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Read up on why action cards are super useful, when we are going to make a big splash with them, and how to make the most of them.
Action cards are boring. Right?
Think again! Action cards are an essential aspect of your campaign. For the boycott threat to work, we need to build up a massive support base:
Build the boycott threat and create mass campaign support: gain pledges from RBS-NatWest account holders and individuals not involved in a P&P group. We’ll keep them informed on the boycott strategy and plug them into future actions. Make sure you point out the tick-boxes on the cards.
Get the message to RBS-NatWest: increase the pressure on them to change (with stacks and stacks of action cards). We’ll be handing them in to RBS at the end of February.
Raise the profile of the DDD campaign with media savvy actions:
RBS-NatWest Action Card Hand-In
On 26 February, RBS-NatWest will receive all the action cards collected by P&P groups so far! As owners of RBS-NatWest, we will demand the right to submit a motion to the RBS AGM. We will present the DDD action cards as our collective motion and demand the opportunity to talk to Steven Hester (RBS’ new Chief Executive). And we want to make a big media splash. This can only happen if we have loads of action cards.
10,000 action cards would create a pretty big pile on RBS-NatWest’s doorstep, and demonstrate a well supported motion. If every P&P group in the country collected 100 action cards, RBS-NatWest would be faced with 10,000 potential boycotters. Now that’s called mass-support-building (and scaring the pants off of RBS-NatWest!)
We don’t have much time, but we do have the potential for a cracking hand-in. So, get action card collecting sharpish! Final deadline for action cards to be sent into the People & Planet office is Monday 16 February. Make sure you get them in on time to be included in the hand-in.
If you are interested in planning and taking part in the hand-in, email Hannah, or call her in the People & Planet office on 01865 245678
How to use your Action Cards
Stalls, Branch Actions and Engaging with the Public
Running a regular stall and engaging with students or the general public is a really important staple of campaigning. Action cards provide something for people to be able to do straight away after learning a bit more about the issues. They are also crucially a way into the campaign and the boycott threat.
Alex gets stuck in with the media
Image © Tom Bright
Stalls don’t have to be boring. Decorations, banners and street theatre with ‘oily bankers’ or greenwash awards all provide a creative edge, making it more interesting for you and passers by.
Being creative makes you more attractive to the media. Getting into the local, regional and student media is vital for pressuring and raising the issue with your local MP, damaging RBS-NatWest’s reputation and raising the profile of the campaign. Tell your MP to question Government ownership of RBS-NatWest and their inaction over the bank’s climate crimes.
See the People & Planet media guide for information and tips on how to harness the media. You can also download our template press release for a DDD stall or public stunt.
Download the template press release in Open Office format here.
- Media coverage increases your impact and the number of people you are able to tell about RBS-NatWest’s investments and how they can get involved in the DDD campaign. This is really important for the boycott strategy.
How about holding your stall outside the local RBS or NatWest branch? That way you’ll have a greater chance of talking to account holders. Having a regular presence outside the branch also creates the opportunity to challenge RBS-NatWest’s legitimacy and reputation directly and consistently. It entrenches the idea of RBS-NatWest irresponsibly committing climate crimes and dents their greenwash.
Remember to collect signed action cards back in, and then send them back to the P&P office.
Important bits about Action Cards
As you can see on this image, there are two tick-boxes to take note of:
- Tick if you are an RBS-NatWest account holder.
- Tick to get more info from P&P.
Both are important. P&P can only contact account holders (and encourage them to take co-ordinated action - including boycotting) if they tick both boxes. So, make sure you point them both out.
To save on postage and to contribute to the big mass hand-in, send your signed action cards back to the P&P office in one big bunch (the address is on the cards).
Remember, the Action Cards target both RBS-NatWest and the UK government. Get people to sign both bits and we’ll look out for well-timed opportunities to put the pressure on government too.
