Bringing grassroots organizing and science to Vandana Shiva

http://allianceforscience.cornell.edu/blog/bringing-grassroots-organizing-and-science-vandana-shiva

"On an uncharacteristically sunny afternoon in Salem, Oregon, Dr. Vandana Shiva came face to face with science activism. We, the protesters, were a self-described bunch of “science nerds” from MAMyths, Vegan GMO, and PDX Skeptics in the Pub. We gathered in front of Willamette University across the street from Oregon’s state capitol building around 6pm. One by one, our allies arrived in carpools assigned at the previous evening’s meeting in the upstairs lounge of a Northeast Portland pool hall. There, we had reflected on our experiences during a counter-demonstration at the March Against Monsanto last May. We had discussed communication strategies that a few of us practiced in the Alliance for Science’s recent course on Strategic Planning and Effective Grassroots Organizing in Mexico. We aimed to keep our message friendly, approachable, and positive. The next day in Salem, when car trunks popped open and our posters came out, our slogans reflected a theme quite different from the fear-mongering we often see:

“Don’t start a fight. Start a conversation.”

“Food Facts. Not Fear.”

...

These signs provoked a variety of reactions from people headed into Dr. Shiva’s presentation. She’d been invited to speak at Willamette University as part of the Dempsey Lecture Series. Prior details about the specific topic of her presentation were scant. Dr. Shiva speaks on a wide variety of topics, many of which I find agreeable in principle. We were not there to argue against her philosophy or politics. We were there simply to counter the misinformation she’s been known to spread about genetic engineering.

..."

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It's sad that science-based folks have to spend time on things like this, but it's good to see the movement growing.