MoveOn's 50 Ways to Love Your Community: How to Find Your Political Voice and Become a Catalyst for

This handbook on civic activism features 50 short chapters (one or two pages each in most cases) authored by non-celebrities from all walks of life.

Excerpt from the Introduction
"This book is a compilation of contributions — big and small — that MoveOn members have made to the political dialogue. It includes tips and resources, to give everyone the opportunity and knowledge to do more, write more, or speak out more. We have organized the stories into five sections:

• The Power of Connecting illustrates how individuals and communities who share ideas and commitment to action can start, sign, and circulate petitions on the Internet, email their elected officials, arrange to meet with their senators, create online media, and research and disseminate candidate information.
• Every Vote Counts gives examples of how to further one of the most important actions we take as citizens—by ensuring that our electoral process works, registering voters in innovative ways (including voters often ignored by politicians), and improving voter turnout.
• The Many Faces of the Media explores a crucial influence on our political system and public opinion. MoveOn members tell how to become informed media consumers, how to provide several kinds of input to the traditional media, how to counter the conservative spin, and even how to create our own media.
• Political Action Is Personal tells the stories of people actively involved in politics, whether supporting bills, starting initiative measures, volunteering in election campaigns, hosting political house parties, donating money, running for office, or developing a fresh campaign strategy.
• Personal Action Is Political introduces a broad array of creative steps that people have taken to contribute to the political dialogue, such as expressing political views through art or fashion, engaging in community service, choosing a job in politics, attending a rally or city council meeting, and forming a political salon."

Click here for more information and to order the book.

Click here to read MoveOn.org's programme description on The Communication Initiative Website.