focussing activism

[satyrica]

(x-posted)

so I'm just back to London from a year in Sydney where I had the chance to get back involved in some activism after it had been crowded out of my life and I'm keen to reintegrate into my life back here, but whereas (partly as a way to get to know people) I had tarted myself a whole range of stuff there (queer community events, anti-war, environmental, workers' rights, supporting detained queer refugees) and ended up feeling like I wasn't doing any of them properly- I'm keen to be very focussed here, both because of time constraints and to feel like I'm making an effective contribution

the question is, in this big ol'city with so much going on, how do I go about finding/deciding on/getting involved in something that A) I believe in & think is important B) suits the skills I have to offer (which are more backroom than strategic, more social than evangelistic) and C) is issue led rather than ideologically dominated

I've been (peripherally) involved in a bunch of queer community stuff in London before and am happy to be again but (happily) I don't think domestic queer issues are the most pressing concern at the mo, whilst the complexity of scientific issues intimidate me slightly re: environmental activism, I can get my head around human issues more easily, although civil liberties and global corporate responsibility also interest me; I'm also more interested in getting involved in something effective than being particularly precious about revolutionary v. reformist/socialist v. anarchist separatism

any thoughts? have people found it easy to focus their activism/identify the 'right' campaign/issue to get involved in? in an ideal world it would develop organically out of me and the people round me but I don't think that's a possibility at the moment

Comments

[sea-cucumber.livejournal.com]

I get very confused as to what I could help out with in that regard. There are loads of issues that I would love to help address or raise awareness of, but I find it all so overwhelming I end up doing nothing, as there are so many complicated issues about so many complicated things!

[vierkilau.livejournal.com]

I'll check my list at work tonight of marches i'm not allowed on due to sensitivity. Also when are you free? Would love to meet up soon.

[satyrica.livejournal.com]

hey, meeting up would be cool :-) when are you around London-wards, I'm not working at the mo so daytimes are pretty good for me, possibly later in the week?