Introduction to Campaigning and Social Movements (Online Courses)

Introduction

Three courses by 350.org about how to campaign and build social movements. The courses are very user friendly, easy to follow and accessible. They include interactive activities, videos and transcripts. You will learn skills to start your own campaign. You will need to sign up to get access to the courses and they are free. Each course takes about 20 – 30 minutes to complete.

Courses

Introduction to Campaigning

Develop a good sense of what makes a grassroots campaign and think through key questions to run your own campaign. Learn about the six common steps in a grassroots campaign:

  • The problem
  • Individuals learn about the problem
  • Individuals gather others to form a group
  • The group has to figure out how it will focus its energy. How will it make change?
  • The group springs into action, after action, after action (long phase!)
  • The group grows in power, escalates actions and, with persistence, wins change!

 

Advanced Campaigning Lessons

Understand more about how campaigns are waged and learn advanced campaign techniques from real-life case studies including:

  • Montgomery Bus Boycott (USA),
  • The Galilee Basin in Queensland (Australia)
  • Fighting Fracking (Brazil).

How Social Movements Win

  • Understand how a social movement can win
  • Understand how movements need a balance of techniques to be effective
  • Learn about the Pillars of Support

Access the Courses

Online Skill-Ups from 350.org

These lessons are more interactive than academic courses and allow anyone to participate at anytime anywhere — so very different from in-person trainings. We decided that instead of calling them online trainings or online courses, a new name was needed. We call these online skill-ups because they are designed to skill you up. Read more about their philosophy of these innovative courses.

Other courses offered by 350.org are:

  • Having Climate Change Conversations
  • Climate Change Science 101
  • Fracking
  • Divestment
  • Skills Up Tutorial

Accessibility

These courses are intended to be accessible to everyone. They can work on phones, tablets, computers and more, and work with high-quality internet and small bandwidth. They meet accessibility criteria regardless of disability, conforming to Section 508 in the United States, and the Equality Act in the UK. If you have any technical troubles or appreciations, please leave contact 350.org

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About the Author

350.org is a global grassroots organization that was founded in 2008 by author and environmentalist Bill McKibben and a group of college students. The organization’s name comes from the goal of reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels to 350 parts per million, which is believed to be the safe upper limit for the Earth’s climate.

350.org works to build a global climate movement by organizing campaigns, rallies, and events to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change and push for policies and solutions that will help address the crisis. The organization focuses on promoting renewable energy, divesting from fossil fuels, and transitioning to a more sustainable and equitable economy. It has chapters and partner organizations in countries around the world, and has played a key role in mobilizing people to take action on climate issues, including organizing major international campaigns such as the Global Climate Strike and the People’s Climate March.

Explore Further

Visit the 350.org Trainings website for more, plus…

More Online Courses

Campaigning Resources