Movement_158_Digital

Does it work?
That would depend on what you mean by ‘work’. There
are obviously some situations where big, bold, loud
messages and actions are needed. Craftivism is not
a replacement for traditional activism, and the aim,
rather than to make all our campaigning gentle and
creative, is to open up paths into the activist world
to people who don’t feel called or able to partake in
traditional forms of protest.
That being said, there are situations and campaigns for
which craftivism works well. The small, slow actions
attract many who wouldn’t otherwise be interested in
activism, and beautiful, intriguing creations catch the
attention of people who usually block out the noise of
protests. In that way, it can be much more effective
than traditional forms of campaigning.
Is it for me?
In short – yes! Craftivism is for everyone. Whether
you’re a regular stitcher or wouldn’t know which way
up to hold a knitting needle, craftivism isn’t aimed at
perfection, and I would recommend everyone to give
it a go. In fact, for people who have never been very
creative or crafty, it can be even more powerful as a
tool for reflection, due to the need to really slow down
and concentrate on the activity. It can be frustrating to
start with, but once you get into it, it is really rewarding.
Equally, if you wouldn’t necessarily see yourself as an
activist, remember that the term can be much broader
than most people realise. Whether you’re making craft
projects to sell for charity, designing something to
inspire people reflect on an issue, or just using craft as
a way of subverting and escaping the hectic nature of
the world around us, craftivism takes many forms and
can be as simple or as involved as you want it to be.
How do I get started?
You’ve decided craftivism is brilliant and you want to
try it out – great! We’ve found a project idea to get you
started, or you could come up with some of your own.
The Craftivist Collective, started by Sarah Corbett, has
loads of good resources online, and you can purchase
ethically produced kits you can craft yourself – there’s
no excuse not to join in the craftivist movement!
Why not try using their suggested footprint craft
project to reflect on SCM’s ‘Loving the Earth’ campaign?
All you need is some fabric cut out into a footprint
shape, a pencil, and a needle and thread – these are
available as a craft kit from www.craftivist-collective.
com, along with detailed instructions if you’re an
absolute beginner (and it includes a free gift!).
Here’s what to do:
1. Write on the footprint any quote that inspires you
to do your bit in taking care of our planet
2. Stitch over the words to create a beautiful,
embroidered reminder to take care of the
environment every day
3. Use the time you spend stitching to reflect on
why you want to be more mindful of your effect
on the environment, and what practical steps you
could take as a result
Once you’ve created your footprint, hang it somewhere
you will see it regularly as a reminder to yourself of
your responsibility to our planet, and of the reflections
you had while you were stitching. And there you go –
welcome to craftivism!
EMMA TEMPLE
Photos on previous page by Amandine Cornillon (wall painting) and
Emma-Louise Comerford (wool) on Unsplash
CAMPAIGN NEWS
FAITH IN ACTION
Encouraging students to put faith into action through campaigning and social justice
work is a big part of SCM’s vision. We believe faith and justice are inseparable, and
that includes justice for the Earth too! For the past year, SCM’s campaign focus Loving
the Earth has been inspiring members to take action on all things green, and next year
we will be focusing on mental wellbeing too.
LOVING THE EARTH
Caring for the beautiful creation we’ve been trusted with is so important, now more than ever. As Christians we are called to
speak out to save our God-given home from the irresponsible ways we’ve been abusing the planet. SCM member and former
trustee Caitlin Wakefield wrote a beautiful piece on this in the last issue of Movement – go and check it out!
Here is what’s coming up and what you can do to get involved:
Look out for more green challenge actions coming up from SCM on social media
and in our e-newsletter, In the Loop
Check out the Climate Coalition – SCM is a member of the
coalition and supports the fantastic work they do. Look out for their
#SpeakUp campaign resources on speaking to your MP
about climate change by following them
on twitter @TheCCoalition
Think about reducing your meat
and/or dairy consumption. You can
get inspired and find
out more about how
this helps at www.
meatfreemondays.com
Find out about divesting
your church from fossil
fuels with Operation
Noah’s ‘Bright Now’
campaign. Visit
www.brightnow.org.uk
20 MOVEMENT Issue 158 21