Eventually all of the following points will become a chapter or at least a paragraph to explain how they can be done or achieved. Until that time having the following points listed may be a help.
Also read the book Anyone Can (start their own environmental group) contained on this site.
If you have any further strategies which we have missed then we would welcome your E-mail of information or suggestion.
N.B. Some of these suggestions only relate to Queensland, Australia.
Contact local newspaper as soon as possible. Keep in touch with the local journalist and Editor.
Lodge a 'Freedom of Information" request for the files from council or government. Cost $30.00 plus $0.50 cents for each A4 page required by you.
Another avenue to checkout is the use of Section 32 of the Judicial Review Act (QLD). Under this Act, Ministers and public servants and local council employees may be asked to explain the reason behind some of their decisions. If you feel that this reason is not appropriate then the legal opportunity exists to ask the Supreme Court to have the decision overturned. A copy of the Act is available from the Government Printers (or Government web site) and seeking legal advice is advised. The request for a Statement of Reasons about a decision is free of costs and the person on whom it is sent has just 28 days to respond with answers or explain why under the Act they do not have give reasons.
Research applicant. Company search, annual returns, shareholders, previous developments, adjacent neighbours and/or action groups for their previous objections and course of action.
Keep newspaper cuttings of coverage.
Make a video tape about the issue. Have the proof of what is in dispute. Distribute widely to media and elected representatives.
Video public meetings and keep politicians to their public promises. .
Put out a phone number list of directors and major shareholders.
Call public meeting/march with banners and amplified voice/police permit maybe required
Letter box area with info and meeting date and place
Prepare several petitions, never only one on any one issue.
GO TO: creative petitioning page
Prepare several form letters. The strategy: if due the weight of objection the council refuses a rezoning or the Consent Use and the developer may want to take it to Court. If so, the developer must serve a legal notice on each and every formal objector. This could cost many thousands of dollars if enough objection are lodged on or before the due closing date for objections and the developer want to challenge the Council's decision. But be confident the wording of the form letter is actually an objection letter and is lodged by the due date at the appropriate location.
Prepare signs/placards/banners, place on fences and in house windows
Prepare public signs on the issue, stand at major intersections in peak hour traffic, hand out leaflets
Hold meetings, invite local representatives, invite developers
Ask to speak to council during meeting in chambers. In Brisbane a special form needs to be filled out and given to the Chairman of the council.
Ask to be informed when issue is coming before council committee for decision
Attend council committee and ask to speak during committee
Write to all councillors supply them accurate, up to date information
Phone all councillors and follow up if they have read your submission
Approach your local university of college. Ask if your issue can become a focus for a particular class project. Contact lecturers and ask for their help or guidance.
Write/fax/E-mail all members of cabinet or all members of government and/or opposition. Use a computer fax, form letter, and merge the name and address file c/- Parliament House and transmit to all members on one transmission. (Or at least try to. There is always not enough paper in their machine) Councillors can be faxed the same way.
Design and print Membership forms to join the group
Incorporation of Group
Possible insurance to cover meetings
Have group 'Sanctioned' (in QLD) (to be able to appeal for financial support from public ask the Consumer Affairs.)
Letters to the editor to all newspapers distributed in the area.
Write Press Releases. Eventually the Editor will acknowledge problem.
Make appointment with local journalist. Keep them informed
Take photos/video of development site. Supply them to journalists and councillors as many of them never visit the site. It is sometimes better to inform the journalist about the issue first before your interview with then. Include copies of photos with letters
Place signs in shop windows
Place petitions in shops, door-knock, flea markets, meetings etc.
If you have an issue with a government body one way to gain their attention is to place a web page in the Internet and have search engines place it first when searches are made for that government body.
Tips as follows:
Talk back programs are very useful
Copies of info to media outlets inc television stations
Street marches require a permit. Request the permit allow the group to carry large banners and allow amplifiers to be used.
If you intend to have a protest where civil disobedience will occur, then maybe everyone should buy, carry and use a cheap disposable camera. Not too many actions by authorities will occur if every time they go to take action everyone hold up their camera to take photos of their actions.
Street corner meetings
March through local shopping area on Saturday morning holding banners and signs singing slogans.
Chain letter and e-mail
Run a colouring in competition for school children on the subject & ask local politicians to judge. Post all entries to Premier or Lord Mayor
Ask local business to donate prizes
Contact other local community groups:
Progress association
Action groups
Queensland Conservation Council
Environmental Defenders Office
Parents and Citizens/ Friends association at local schools
Neighbourhood Watch
Safety House Committee
Church Groups
Environmental Groups
Political Parties
Political Candidates
Known Activists and/or Environmentalists
Politicians especially the opposition members who are always looking for some dirt on those in power.
Make Banners
Make signs
Paint Signs
Produce Shirts with Screen Print
Bumper Stickers
Tie up the area with a single colour ribbon
Attend shopping center with petition/form letter/display
Attend flea markets with petition/form letter/display
Contact local political representatives re use of photocopier for leaflets
Contact local paint distributors re mis-coloured paint cheap or free
Contact local liquidator/millinery supplier re cheap calico for signs & cardboard reels
Cardboard from white goods shops e.g.. fridge, stove, washing machine boxes
Always have a attendance list at meetings for name and addresses and phone numbers.
Always have a collection tin or box at meetings as it will cost you to run any type of campaign. phone calls, postage, faxes, photos, video tapes, hire of meeting halls, hire of public address system, photocopying, car travel costs, stationary, refreshments at meetings, etc.
Have a think tank of motivated people. Find a slogan that has few works, explains the problem of fix that can be read and understood easily.
Some of the signs that our Group have produced were, " A Pox on ..........." Of course this was the old "Shakespearean Curse!" and when 'The Silence of the Lamb' was the movie of the day and our Transport Minister was closing country rail lines our sign was, "Hamill Hannibal, The Rail Road Cannibal" This received the best sign at Parliament House rating by the major newspaper a few days later. Then on Stradbroke Island during 1997, "Sandmining SUX the Life out of Straddie." One sign not to be forgotten to produce and displayed is, "Honk to agree" or "Beep to support our cause".
Computer & printer & scanner & Internet access
Photocopier
Spirit Duplicator
Ink Duplicator
Offset printer
Noise Level Meter
Folding machine
Overhead projector
Data panel for above
Calico
Plastic paint various colours
Still camera
Video camera and VCR to copy tapes
Fax machine
Internet assess
Photocopying paper
Scrap book to keep all newspaper articles
P.A. system 12 volt if possible or 240 volt for meeting halls
Print 'thankyou' letters or certificates to all business and major donors.
Place in frames or plastic laminate for display.
If you write to a Department they are bound to reply within a reasonable time say 4 weeks. If they have not responded within that time send another letter and request a response within four weeks. If a reply to your letter is not sent within that time send a letter to the Ombudsman along with copies of your letters. Else you could use Section 32 of the Judicial Review Act and ask the recipient of your last letter, "How they had decided not to respond to your letter in a reasonable time or why they had not addressed all the issues in your correspondence.".
This page is maintained by
The Rivermouth Action Group Inc
E-mail: activist@rag.org.au
as a community service.