*Most common way to make change is to inform people of what you want:

*Writing a letter

*Email

*Blogging

*Call in to radio talk shows

*More people the greater influence

*Getting out and voting or influencing people to support your political party.*Using the court to

challenge government legislation under the constitution*Government can not

make laws that violate your charter of rights and freedoms

*Special interest groups that organize campaigns to put pressure on the government on a specific topic.

*MADD

*Spirit bear youth coalition

*Wilderness committee

*BC Citizens for Public Power

*People who are paid to make deals and influence bureaucrats and politicians.*Great concern that this

might lead to corruption*Minority special interest

groups

*They are normally representing companies.*Most are ex high level

bureaucrats with connections.

*Research is not independent

*Small group influences society that does not share views of majority

*Unfair to groups that can not afford lobbyist

*Connected with corruption as perks are seen as a form of bribery

*Getting the media to publicize your cause can cause major hurdles to lift, as governments do not want bad press.

*Some times the issues covered are not the most important but slanted to the political views of the organization.

*Conglomeration of media out lets means there is less and less independent sources.

*Protest groups: Raging Grannies

*Arranged protest over issues as logging, pollution, pornography, militarism, poverty and racism.

*Act of intentionally breaking the law while protesting laws one considers unjust.

*3 principle of civil disobedience:* Should not involve

violence

* Should be directed against laws that are seriously harmful

*Civil disobedience requires taking responsibility for ones action. Willingness to face punishment

* civil disobedience

*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrx49tfrfJk&feature=fvw

*Many groups feel that the government does not move fast enough so protest turn violent

*This is the case with the FLQ and the October crisis in Canada

*Many of the G8, G20 and WTO conference have violent protesters who try to shut them down.