One response might be activism—taking action to bring about change. For example, you might take sides on an issue that has social, political, or economic consequences. Often activism starts when someone is personally affected by a problem.

In this lesson, you'll learn about some of the causes that have inspired activism and the tactics activists have used to end harmful practices or reshape policies. As you’ll see, activists could be high school students just like you and your classmates.

You probably already know that many commonly used chemicals pose risks to the environment and to human health. For example, pesticides are synthetic chemicals that farmers often use to control crop-eating insects. Although they kill pests, they can also kill beneficial organisms and may be ingested with the foods we eat.

In this video, you'll learn about Rachel Carson, a scientist and early environmental activist. Carson saw a problem and took action to publicize the harmful health effects of a pesticide called DDT.

Click "View" on the left to watch the video.

After watching the video, describe how Rachel Carson took action, and explain what her actions accomplished.

Although Rachel Carson was criticized personally and professionally for exposing the dangers of DDT, she eventually came to be seen as an environmental hero. As a result of Silent Spring and the subsequent congressional investigation, DDT was banned. In fact, Carson’s activism is regarded as the first step of the environmental movement.

In the next screens, you'll meet some students who have also become environmental activists. Their stories demonstrate that your age does not prevent you from leading the fight for public health and environmental justice.

Before moving to the next screen, write down two negative environmental trends you're aware of in your community or in the world, and suggest what needs to change to reverse these trends.

Sometimes people are unaware that an environmental public health problem exists. Raising awareness of such issues is a fundamental part of activism. In some cases, being aware of the potential hazard allows people to protect themselves.

In other cases, that information alone is not enough, and people need to organize action. In this video, you’ll meet Erica, a 16-year-old from a largely Latino community in California. Watch how she educated people in her community about the potential environmental impact of an offshore liquefied natural gas project. Erica then took the important next step of teaching community members how to get involved and organize others to stop the project.

Click "View" on the left to watch the video.

After watching the video, write down two or three sentences to explain why Erica was concerned about the proposed LNG facility and how she organized her community.

You may picture activists organizing a protest rally, but this is only one of the tactics they might use. Other tactics include writing letters to the local papers and to elected officials, preparing informational leaflets and surveys, forging alliances with groups that have shared concerns, boycotting businesses, and organizing press conferences.

While a role of government is to pass and enforce laws to safeguard the health of children, families, neighborhoods, and the natural environment, sometimes it fails to do so. Then activists can use a tactic called lobbying to try to influence their elected officials.

In this video, Shadia explains how she and fellow activists lobbied her state legislature when her community was threatened by improper toxic waste management. Eventually their activism paid off. Lawmakers agreed to refinance a program called Superfund, which sets aside money to clean up toxic waste sites.

Click "View" on the left to watch the video.

Some issues are best addressed at a community level. In this video, Misra, an 18-year-old from New York City, was concerned about how difficult it was for residents of her urban community to get to a nearby park. Using survey results and a youth-led press conference, she spurred local authorities to improve transportation access to the park.

Click "View" on the left to watch the video.

After watching the video, describe the tactic(s) Misra and her youth activist group employed to improve her community’s access to the park. Why do you think her approach worked?

Forming partnerships with other groups that share similar interests, such as governments or businesses, can help activists achieve their goals. Partnerships can enable even a small project or a slow-growing movement to reach more people and have a far greater impact.

In this video, meet Andrew, a college student in Colorado who helped design a way to produce fuel using recycled vegetable oil instead of petroleum. As Andrew points out, the environmental and public health benefits of biodiesel are considerable. Conventional diesel fuel produces carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) and clouds of toxic, black smoke, called soot. Soot contributes to health problems such as asthma, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

Click "View" on the left to watch the video.

After watching the video, describe how Andrew started with a smaller project and worked up to a larger one.

Consumers—people who buy products—can pressure companies to change how they do business. Such consumer activism may improve the quality and safety of products as well as the conditions under which they are made, advertised, sold, or recycled. Tactics might include boycotts, pickets, or legal suits. In many cases, consumer activism can bring the quickest results.

This video highlights how Jessica, a high school student and leader of Teens for Safe Cosmetics, encouraged consumers to pressure a multinational corporation to change how it makes beauty products. Concentrate on the first three minutes of the video. You can stop watching at the start of the section called “Legal Action.”

Click "View" on the left to watch the video.

After watching the video, write down two or three reasons why you think a large corporation or a legislator would respond to pressure from an individual or a small group of consumer activists. Be sure to click "Save Notes." Then watch the rest of the video to learn how Teens for Safe Cosmetics successfully lobbied California legislators to support their cause.

Today’s activists are increasingly turning to technology to share their knowledge and strengthen their efforts. Blogs and social media can be used both to spread awareness and organize public events and cyber campaigns.

In this video, watch how Marisol, a high school teen in Chicago, confronted the issue of pollutants from industrial sites in her community. Using Google Maps, she was able to “create a ripple effect,” spreading her message outward in every direction.

Click "View" on the left to watch the video.

After watching the video, describe the ways in which you’ve used technology—or heard of it being used—to organize the public. Why do you think social media might be more effective as an organizing tool than traditional “word of mouth” communications?

What personal characteristics do activists typically possess? Here are some examples:

• They are good communicators, getting their points across clearly and persuasively.
• Because they must be credible and have a message based on facts, they are typically strong researchers and ready to work with knowledgeable adult mentors.
• They persevere, remaining committed to a cause even in the face of obstacles.
• They are passionate so that people recognize how deeply they feel about their cause.
• Many are outgoing—not afraid to be on the front lines, engaging with people they may not know and asking difficult questions.

Which of these characteristics did you recognize in the youth activists featured in the videos? Which do you think you share with them? Can you add any characteristics to these examples? Write down your notes in the box below.

In this lesson, you have learned about activism, some of the tactics young people like yourself have used to influence others to support a cause, and the characteristics activists possess. You will now have a chance to show what YOU might do as an activist.

Begin by reviewing your notes. Click "review my work" above and view or print out the screen that pops up.

Then, click the Taking Action for a Clean Environment—Final Assignment (PDF) and select one of the two assignments.