Strategies for Change: successes and failures - in-class post

Overall, I think the most effective strategy for change is putting a face to an issue, and personal narratives. One example, in particular, would be the 5 by 7" -ish cards Nancy Amedi brough to class, which had information on a state issue on one side, and then had a photo of someone holding a sign of that same measure/issue, which they were in support of, and the photo indicated what district they were from. Relationships and people are powerful; it's how we all stay connected and feel we are a part of something bigger. That said, these types of brief snippets into another's life/feelings on an issue, or even a full narrative of someone affected by the issue, is very powerful.

An example of an ineffective strategy for change would be the "treddle pump" bike design for women farmers in Africa. The project designer clearly didn't acutally connect with or speak to the women he was trying to help, as it's not socially acceptable for women to ride bikes, particularly in Ghana. Thus, the design was unsuccessful there, but then it was very successful in Tanzania, where it is socially acceptable for women to ride bikes. This is an example of why every speaker, video, and many chapters in our text emphasize the importance of not only connecting to an issue, but also connecting to those affected by the issue.

Narrative & Influence - in-class post

There was one, brief story/image that stood out to me when guest speaker, Alaina Dix, came to speak about Puget Sound Sage and those who drive port trucks. There are a few reasons why this story stood out to me, one of which may simply be that, before Alaina spoke, we watched the intense film on the history of indentured servants. I'd like to think that, as time has passed, we've learned and found ways to better treat/pay those involved in work, like driving a port truck. However, after hearing Alaina speak, I was discouraged and disappointed to learn that we have not.

Alaina began by giving us some background on what's going on with the "clean and safe" port campaign. Then we learned that port truck driving is no longer a paying union job. Drivers now must pay for their truck, fuel, maintenance, insurance, and any enviro. friendly demands upon the trucks. After she set this up (avisory rhetorical tenant), to emphsize just how broke these drivers are, she went on to say that many drivers sleep/live in the back of their trucks and then get up and go back to work in the morning. This mental image was the final push, and I really recognized what a truly big issue this is.

Alaina then went on to name the well-known corporations, like WalMart, CostCo, Office Max, etc., which are places most of us have heard do "dirty" work for profits; when she explained that they balloon their prices by having low-paid drivers, garbage men, and train and ship yard workers, I was also then able to recognize how interconnected we are in terms of consumption, big corporations, and low-paid workers.