Reclaiming America: Nike, Clean Air, and the New National ActivismHave activists taken the bumper-sticker adage "Think Globally, Act Locally" too literally? Randy Shaw argues that they have, with destructive consequences for America. Since the 1970s, activist participation in national struggles has steadily given way to a nearly exclusive focus on local issues. America's political and corporate elite has succeeded in controlling the national agenda, while their adversaries—the citizen activists and organizations who spent decades building federal programs to reflect the country's progressive ideals—increasingly bypass national fights. The result has been not only the dismantling of hard-won federal programs but also the sabotaging of local agendas and community instituions by decisions made in the national arena. Shaw urges activists and their organizations to implement a "new national activism" by channeling energy from closely knit local groups into broader causes. Such activism enables locally oriented activists to shape America's future and work on national fights without traveling to Washington, D.C., but instead working in their own backyards. Focusing on the David and Goliath struggle between Nike and grassroots activists critical of the company's overseas labor practices, Shaw shows how national activism can rewrite the supposedly ironclad rules of the global economy by ensuring fair wages and decent living standards for workers at home and abroad. Similarly, the recent struggles for stronger clean air standards and new federal budget priorities demonstrate the potential grassroots national activism to overcome the corporate and moneyed interests that increasingly dictate America's future. Reclaiming America's final section describes how community-based nonprofit organizations, the media, and the Internet are critical resources for building national activism. Shaw declares that community-based groups can and must combine their service work with national grassroots advocacy. He also describes how activists can use public relations to win attention in today's sprawling media environment, and he details the movement-building potential of e-mail. All these resources are essential for activists and their organizations to reclaim America's progressive ideals. |
Contents
Reclaiming America outside the Electoral Process | 11 |
From Challenging American Sweatshops to a Movement | 97 |
Reclaiming America through the Political Process | 129 |
Reclaiming America by Giving Peace | 183 |
Resources for National Activism CommunityBased | 227 |
Other editions - View all
Reclaiming America: Nike, Clean Air, and the New National Activism Randy Shaw No preview available - 1999 |
Common terms and phrases
activists and organizations advocacy agenda AIWA AIWA's American anti-Nike campaign anti-sweatshop campaigns Ballinger Bob Herbert boycott budget priorities campus canvassing CBOs chapter citizen activists Clean Air Act Clinton Club's company's congressional congressmembers constituencies corporate created critical Democratic director Doonesbury e-mail economic environmental groups environmentalists factories federal focused free trade funding GARRY TRUDEAU global economy Global Exchange Gore grassroots mobilizing Guess Indonesia industry Internet issue Jessica McClintock Kathie Lee Gifford leaders living wage mainstream media McClintock Medea Benjamin military spending million national activism national campaigns national environmental national grassroots national struggles newsletters Nguyen's report Nike Nike shoes Nike's labor practices nonprofit Pacifica paigns participation Peace Action Pentagon bloat Pentagon redirection Pentagon spending percent Phil Knight PIRGs policies political politicians President programs progressive protests San Francisco Sierra Club sneakers social social-change staff standards story strategy sweatshop tion tional Vietnam weeklies women York young