Activity

What exactly is an Activist? According to Merriam Webster, an Activist is “one who attempts to use his mind for personal gain, usually to advance his own welfare or for the public good.” Activists are people who become vocal about their beliefs and their opposition to particular forms of behavior. Sometimes they are known as Campaign Organizers, although this term is often misused.

Historically speaking, the origins of the word “activist” can be traced as far back as the 12th century. This is believed to be related to the concept of Teju, which is an Indonesian religious concept that involves serving the Lord. Teju also believed that one must sacrifice for one’s own benefit. With the evolution of Christianity and the rise of political activism in Europe and Asia, the concept of Teju became closely associated with politics and activism.

What many modern-day activists would agree upon is that all forms of activism are not motivated by religion, teju, nationhood, racial pride, gender, class, or any other such notion. All forms of civil disobedience are seen by some as being anti-religious in nature. One would be hard-pressed to find any activist who believes that the cause of the planet and all earthly living creatures is anything other than a religious concept. Theologians and scientists alike often deride such views as being “soft-headed,” and nothing more than an excuse for being selfish.

Unfortunately, soft-headedness has a long and profitable history in the guise of social media. Social networking is quickly replacing the world as a venue for charities, causes, and political activism. People are meeting in corners, exchanging e-mails, and taking to each other’s throats on every topic under the sun. Some say that such a dense fog has contributed to the recent lack of momentum towards meaningful change. Is all of this going beyond the realm of what is an activist?

Activism is about changing something, even if it means standing up in the face of powerful forces to do so. Those who claim to be activists should know that there is a difference between being a bully and making a passionate speech about social justice. Yes, some people use “teju” (slang for techs) to refer to activists, but they are not using the same word to paint themselves in a positive light. An activist who fails to recognize that he or she has the privilege is not only part of the problem, he or she is also part of the problem in the real world.

Privilege is not the root of all evil. It is not the source of power. Agency does not absolve anyone of responsibility. Those who claim that they have no personal responsibility because they have “no privilege” are often guilty of forgetting what the words privilege and responsibility truly mean. What is an activist? Agency with a conscience, someone who chooses to stand up and speak out about unjust acts, racism, sexism, and other major societal evils by using their voice and their pen?

Yes, most shareholders are activists too. Public companies like Starbucks, PG, and the rest have been actively seeking information on how to become more environmentally responsible. They understand that shareholder activism is a key force shaping a company’s future.

So why are shareholders buying this way? Simply put, Agency would prefer to see a profit, not be forced into one. There is a term for investors who are highly motivated to make a profit, calledactivist investors. This group of institutional investors has started pushing for changes in companies that are deemed inefficient or riskier to invest in. They are willing to take a financial loss in order to ensure that the company makes changes that benefit the entire investment community. Is the difference between what is an activist investor, and what is a shareholder?