YOU should never be duped by the old American proverb that says: you can't fight city hall.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Yes you can. If you want to campaign over something that affects you directly or a public issue that spoils and spills your coffee on to the newspaper each morning, get angry and get moving.
Don't take it. The cause may be an issue affecting your home, lifestyle, or it may be an environmental controversy, or one of those public outrages over a court outcome, with people wanting to march in protest.
Years ago when Jetstar first came to Launceston, Qantas wanted to withdraw its service and Jetstar had not factored in an early morning flight schedule for business. They wouldn't budge.
A few business people in Launceston were unhappy but hadn't a clue what to do. I was working for then senator Guy Barnett, when they came to us for help.
The senator agreed to take up the case. I sat down with colleague Kristen Finnigan and we mapped out a plan. FEAT was formed. Fairness and Equity in Airline Travel.
We had regular strategy meetings and drew up a logo for press releases; called public meetings and hammered Qantas and Jetstar relentlessly.
To their credit, the airlines fronted a hostile public meeting. Even Jetstar/Qantas chief Alan Joyce got involved. Business people and Launceston residents demanded answers.
A questioner asked a Jetstar executive what could passengers do with their pets because the airline wouldn't carry pets in the aircraft hold. "Put them in the overhead lockers," came the harassed and flustered reply.
For a time, Jetstar became "Petstar".
Finally they backed down under community pressure. Jetstar allowed pets into the hold and offered early morning business flights. Qantas still flies into Launceston. It showed what a community can do.
Christine Milne started her Wesley Vale pulp mill giant-killer campaign, and indeed her political career, sending photo-copied, hand-written press releases to the media.
The conservation movement is expert in the field of campaigning. When they wanted to save a section of forests in the far North West they gave the campaign a passionate, alpine flavour, by dubbing it, the Tarkine.
They saved the Franklin River with rubber rafts and passive, peaceful police arrests. It got the desired world media attention.
In the 1980s the leadership of Cory Aquino invoked the term "people power" in the Philippines, to overthrow two decades of authoritarian rule by the Marcos family, after her husband Benigno Aquino was assassinated by the regime. She later became president of the Philippines.
Your campaign may not be based on such lofty ideals and events, but they show what you can do. Someone has to start it.
Public opinion ended the Vietnam war, and got troops out of Iraq because both wars were suspect. Public opinion thrives on good old fashion common sense. Public opinion is placing enormous pressure on the judiciary everywhere, over instances where violent criminals appear to be getting off lightly.
FEAT was a deadly serious campaign, although we reflect fondly on the humble beginnings. We were completely blindsided at how lethal and effective a grass roots campaign can be. We thought we had no chance of influencing Qantas and its new, low-budget subsidiary. Think again.
Whether you want to fight city hall, fight the state government or just get your representative into Parliament or local government, take a leaf from the conservation movement's handbook.
Be organised, be consistent and never give up. When you suffer a defeat, regroup and attack. If you honestly believe you're right keep attacking. Don't fight with abuse, fists and stones. Fight with ideas.
If you're right and have common sense in your corner, it's only a matter of time.
