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Advocacy

20/6/2023

22 Comments

 
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‘When the world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.’ (Malala Yousafzai)

It’s about influencing, convincing, persuading – often with or on behalf of vulnerable people or groups who may lack the power, opportunity or safety to do it alone or for themselves. It always focuses on change, typically hoping to create a shift in strategy, policy or practice. My earliest attempts at advocacy were in my early teens, campaigning against brutal mistreatment of animals in Spanish bull-fighting. In my later teens, I moved into human rights work to campaign vociferously against horrific political abuses and atrocities in El Salvador. In retrospect, I do wonder if my energetic beating of the drum achieved anything.

My approach was certainly driven by passion, confronting head-on what I saw as critically important ethical issues. I would argue my case forcefully, growing ever-more skilful at constructing a stance based on sound evidence and, I hoped, near water-tight rationale. I was galvanised in this conviction and activism by my new-found faith as a follower of Jesus, and by biblical injunctions to: ‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy’; ‘Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and oppressed.’

In later years, I became increasingly convinced by the need for a radical change in my approach. There are occasions on which direct polemic is needed, for instance: for sake of conscience, to take a clear and unambiguous public counter-stance on an issue, irrespective of whether it will win the day. In many cases, however, I’ve found that prayer, empathy and diplomacy are more effective and less likely to provoke a defensive response. Diplomacy doesn't mean compromise. It does, however, call for humble respect; to see and relate to the ‘other’ as human, with their own hopes, anxieties, interests, pressures and concerns.

John M. Lannon proposes 4 main strands to this approach: ‘Show empathy; Acknowledge opposing views; Maintain a moderate tone; Use humour where appropriate.’ To show empathy is to identify with the others’ feelings and to express genuine interest in their best interest. To acknowledge opposing views is, before arguing your own case, to show respect for the other by acknowledging any merits in their position. To maintain a moderate tone is to resist overstating your case and stay away from emotionally-loaded words. To use gentle humour can ease the tension in a situation, depending on the nature of the relationship.

Some of the most inspiring role models in my own advocacy work have been: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa, Bob Hunter, Archbishop Oscar Romero, Jasmin Philippines, Mike Gatehouse, Sister Isabel Montero, Andy Atkins, Rudi Weinzierl, Mike Wilson, Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai and Ruth Cook. Their approaches have all broadly been characterised by what the founders of Greenpeace saw as as 5 core elements and stances in world-changing individuals and movements: ‘Plant a mind bomb; Put your body where your mouth is; Fear success; The revolution will not be organised; Let the power go.’
22 Comments
Rob Anderson
20/6/2023 03:17:06 pm

Good article Nick. I think you're being a bit hard on yourself. I'm sure you achieved something! We don't always see the results of our work.

Reply
Nick Wright
21/6/2023 11:07:49 am

Thanks for your reassurance, Rob. Yes, at least I did feel a bit better for trying to do something, rather than just agonising over these things or complaining about them. As Greenpeace so insightfully says, 'The optimism of the action is better than the pessimism of the thought.'

Reply
Nicola Goulder
20/6/2023 03:30:35 pm

Really interesting, Nick. I agree with Rob. We don't always see the results of our efforts. Sometimes governments or organisations do change, but they would rarely admit it was because we made them do it! They want to save face.

Reply
Nick Wright
21/6/2023 11:13:32 am

Thanks Nicola. I liked Greenpeace's former practice of including a quotation from those who opposed its work on every page of its annual report. It showed directly and indirectly the impact of its work on those whom it was seeing to influence and change.

Reply
John Evans
20/6/2023 03:34:39 pm

I like what you have shared of Lannon's approach. It leaves the door open for dialogue rather than ramming our own message down someone else's throat, even if we feel justified in doing that.

Reply
Nick Wright
20/6/2023 03:38:49 pm

Thanks John. I worked with one NGO that invited MPs from very different political parties to give feedback on its advocacy work. The MPs all said: 'Please don't assume we don't already agree with your cause. Please understand we are just normal human beings trying to balance multiple competing issues, pressures and demands.' They went on, 'It feels so alienating when you try to lobby us, to change our minds, on things we already agree with you on.' That was a very humbling and challenging insight!

Reply
Sandra Francis
20/6/2023 03:42:13 pm

Put your body where your mouth is. That's what climate activists are doing. It's better than signing a petition from a comfortable armchair at home. It's getting out there and doing something about it. I don't always agree with their tactics but I do admire their spirit. I wish more of us were like that, including me.

Reply
Nick Wright
20/6/2023 03:47:27 pm

Hi Sandra. Yes, lots of climate activists are following in the footsteps of the early founders of organisations like Greenpeace. On that theme, if you haven't seen 'How to Change the World' (2015), it's well worth a glance.

Here are some inspiring insights from it: http://influencefilmclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/How-To-Change-The-World-DG1.pdf

Reply
Derek Rogers
20/6/2023 03:44:27 pm

Hey Nick. I didn't know the bible said those things. An eye opener for me. So why aren't more Christians doing it? Like your blog by the way.

Reply
Nick Wright
20/6/2023 03:49:51 pm

Hi Derek. Yes, the Bible says that...and a lot more on this theme! I'm privileged to know lots of Christians who are doing it. I hope that's my own life story and legacy too. In case of interest: https://www.nick-wright.com/eulogy.html

Reply
Adrian Scott
20/6/2023 07:34:12 pm

Good advocacy is like good negotiation. Tell them what you want, not just what you don't want. Don't leave them guessing about what outcome or solution you would find acceptable.

Reply
Nick Wright
20/6/2023 07:47:28 pm

Hi Adrian. That's a good and helpful point!

Reply
Sheila Walsh
20/6/2023 07:41:31 pm

When I was a teenager in foster care, my social worker was my advocate. She always looked out for me and tried to get all the help I needed. She was my true star, heroine and inspiration. I became a social worker because of her. I want to stand up for others who are too scared or helpless or vulnerable to stand up for themselves. Just like I was.

Reply
Nick Wright
20/6/2023 07:48:41 pm

Hi Sheila. Thank you for sharing such a moving and inspiring account from your own personal experience. Your social worker sounds like an amazing person. You do too. Keep up the good work.

Reply
Mark Francis
20/6/2023 07:46:43 pm

I'm glad you mention the Bible, Nick. Advocacy is a theme throughout the whole Bible with numerous examples of people advocating on behalf of others. Ultimately, Jesus Christ (1 John 2 vs 1) and the Holy Spirit (John 14 vs 6) are both described as advocates too. Thank you for posting this article, Nick!

Reply
Nick Wright
21/6/2023 11:12:33 am

Hi Mark - and you're welcome. Yes, I too see advocacy as a common theme, and examples of advocates living it out in practice, throughout the entire Bible. Advocacy and mediation often sit close together. I love the description of the Holy Spirit in my German translation as: the one who 'stands with-beside' us.

Reply
Mark Francis
21/6/2023 01:56:22 pm

'The Word became flesh and blood...' (John 1 vs 14). Incarnation. The supreme example of "put your body where your mouth is".

Nick Wright
21/6/2023 01:56:51 pm

Hi Mark. Wow - and yes indeed!!

Angela Foster
20/6/2023 08:20:29 pm

Lannon is right. Naming and shaming makes people angry, resentful and more entrenched.

Reply
Nick Wright
20/6/2023 08:25:01 pm

Hi Angela. I worked with a global advocacy expert, Nina Nepesova, who I think would agree with you. I remember her once telling me that "90% of effective advocacy isn't headline-grabbing campaigning...but behind-the-scenes diplomacy."

Reply
Lesly
24/6/2023 02:55:43 pm

You are my inspiration Coach Nick for remembering the poor since you became a Christian at 22 and pampering the most vulnerable more than yourself. Just like mother Teresa who save my family from homelessness.☺️At the moment my greatest advocacy as a child of God and sister of Jesus with the powerful light of grace from the Holy spirit is to be meek in every rejection to accept with a smile everything just like a little child to have a permanent place in the kingdom of God.

Now a days being radical will make you unpopular because the trend is to take it easy go with the flow and you will be free from life threat.

Yet I take 1 bucket of prayer to contain the wildness in me to obtain fairness,justice and peace. or worst if you are not familiar of the ART OF WAR you will already lost without being on the actual battle field and above all in
every human battle the wealthiest will always win. You might be given a chance to be listened to but the after mat is always ground zero because the change that we are aiming for will just be live stream once and never been acted upon.

So for now I chose my battles and it is to bring more souls to Jesus by sharing his love,virtues and his vast mercy to the least,to the oppressed and to sinners like me.

That God's love and compassion is like an ocean that never runs dry for those who seek,ask and surrender everything to his providence.

Reply
Nick Wright
24/6/2023 10:49:47 pm

Thank you, Lesly. I know your real name and I have never met anyone as radical as you in your faith and in your following of Jesus. You inspire and scare me in equal measure. Yes, at a human level, the wealthy have so much power and so often win - especially in places where corruption is rife. It often feels like there is no justice for the poor (a topic the Bible has a lot to say about!) and I hate that the poor are so vulnerable. Jesus is our hope. Thank you for the so many different ways in which you bring that hope to those who otherwise live without hope.

Reply



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    ​Nick Wright

    ​I'm a psychological coach, trainer and OD consultant. Curious to discover how can I help you? ​Get in touch!

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