We live in interesting, and perhaps difficult, times. While knowledge and material wealth have increased for some, poverty, sickness and environmental degradation remain widespread. And although the developed world enjoys access to instant telecommunication, many individuals nevertheless feel isolated and alienated from society.

These kinds of contradictions also occur on a political level. Ordinary citizens in countries around the world do not feel that their political leaders really represent them. Civic-minded people everywhere have become discouraged because they do not see how they can participate meaningfully in public affairs. Many people feel their views and ideas don’t matter. They may...

This Handbook provides a practical guide to tools for improving communication with government and with each other so that people can participate in making choices and taking action. The stories of the individuals and organisations mentioned in this book (see Chapter 1 and Chapter 4, Part II) demonstrate that it is possible for ordinary citizens to shape public policy and decision-making on the issues that interest and affect them.

The emphasis of this book is on Sustainability Tools for communication and self-organisation. This term is shorthand for social tools for sustainability because these tools enable us to make decisions about...

Public participation means different things to different people. To some people, participation means voting in elections. To others, it means joining a political party and standing for election. It might mean joining a Rotary Club or an environmental interest group or doing volunteer work with the elderly.

Another way of looking at public participation is to see it as taking part in the public decision-making process. For example, you may be very concerned about the quality of education in Hong Kong. You may be concerned about the progress of a public works project. You may disagree with a government policy...

Participation implies a number of things. It implies that the system will respond in some way to input from the public. We believe the Hong Kong political system can become more responsive and participatory but you need to participate in order for this to occur. Participation also implies that those seeking to participate understand the system and know how to navigate it to achieve their goals.

This chapter will detail some of the forms that political participation takes in Hong Kong. We recommend that you read this chapter together with Chapters 9 and 10, which explain what governments do and...

In Chapter 4, we discussed the impact of committed individuals and groups. We also discussed NGOs and looked at how they build campaigns to promote the issues that are important to them. This chapter provides some basic information about how to put together and finance a campaign.

You will need an identifiable purpose to get started.

Social change usually starts when individual people see something is wrong and want to change it. They may believe that something can be done better or become aware of a need that is not being provided for within the current system. These people are...

We cannot always work alone. There is a great deal of creativity, expertise and energy in groups. The secret to successful group work lies in the ability to foster and draw on synergy between group members. However, working as a group can often be frustrating and unproductive. Working in groups requires the use of many social tools. These include the ability to listen, a basic understanding of group dynamics, respect for individuals and their points of view, patience, tolerance and solid interpersonal and collaborative problem solving skills.

This Handbook provides an overview of some of these tools and skills, which...

The media is a powerful tool if you know how to use it effectively. It can be used to publicise issues and mobilise people. Media coverage also expands the size and diversity of your audience when you are trying to get a message across. Every community organiser needs to have a basic understanding of how the media works and how to use it as a tool. Building relationships with reporters and media organisations is also very important. The media, sometimes referred to as the press, includes newspapers, periodicals, radio, television and Internet-based news groups.

However, the mainstream media may not...

There are a variety of other useful skills that can be used to help shape public opinion on a particular issue. This chapter discusses some ways to alter or modify people’s views of an issue. It should be acknowledged at the outset that influencing public opinion takes time. Do not expect that saying something once will be sufficient to change the way the government or the public thinks about an issue, even if your comments are picked up by the media.

If you are promoting a new idea or a new way of looking at things, be prepared to repeat...

Why do you think government exists? General disillusionment with government is a common theme of our times. People see politics as cynical, unprincipled and overly adversarial. They do not feel their political leaders really represent them. In the long term, this may prompt fundamental changes in the way that governments operate. While these broader issues are outside of the scope of this Handbook, we do believe that we will see the emergence of a new compact between people and their governments in the coming years.

Many political commentators agree with this view. The goals of government are changing. Governments need...

The HKSAR Government is your government. It is there to work for you. You should not be shy about asking it to work better. You may have different ideas about how Hong Kong should be governed – and there is no reason why you should keep your ideas to yourself. Let your government know what you think and feel. This is what active participation means.

It is important to remember that the government is actually interested in well-researched arguments. Like many ordinary citizens, those in government are often frustrated by the difficulty of sustaining public-private cooperation. Top decision-makers lament the...

Discussions about social activism do not usually include much information about the corporate world. We believe companies can have enormous social impact. Since there is usually little focus on this sector, a look at the issues of corporate social responsibility and corporate governance may help even experienced activists reflect on how they operate in relation to the corporate world.

Commercial corporations are legal entities that are engaged in business-related activities. Most corporations are geared towards making a profit – through incorporation they can exercise the power to buy properties, resources and labour. They can also sell and distribute their products...