On boycotts, I’ve already started avoiding their products, but when I noticed that people around me, and people in general, don’t take it seriously, I began questioning whether it actually has any real impact. Is the problem that boycotts don’t work, or that people simply can’t resist their habits and desires? I honestly can’t create change alone, so what am I supposed to do with that?
So I’m asking: where does an ordinary person start? What common mistakes should I avoid? What genuinely helps, instead of hollow gestures of solidarity?
Are you alone? Join an organization or party. If there are none that you’re comfortable joining, start by having a scheduled news briefing or book club with friends, family, or coworkers.
Boycott is pretty easy and it’s the bare minimum. As a vegan I look down upon people so uncaring, unserious, unbothered, and unprincipled that they would make excuses.
Some of the other not/less criminalized actions can range from door knocking, flyering at a public space, putting up posters or stickers, giving speeches, donating, collecting donations, posting on social media, sharing, wearing messaging like a kufiyeh or badge. And if there’s a Communist party or a legitimately pro-Palestine candidate that you can vote for, of course vote.
More criminalizing would be attending protest, vandalizing, destroying property, occupying space, etc. The first is the most important and actually risk free. It truly builds power.