212: The Heart and Art of Advocacy
Learning to listen, tell heart-based stories, and build authentic relationships with decision-makers
Part 2 of the Advocacy series
Listen to Part 1 here
“When you bring groups of people together, basically what you're doing is creating power where none existed before.”
My guest in this episode is Sue Inches, an experienced environmental advocate, educator, and policy consultant. She is the author of the highly acclaimed Advocating for the Environment: How to Gather Your Power and Take Action.
The Una River - One of the most beautiful rivers in Europe, is currently unencumbered by human-made structures.
The Una River — the “one” — is so named because centuries ago it was deemed to be the most beautiful river in the Roman Empire. Today, it flows within Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina. While currently free-flowing, meaning it is unencumbered by dams or other human-made structures, it is in danger of being severely impacted by a series of hydroelectric dams. Those dams, many of which would produce only low levels of electrical power, would threaten
> the survival of Una’s unique fish population and other wildlife,
> one of the most beautiful areas in Europe, and
> the area's eco-tourism and other aspects of the local economy.
The Una has individuals, NGOs, and corporations advocating on its behalf. But it is a constant struggle because as one advocate commented “Whenever money comes, normally nature goes.”
The struggle for the Una serves as an example for would-be advocates of other causes. Many of the points we’ll discuss in this episode are evident in Una’s struggle: story, individual and organizational power, mission, decision-makers, strategy, relationship building, optimism, and so on.
“One of the things that you could fault the environmental movement for is that they're seemingly always against things. They're against toxins and against carbon emissions and against development and all of that. And really, you know, we have to ask ourselves, what are we for, and we have to hold on to a vision of that.”
Referenced / Background articles / Relevant videos
Show Credits
"Getting Unstuck" is commercial-free. It’s brought to you by Jeff Ikler, his amazing guests, and Neil Hughes, the best engineer a podcaster could ask for.
"Getting Unstuck" theme music: Original composition of "Allegro ben ritmato e deciso" by George Gershwin. Arrangement and recording courtesy of Bruno Lecoeur.
And speaking of advocacy
From the “Awkward Angler Podcast”
Thank you for your continued support in tuning into The Awkward Angler Podcast by @AwkwardAngler - a special mini-series sponsored by the @troutunlimitedalaska program.
I am your host, Erica Nelson. In this mini-series of six episodes, you’ll hear from the Bristol Bay Fly Fishing & Guide Academy local students, and instructors, on how you can take action on Pebble Mine to protect generations of traditional living, protect wild salmon, Alaska jobs, and the economy, and world-class recreational fishing. All episodes are available on all podcast platforms including Apple and Spotify.
Please be sure to submit a comment to the EPA that you support strong Clean Water Act protections for the Bristol Bay region for its people, fish, and fish-based industries as soon as you can! The deadline has been extended to September 6, 2022.