Thanks for replying 🙂

Not only that but micro-activism is a vent for those that can’t do anything more than low engagement:
1. Due to work, uni, and/or family people might not have the time to commit to volunteering or events.
2. The Micro-activist might be too far away from an event or it might be hard to get to without the proper transport.
3. They might not be able to donate due to lack of funds but still want to help.
4. Even though they know it’s morally good to pass on a certain link, they may genuinely not be interested in the cause.
5. Physically disabled micro-activists might make it hard to help out or social aniexty will make it impossible to be around other people.
6. Micro-activists might have a lack of information about the causes they want to help due to a number of reasons.
7. Might just genuinely be too nervous to help out, micro-activism online builds their confidence to get more invovled.

In my view – people saying micro-activists are lazy, are calling the hard-working, the stay at home, possibly lone, unsupported parents, the poor, the socially anxious, the willing – lazy. It’s de-moralising.

“It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little – do what you can.”
Sydney Smith.

Sorry for the long reply!

Great example with the Red Cross Hazel. I think there’s a lot to be said for micro-activism as a fund-raising mechanism. It may be a bit shallow overall, but as long as they can feel better and benefit the org it’s a drop in the right bucket and we’ll take the money.
With any luck it feels so good they take the next step and actually get involved, reach deeper and get committed to moving towards social good in an engaged and active fashion.

To answer both questions with one example :p

Japanese Red Cross asks for as little as 100 yen (just 76p) for a donation, which is what I’d call a micro-activism (I count one off donations as micro-activism as it’s just one gesture no matter how much the amount and continuing monthly payments as consistent activism). I’m sure there are many more, and organisations I think should realise that micro-activists are brilliant free advertisement and promotion, sort of like head hunters for the people that can commit that extra time to being an activist for their company.

My most recent act of micro-activism was joining a ‘support Japan with a click’ facebook group, posting that link on my wall, inviting friends to the group, sharing the link on twitter and writing a blog post about it. (http://quirkybean.co.uk/2011/03/15/support-japan-with-a-click/) To give the summary, this is a very impressive example of clicktivism – currently 2.5 million users have joined the group – if just 1% of them donate £5 – that one facebook page has raised £125,000 just through people ‘liking’ the group and sharing the link.

I also count micro-activism as promoting good karma in general like operation beautiful (http://operationbeautiful.com/), it doesn’t have to be to raise money – just to fulfil a personal or charitable goal.

Thanks for your comment, Hazel – I love the “micro activism” term as it’s
far more positive! Plus, it implies it’s really all adding up.

How have you engaged in micro activism and have you experienced
organizations endorsing the micro actions as well as bigger ones?

For some, Micro-Activism is all they can do, they care but due to other responsiblities such as full on jobs or children, they can’t dedicate time to personal interests and causes.

Interesting post 🙂