aot

The Actions Options Tool (AOT) provides organizational or political empowerment that transcends the definition of what the term conventionally implies. In addition to providing guidance, the tool offers perspective. Users are able to see, in detail, the actions of individuals and organizations nearby and far away while at the same time being able to identify patterns and trends that inform individual member organization or committee decisions.

If we thought that by our actions we could change the world, many of us would, without hesitation, take those actions. For many of us, what stops us is that we feel powerless as individuals to create that change. The tool provides an alternative view. It is often difficult to see and experience the reality that the actions we take as individuals are part of something larger than our individual selves. Participation with the tool allows us to see our connections to the actions or behaviors of other people that believe as we do. The Actions Grid is a 2-D overview of the contiguous interconnection of tens of thousands of individuals - a dynamic snapshot of a current in the river of current affairs or social change.

There is a shift in identification as we experience increased contact with those folks that share our experiences. The AOT provides a window and connection to other activists thereby creating an opportunity to experience our self and those around us as very closely allied or tied. Trust and empowerment are experiential and political descriptions of the same human condition. The AOT is a political empowerment tool that enhances an environment of trust by providing guidance and perspective that comes with connection to other individuals and organizations.

In the AOT stories that follow, which come from peace, justice and environment organizations in four states, few of these organizations have paid staff. Consider the power this application has to serve non profits that as yet have no clearly established, effortless way to coordinate committees, chapters or member organizations. If the peace, justice and environmental movements can be strengthened from the tool in the ways outlined below, consider how the AOT can serve the needs of your non profit organization.

What follows are stories of social change and political empowerment.

Impeach Bush Petition Delivery

A representative to the Illinois House proposed a bill in the Illinois General Assembly to have George Bush impeached, which if passed, would have required that the U.S. House take up the matter for consideration. Immediately a organization in the state's AOT-using coalition posted an online petition calling for citizen support of the bill. Across the state, organizations noted their desire to participate in supporting the petition and making a petition delivery. One of those organizations set up a conference call. On that call, almost a dozen organizations strategized a plan for a petition delivery with media presence. There wasn't much time. In less than ten days the session would end.

Almost 1000 signatures were gathered online in a week. The ad hoc alliance of organizations, while collecting the support of additional organizations via the tool's action grid, consulted on an advisory to be issued to media across the state. The group of activists decided to deliver petitions to both the state capital and Chicago offices of the Illinois Assembly speaker. An AOT using member organization in Springfield agreed to send in a representative to deliver the pile of signatures there and one organization created a pdf of the petition and signatures and rushed it to the delivering activist. The same thing was done for the Chicago office. Several media cameras and microphones were on hand for the petition deliveries.

Voices Walk for Peace

Voices for Creative Nonviolence began an almost month long walk from the Illinois capital Springfield to North Chicago calling attention to the US military presence and its effects upon health, education and jobs. As the walkers approached Chicago, support mounted as AOT-using member organizations across the state noted their support and participation on the Actions Grid. The walk spawned additional actions and Action Offspring. Achieving the 75% threshold with over 10 organizations participating, the first system blast transmitted to almost 2000 activists. Numerous stories appeared in the media calling attention to the grievances noted by the walkers.

Fourth of July Activist Parades

Peace activists participated in five parades that were posted on the Actions Grid. One group posted on the website a custom pdf for groups to print stickers to give to children along the parade routes. A statewide advisory was issued to drive the media to anti-war paraders. Protesters appeared on camera and in the papers calling attention to the issues.

Great Lakes Safety Petition and Petition Deliveries

In October 2006, coalitions and networks in Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota who all use the AOT programming joined together, posting a petition which called for the Department of Homeland Security to stop live-fire target practice on the Great Lakes using lead ordnance, potentially dumping 7000 lbs of lead into the Lakes annually. The practice would also break an agreement with Canada dating back to 1817 which prohibits militarization of the Lakes. Over 1200 signatures were gathered online through the three versions of the tool in less than three weeks. Those signatures were delivered and quotes from them read at the hearings that were created for citizens to voice their concerns. In total, almost 400 peace and environmental organizations had been contacted with dozens working in close cooperation as a direct result of the Actions Options Tool programming.

When member organizations posted petitions on their AOTs in those three states, hundreds of organization administrators were emailed the text of the action. Consulting with their memberships, each organization's administrator then posted their organization's degree of support for the action on the action grid. The original sponsors then were able to contact those supporting administrators to enlist the organization's support for gaining petition signatures.

The online petition features a highly effective option which gives those who sign the petition the opportunity to choose to receive updates on the petition issue and campaign. By giving the signers that option, the AOT can recruit individuals to help at the same time that they vote their support for the project, automatically.

As a direct result of the campaigns initiated by the activities of the three state coalitions, the number of hearings which the Coast Guard held on the issue was increased to nine from the original four. At one of the hearings, of the 52 people testifying, 51 testified against the live-fire practice. Most of these people were contacted through the AOT programming. The tool notified, educated, organized and directed the members of member organizations to the targeted event.

Numerous television, radio and print stories emerged from the hearings where activists and citizens congregated to make their feelings known. On December 18, 2006 the Coast Guard announced that they were discontinuing their plans for the program with no more practice with live ammunition on the Great Lakes. Militarization of the Great Lakes was halted. The Department of Homeland Security's retreat was directly related to the efficiency and ease of use of the Actions Options Tool.