they cared about but you strongly disagreed, how would you react?

What if Legal Action Fails? If a citizen has tried to make change legally

and it does not happen, what should they do next?

Civil Disobedience is a from of protest that involves peacefully and purposely breaking the law and accepting the consequences.

The goal of civil disobedience is to raise awareness of an injustice, or to directly challenge an unfair law, policy, or situation.

Can you think of any examples where this has happened in history?

Examples of Civil Disobedience Occupation – Rosa Parks refusing to give up

her seat to a white man. Blockade – Mohawk First Nation barricaded a

road near Oka, Quebec to protest a golf course being built on sacred land.

Public Disturbance – Greenpeace dumped tonnes of tuna heads in front of the Ministry of Agriculture in France to draw attention to the devastation of illegal fishing.

Illegal Protest – Student protests in Quebec in 2012 were banned but the government which resulted in citizens of all ages taking to the streets.

Violent Resistance Where civil disobedience is non-violent,

not everyone agrees in this tactic. Societies where the right of assembly

and a free press are not respected might foster violence to bring about change.

Violent resistance is sometimes used to fight injustice.

It can be aimed at oneself, disrupting a system, destroying/defacing property or instilling fear.

Examples of Violent Resistance Self-harm – A street vendor in Tunisia was

frustrated with the local police so he set himself on fire and started the Arab Spring.

Sabotage – Anonymous is a group that is anti-surveillance and anti-censorship. They attacked many US gov’t sites after a file sharing site was shut down.

Vandalism – Protestors at the G20 summit in Toronto resorted to vandalism to protest inequality in the world.

Terrorism – The FLQ Terrorist group used terrorism to further their goal of Quebec separation.

Famous Quotes “When a man is denied the right to live the

life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw” Nelson Mandela

“Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man.” Mahatma Gandhi

It is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks.” Malcolm X

Final Thoughts You have the ability to create change. You can create change locally,

provincially, federally or globally. All it takes is a passion and commitment

to a cause. Do not sell yourself short and do not be

afraid to stand up for what you believe in.

Don’t be afraid to stand up for those in society who cannot stand up for themselves either.

Sources

Civics and Citizenship by Canadian Investigations