Activism Hub’s work begins with a clear understanding of what activism means, what sustainability demands, and how the two must come together for a better society. These terms are often used in broad, even vague ways. But for us, they carry specific meaning, grounded in both experience and critical reflection. This page outlines the conceptual framework that guides our approach to sustainable activism.
What we mean by activism
Activism refers to the deliberate and nonviolent act of challenging injustice or transforming conditions that harm people or the planet, to bring about social, political, or environmental change. It is rooted in principles of liberation, not control.
It includes public protest and policy advocacy, but also behind-the-scenes organising, community education, digital campaigning, mutual aid, and creative resistance. It is not limited to the streets or social media, it also happens in boardrooms, refugee camps, rural communities, and classrooms.
Activism can be driven by love, grief, anger, or hope. Emotions like outrage and refusal are legitimate responses to injustice, and tactics such as boycotts or strikes are historically central to many rights-based struggles. However, activism as we define it does not include movements based on hatred, domination, or dehumanisation. Organised actions that promote exclusionary ideologies – such as racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, or authoritarian nationalism – fall outside the liberation foundations of activism.
Activism is not a profession, nor is it defined by how visible one is. It is a practice. Many activists arrive at their work through lived experience of oppression, not through training or theory.
Our definition of activism is intentionally broad because we believe it must include those who act without permission or recognition. It must hold space for both structured organisations and informal networks, for public leaders and quiet supporters.
What we mean by sustainability
In our context, sustainability is not only about environmental protection, nor is it simply about keeping organisations running. Sustainability refers to the ability of people, movements, and ideas to endure over time without compromising their values, safety, or integrity. It is about creating conditions in which activism can be carried out with care, reflection, and resilience.
This means recognising that activists are not just “resources” for movements, they are people with emotional, physical, and social needs. Sustainable activism makes space for rest, healing, learning, and boundaries. It acknowledges that activism done at the expense of one’s health or community can become self-defeating.
We see sustainability as both a practical necessity and a political principle. Movements cannot succeed in the long term if their members are constantly at risk, exhausted, or unsure of how to proceed. Sustainability asks us to think beyond individual wins and short-term campaigns toward systems, cultures, and practices that can hold complexity and adapt to change.
Why sustainable activism matters
Activism rooted in urgency alone often leads to reactive, short-lived efforts that burn out those involved. When movements operate without adequate planning, support structures, or ethical guidance, they risk reproducing the very harms they aim to challenge. We have seen how movements can fracture under pressure, how interpersonal conflict can damage years of trust, and how lack of care can silence those most at risk.
Sustainable activism, by contrast, involves actively cultivating the conditions that allow individuals and groups to continue their work with clarity, integrity, and mutual support. It means prioritising internal systems as much as external impact. It also means developing security strategies, ethical guidelines, and collaborative practices that are treated as foundational pillars.
Our framework for sustainable activism
Activism Hub’s framework for sustainable activism rests on three interdependent pillars:
- Holistic security: Activists face complex risks: digital, physical, and emotional. We promote a proactive and balanced approach to safety, providing strategies that support activists in staying secure, grounded, and connected throughout their work.
- Ethical activism: Ethical activism means acting with integrity, care, and accountability, both to the communities we serve and to ourselves. We support activists and groups in developing ethical frameworks that center consent, accountability, and power-awareness.
- Team collaboration: Effective, respectful, and well-structured collaboration is what allows movements to persist beyond any single person or moment. We help groups develop clear roles, internal agreements, and constructive ways to navigate conflict and work together more effectively.
Final reflections
Our framework continues to evolve through ongoing dialogue, critical reflection, and the lived experiences of the communities we work with and support. Whether you are new to this path or have been working in the field for years, we invite you to engage with us to reflect together on what it truly means to act in the name of justice, integrity, and human dignity.