So many campaigns this year were immensely satisfying because they were relatively short and focussed, with a clear development and end-point:
- The Nestlé campaign was great because it was so easy to get support for cuddly orangutangs, particularly from groups of young girls out shopping. And then we won so quickly and by the time we organised our HSBC survey we had to cancel because they too had caved in.
- The Tar Sands street campaigning was much tougher but we did feel we were genuinely informing people about something they didn't know much about. The manager of our local franchise garage was prepared to listen and even gave us ice-creams - a definite and unusual highlight! The prospect of taking the posters to BPHQ London made us in the sticks feel more part of a joint venture and motivated us on the streets.
- Being selected as one of the 5 Greenpeace-led 'Ask the Climate Question' constituencies was undoubtedly our biggest project of the year. We got to meet so many people, we learned so much about buttering up reporters and making our message attractive to local papers and we learned about the arrogance but also the intelligence and committment of politicians. We also learned how much a small group can take on and deliver successfully.
- Recently we have been busting a gut over the 'Go beyond Oil' campaign in Dorchester, Weymouth, Bridport and Portland in all weathers. 8 sessions and 400 cards, mostly for Oliver Letwin and Richard Drax, is the most intensive burst we have ever managed. This part of the campaign ended with a constructive meeting with our MP.
Hopefully the tasks will continue to be varied and will keep us going as a group. Some people want edgy and can't wait to get stickering, others are more cerebral and will write letters to MPs and others love chatting green stuff in the street.
We are still a new group without any experienced members to draw on, so I think I am particularly proud of how much better we now are at street campaigning. A smile and a good opening line that makes it clear you don't want money are really important. A visual draw slows people down. Our new gazebo is great - other things that have worked really well are the polar bear costume, painting rainbows on wallpaper on the pavement and even a member's friendly terrier.
To engage with a range of the public and be a real part of the community in a small conservative and Conservative market town the tactics are sometimes softly, softly. Feeding half the population free mince pies at the Christmas Cracker event was one of the best things we did!
This year we want to crack social events (which have been a bit of a damp squib) and a bigger event to cast our net wider than the usual suspects and provide photo-ops.. The first idea offered at last night's meeting was cleaning a less accessible beach, removing the rubbish by kayak and having a beach BBQ! 2011 - bring it on!
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