"Of course, the people do not want war. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a very simple thing to drag the people, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist regime, or a parliament. or a communist dictatorship. With voice or not, the people can always be dragged by the wishes of the leaders. It's easy. All you have to tell them is that they are being attacked, denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and put the country in danger ", Hermann Goering during the Nuremberg trials
War can be devastating and wreak havoc on entire societies for decades and generations. Sometimes nothing good remains from long years of struggle and overwhelming national losses. Many people are against the war, but do not know how to act to stop it. There are a wide variety of measures you can take to mark your position against war.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Participate in the protests
Step 1. Find out about the matter
If you want to get your voice heard and convince other people to join the cause, you have to make sure you fully understand the issue. Read about the war in the news, keep up to date with current events around the world, and research the historical background of the areas that are at war and that interest you.
Step 2. Choose a location or an event
To make your protest effective and reach as many people as possible, choose an event or location carefully. Where you choose will significantly affect how people receive your message. If you interrupt a church service with your demonstration, people will feel more uncomfortable and less receptive than if you were protesting outside a local government office.
If you want to join a protest that someone else has organized, there are many ways to find out when it happens. There are several web pages that function as a space to document upcoming national and international protests. However, you should also contact your local chamber of commerce or other local organizations to find out about protests happening in your area
Step 3. Make posters
You can make them the dimensions of large banners or take-out signs. Regardless of their appearance, make sure they convey the idea. Do not paint the letters yellow, as people will not be able to see them when they are driving by. Paint them a dark color, like black or red. Write something meaningful that makes people want to sign the petition, such as "People are dying. You can stop it." This message will make the person feel guilty for doing nothing and they will proudly sign the petition to contribute to a cause.
Do not write something like "Stop the war or we will hurt you", because it would go against the conviction you are asserting
Step 4. Gather followers
The sad truth is that if no one believes in what you are doing, no one is going to help you. The easiest thing is to get a lot of your friends to join you and start looking for other like-minded people. Ask your friends to invite other people they know. Post about them on social media and ask your friends to share them.
If you are going to organize a protest, the more people will participate and the more effective it will be
Step 5. Protest
Go to a crowded place, like the park on a nice day. Settle yourself at a nice table with other supporters and say messages like "People are dying! Only you can stop it!" or "Against war, for peace!" These phrases are likely to attract the attention of others. If someone arrives, tell them your convictions and ask them to sign a petition.
In general, you will not need a permit to protest in public areas such as parks, pavements, or streets. If you are protesting on private property, you will need the permission of the property owner. Sometimes, permission is required to protest if it takes place on state property or assistance from the city is needed (for example, to close the streets)
Part 2 of 3: Using Political Media
Step 1. Create a petition
Open a Word document and make a page titled "STOP THE WAR" and explain what you think. Then insert numbers and lines large enough to fit names. Print multiple lines because many people will have to sign.
- You can also create an anti-war petition that people can sign electronically.
- If your goal is for the government to change, consider submitting the petition to the presidency. Officials will read it if you get 100,000 signatures in 30 days.
Step 2. Share your request with other people
Making a petition is pointless unless you get others to sign it. Start with your friends and family, and ask for their support and signatures. Afterward, you can start asking strangers to sign. Post about it on social media, walk in crowded areas, and approach people with your request (college campuses are good places for this option). The more signatures you have, the more credibility your cause will have.
Step 3. Vote for the candidate who is against the war
Take action and vote for the candidate who is against the war. Encourage others to do it too. You can encourage your friends to vote for the candidate who is against the war, but this is not a good idea with strangers, because they will not like you telling them what to do.
- If there are no elections this year in your area, get involved in other ways. Support an antiwar candidate (or other elected official) by donating money and volunteering your time. This is a great way to support the cause you believe in.
- It will not be wrong to ask people to sign a petition, but telling them who to vote for and informing them about the candidate will seem more like a campaign. Try to be personal when asking people to help with the cause and focus on the small actions they can take.
Step 4. Educate your community about the cause you defend
If you really want to stop a war, you will have to get other people to have this conviction as well. You can organize community antiwar forums in your area to talk about the issues and educate others. Another option is to make and distribute flyers that explain your convictions. You can promote events in your area that support the cause and put ads in the local newspaper.
Step 5. Financially support others who work to stop wars
Donate to campaigns, offer your time or support in some other way. These contributions will add to the efforts being made to end the war.
- A good example of anti-war organizations that you can donate your money to or volunteer to are the "National Youth and Student Peace Coalition" and the "Stop the War Coalition."
- You can also raise funds for developing countries, specifically where there is war. Host a charity, raffle or auction, or donate your possessions. All of these activities will contribute to the people suffering from the devastating consequences of war.
Part 3 of 3: Join or start a movement
Step 1. Find people who think like you
If you want to start an anti-war movement in your area, you will have to recruit other people who believe the same as you. To get started, ask your friends, then broaden your search. Hand out flyers on college campuses. Research and connect with other peace groups in your area, including religious organizations. Take advantage of social networks. You can create a group on a social network and recruit people in this way, although they may not all be in your area.
Step 2. Create a foundation for your group
All groupings have to be based on an ideology or conviction. Your anti-war group has to outline and define a series of convictions and objectives that all members agree on. In the future, this will be the membership guide.
Step 3. Create connections in the community
If you want to really make a difference, you will have to start by connecting with your community and getting other citizens involved. Your presence in the community must be visible so that others see you, know what you do and are interested in your project.
Sponsor an anti-war night at a local restaurant where a portion of the proceeds go to stop the war. Host a community event that raises funds for your cause. Create relationships with local businesses that help you and allow you to use their businesses as a route to get the community involved
Step 4. Participate in a demonstration without violence
Demonstrations can be a very effective form of political activism because they show the public how strong your convictions are in the everyday context. Whether you want to make a proposal sitting in a local restaurant or chain yourself to the gates of the city hall, your actions will show many people the intensity of your convictions and may inspire them to consider war more deeply.
Advice
- Before using the petition, make sure it has at least a thousand signatures; otherwise no one will pay attention to it.
- Go to special events, like trade shows, and see in advance if you can hand out flyers there. If not possible, find another place to inform people.
- Designate a lead organizer for each campaign. This person will be in charge of things like preparing it and getting enough space.
- Have an email list and let people know how the campaigns are developing, as well as what is happening in the war and the number of victims.
- Think of various demonstrations that protesters might attend.
-
Protest rally ideas
- Start a chain of people with their arms outstretched and their fingertips touching. Set a goal of how long the chain should be.
- March for peace. Make posters for everyone and hang out on busy streets for a while to get a lot of attention.
- Host a concert and donate a portion of the money to bring the soldiers home. Let people know about the concert and have everyone pay a ticket of about $ 5. Collect the money in a jar and use it to get the soldiers back home.
- Host a candlelight vigil and have everyone march after sunset with candles in hand. This demonstration is mainly used to inform people that people are dying, so many will follow you.
Warnings
- Some people do not want to sign petitions or receive pamphlets. Don't force them because this will destroy any chances you have of being listened to in the future.
- In some countries, this material is considered seditious, and Protestants are arrested or imprisoned.