What is “advocacy”?

1. What is “advocacy”? Speaking up about what matters to you. Action directed at changing policies, positions, or programs of any type of institution. Pleading for, defending, or recommending an idea before other people. Speaking up, drawing a community’s attention to an important issue, and directing decision makers toward a solution. Putting a problem on the agenda, providing a solution to that problem, and building support for action.

2. You can advocate at: • Workplace • Local, regional, state and national governments and agencies • Professional organizations • Civic organizations • Faith communities • Media

3. Advocacy Tactics • Writing (or signing on to) letters to lawmakers, open letters, petitions, letters to professional organizations. • Meeting with lawmakers in their offices as a constituent. • Providing written testimony at hearings. • Delivering spoken testimony at hearings. • Authoring articles in professional publications such as newsletters. • Writing and placing op-eds and letters to the editor. • Meeting with editorial boards of media outlets.

4. More Advocacy Tactics • Using social media: blog posts, Twitter, and Facebook. • Making presentations to community groups, peer groups, religious groups, trade groups. • Meeting with agency staff (i.e. EPA, Housing Authority). • Meeting with boards of directors of companies and institutions. • Delivering Grand Rounds on the subject. • Joining a Hospital Green Team. • Giving interviews on radio and TV.

5. Know Your Audience • What is your purpose – the bigger picture? • What is your message – the take-home? • How long do you have? • Have examples or case studies. • Prepare for (tough) questions.

6. Communicating Science • Differences between the way scientists and the public/reporters structure messages can complicate communication. http://communicatingscience.aaas.org/CommunicationBasics/Pages/DevelopingMessages.aspx

7. Talking Science • Have the “elevator speech.” • Explain it to your mother-in-law. • Acknowledge the limits of knowledge. • Talk precaution. • If you don’t know the answer, say so. And then look it up! • Stay current: www.environmentalhealthnews.org.

8. Professional Organizations • Newsletters, web sites • Programs, meetings, conventions • Action Reports or Resolutions • - process • - format • - deadline • - strategy • - follow-up

9. Staying Current EDF’s Chemicals Policy Webpage www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=12814 Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families www.saferchemicals.org I Am Not a Guinea Pig www.notaguineapig.org EDF Chemicals & Nanomaterials Blog www.edf.org/chemandnano Environmental Working Group www.ewg.org Federal Legislation www.thomas.gov Your State’s Legislature Page

10. http://olcveducationfund.org/tools-action/citizens-toolkit • Tips for Writing to Elected Officials • Tips for Writing Effective Letters to the Editor • Placing a Phone Call to an Elected Official • Tips for Calling In to a Talk Radio Show • Meeting In-Person With Your Elected Officials • Tips for Testifying at a Public Hearing • Tips for Making Your Point at a Town Meeting

11. Resources • RESOLVE: www.resolve.org/get-involved/become-an-advocate.html • PSR’s Confronting Toxics webinar (Jan. 2011)www.psr.org/resources/confronting-toxics-webinar-series.html • Maye Thompson, RN, PhD Environmental Health Program Director Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility maye@oregonpsr.org (503) 274-2710