Teach Coalition’s Post

We all have our part to play in the protection and recovery of our environment, climate, and local and global biodiversity. 🌍 Focusing on our ocean, the Marine Conservation Society's Head of Policy and Advocacy, Calum Duncan, shares his thoughts post-election in the video below. 💭 Read all the details of what we're hoping to see from the new government in the blog by Fiona Thomas, Parliamentary Affairs Manager, here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ecNeKsDc #conservation #climate #election2024

Want to do something for the climate right now? Write letters to voters in swing states to nudge them to vote. Increased turnout is what wins elections! It's super easy: 1. You probably already have a few stamps and envelopes lying around 2. Go to https://lnkd.in/gs7FNeYa to get a list of people to send a letter to. You can start with as few as 5 letters. 3. Handwrite a short message for each letter and send 4. Done! Bonus step: go to the post office to pick beautiful stamps and write more letters 😀

Today, we've officially released our Democracy Defended report, which provides lessons learned from monitoring the 2022 election and a blueprint for the upcoming 2024 election, with a particular focus on the South. In 2022, LDF conducted civic engagement, election monitoring, and advocacy efforts in seven southern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. This report incorporates just some of the data points and observations conveyed during elections in LDF’s target states in 2022. It also reflects lessons informed by these findings and key takeaways from prior Democracy Defended reports that can position civil rights advocates to engage strategically to support voters in 2024 and beyond. https://lnkd.in/eybyJMBi

What is the Bridging Movement and how will it help support a larger Independent Movement? In Part 2 of my series, "Unifying Independents: The Bridging Movement," I explore an exciting movement that encompasses independent media, election reform advocates, third parties, and democratic advocacy groups. This movement aims to create a powerful coalition capable of transforming our political landscape. What do you think are the most crucial next steps for the independent movement? Share your thoughts! https://lnkd.in/dbb7mcEA

Democracy is in crisis, but it's primed for renewal. The Center for Election Science is driving that change. You can support our advocacy and education initiatives (and see a video message from me) here: https://lnkd.in/dpUB4vru #TheCenterForElectionScience #DemocracyReform #ApprovalVoting

Whether you’re exploring activism, advocacy or considering candidacy, Elect Her is here to support you every step of the way. Take the next step on your political journey today by getting involved in the upcoming elections and together, let’s make history. Check out our useful resources to help you get started: https://lnkd.in/eQMKyuqP

Transformation requires active engagement, starting with voting. Voting is a powerful declaration of our commitment to democracy and progress. However, true change needs ongoing advocacy and accountability. By staying informed and involved, we ensure society reflects our shared values. Voting is the first step; continuous participation makes lasting transformation possible.

Your Vote Counts Wednesday, Oct. 2nd at 7:00 pm This is a free event, but registration is required. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eQ_VRKJh This program is a collaboration between YWCA Hanover and the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. We empower voters and defend democracy through advocacy, education, and litigation at the local, state, and national levels. Our speaker/presenter, Michele Emerson from the League of Women Voters, will discuss the following: Why is voting important? Does your vote count? Where do you find reliable information on all the candidates? How do you identify misinformation, disinformation, facts?

This is a good day. I can finally say that after years of advocacy, Council is opening up their closed door workshops. There are a couple of conditions on it, but this is a big deal. This is what I wrote back three years ago: "How much do you know about how a local Council works? If a 60% voter turnout rate in the last local government elections are any indication, it’s possible that a lot of people don’t. Whose fault is that? I reckon if we were honest every one of us has a role to play, but there is no doubt that those who are elected have a big responsibility to do better. Part of the challenge in doing this is figuring out what Council does, and how proactive Council is in helping you find out." From July 1 you will get to know more, and this is just one of a range of improvements based on the recommendations of the Ombudsman late last year, including "opening workshops to the public by default; closing them only where good reason exists". Improvements like these are important to make sure "we show our working", and like the whakatauki says, the call of the kākā comes when the sun shines at dawn.

A Gaza Effect on US Presidential Elections?   Michigan is one of the half a dozen battleground states that are widely expected to determine the outcome of the US elections. Michigan also happens to be home to a sizeable Arab Americans population, estimated at some 390,000. Mostly originating from the Levant (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine), Michigan’s Arab Americans concentrate in the southeastern parts of the state. Dearborn (about 100,000, in the Detroit Metro Area) is often regarded as the ‘capital’ of Arab Americans, hosting the largest mosque in North America.   Traditionally, Arab Americans have been strong supporters of the Democratic party, and for many years they favored Democrats over Republicans by a wide margin (nearly two to one). In November 2020, in Dearborn Biden trounced Trump by no less than 50 percentage points (74% vs 24%).   Things have changed dramatically in recent times and the Biden Administration’s handling of the crisis in Gaza has eroded Arab Americans’ support for the Democratic party. A recent survey (https://lnkd.in/diaG3wkw) suggests that Trump and Harris are basically tied among Arab Americans, at 42%-41%. An early sign of disaffection emerged during the Democratic primary process, when several Arab American leaders launched a campaign to vote ‘uncommitted’. This was particularly the case of Michigan’s Democratic primary, as there were about 100,000 'uncommitted' votes (13% of the total), with a fivefold increase over the 2020 primary cycle (even though turnout in 2020 was much higher). In Dearborn, the uncommitted vote won 57% support while Biden received 40%.   These uncommitted Democratic primary voters might well play a crucial role in determining the results of elections in the Wolverine State. Back in November 2020 Biden won the state with a margin of 154,000 votes. If all the 100,000 uncommitted democratic voters were to stay home on elections day, ceteris paribus, the Democratic margin would decline to just 50,000. The problem for the Democrats is that the ceteris paribus assumption appears to be unrealistic, and indeed there are indications are that Republicans are gaining ground in Michigan across various geographies and population groups. Worse still, if half of the uncommitted primary voters were to stay home and the other half were to vote for Trump (possibly, holding their nose), the Democratic margin would be completely wiped out.   No wonder that Harris, in a frantic attempt to salvage the situation, lately has been very active in reviving support among Arab Americans (https://lnkd.in/dNv-e23p)