As Washington Toxics Coalition’s multi-year campaign to pass a first-in-the-nation ban on toxic flame retardant chemicals (known as PDBEs) comes to a rousing finish, check out what they’re doing with user-generated content. They’ve invited members and supporters to send in photographs of them with their own “I Want To Be PDBE-Free” message.
They’ve taken a smart, relatively low-tech approach — no fancy “Web 2.0″ tools like flickr. They’re just asking folks to email photos in, then using their new Plone-powered website to publish photos as they come in. Why? Well, WTC members are busy moms, firefighters and just plain folks — they’re not bleeding edge “web 2.0″ devotees. So, WTC chose to use the online communications tool that they and their members understand best — email.
Not only are they posting the photos online, they’re also going to turn all the photos into collage, and hand-deliver it to legislators next week during the final push to get the bill passed. A nice mix of online and offline activism!
WTC has also done a very smart thing by providing a sample sign and some ideas for creative messages. Great pump-priming.
A hats off to WTC Field Director Jim Dawson for simple, creative, engaging online activism that meets people where they’re at.