We collect, document, systemise and disseminate the experiences of people who have engaged in battle against all odds, and who have lost or won. Using a handbook, a DVD, a website, a course and a game, we will prepare enthusiasts for what they can expect to meet out there among practised bureaucrats, politicians and other decision-makers.  

Our society needs committed enthusiasts
Both entrepreneurship and public political commitment carry a certain degree of naïve idealism. In this project we have chosen to give the hallmark “naive idealist” a designation of respect for those who still believe that change is possible.

Power must always be kept in balance
One of the preconditions for democracy is that many involve themselves in the small and large matters that together determine society’s development – locally as well as nationally and internationally. The representative political bodies need a corrective from the public. Far too often considerations of the overall perspective disappear in short-term “practical politics”. Politicians and bureaucrats often take part in more or less open alliances with special interest groups who want to promote their own narrow goals. Society then needs constructive activism.
 
David and Goliath
Time and again we see that lack of commitment among the population makes it easy for these narrow interests to succeed at the expense of the interests of the general public. There can be many reasons for the deficient mobilisation of counter-forces. Those in power – and there are many different types – regularly use their controlling techniques. Opponents are often publicly characterised as “naive” or uninformed. This makes it unnecessarily difficult to gain access to the real decision base, and the issues in question are often made more and needlessly academic. Many people feel like a small group of Davids in a landscape of Goliaths: just starting the whole process demands too much. Opponents feel that they lack the experience, competence and resources to be able to mobilise themselves appropriately.

Some fight, some win, others lose
Fortunately there are also many examples of the opposite. There are stories showing how opponents have managed to create alliances, have put forward new alternatives and have reversed a decision. They have ensured the protection of threatened cultural and natural values. They have secured jobs. They have turned the climate from pessimism to optimism in a local community threatened with depopulation. Some of them have fought to the bitter end and have lost anyway. These people, these “naive idealists”, share experiences that should absolutely be documented. Experience can be an inspiration and help to all those who have significant values to fight for and who have a tendency to feel inferior. Old dogs have learnt some tricks and know how to make the most of the opportunities. We want to pave the way for the naive idealists to learn tricks from each other.

Those who care
The feeling of powerlessness is democracy’s worst enemy. When we no longer believe that our contribution counts, it is easy to simply pull out. It is crucial that those who have different beliefs are present where decisions are made. This project aims to help those who care.

An offer to all activists
The goal of “Presence” is to collect, document, systemise and disseminate information on the experiences of naive idealists – people who have become involved against all odds, and who have lost or won.

Better equipped
The purpose of “Presence” is to make individuals, organisations and action groups better equipped to win their cases. We will create and package an inspiring tool for those who do not want to just sit and watch themselves being overpowered by decision-makers whose interests are totally different from their own. The package will represent an offer to activists with little or no financial backing.

Available to everyone
We feel that the principles and content of “Presence” should be freely available for all those who want to gains skills in how to influence the development of society. We therefore intend to invite major players in voluntary organisations in Norway to join us in developing the content of the project. The products will be developed and based on the experiences of individuals, organisations and action groups in the areas of ethnicity, health, culture, beliefs, environment, nature, business, social change, urban and rural development and ecology.

Various instruments
The project comprises a handbook, a DVD, a website, a course programme and a game. These can be used either separately or together.
 
Core areas – the tricks
Information from all media is based on ten core areas: the importance of making alliances, analysing opponents and their arguments, drawing attention to an idea and shaping and refining it, making strategies and following them, gaining access to the media, using expertise where it is required, being open about one’s own motives, leaving room for the opponent to change viewpoint etc.

Experiences of the players
The project will be designed around both experiences from specific cases and the players involved, but it will also include interviews with activists, bureaucrats, journalists, organisations, politicians and others who possess competence in this field. No special knowledge will be required to join in. The goals is to promote greater commitment among the public and to give them an insight and interest into seeing our elected representatives’ true intentions more often than would otherwise have been the case.

Being in the vicinity
Public administrators, political representatives, organisation leaders and business managers control large assets on behalf of the public good. Sometimes they overlook or ignore what or who the matter is really about when they make their decisions. It is then our duty and right to come onto the scene and to stay in the vicinity during the procedure, monitoring it carefully and presenting alternatives.
   
A democratic channel
Actions represent an instrument for gathering together under-represented interests and demonstrating one’s presence. Not all social involvement is reported in established channels. Actions are an extra and totally necessary democratic channel – whether it concerns broad alliances between organised interests or a spontaneous cooperation between independent individuals. During the past two to three hundred years many critical social changes have been the result of actions. 
   
No system so far
The strange thing is that little has been done to collate experiences from actions and to systemise them. Many people have lacked the help needed to get started – a checklist or perhaps a handbook that lays out what must be taken into account. Others have wanted a place where they could find information about other actions and possibly make contact with other activists. With your help, we hope to be able to meet these needs with this project.
   
The first step – collecting experiences
This website has been set up to collect material from the many who have taken part in or been at the centre of actions. The next step will be to process the material and disseminate it through various media. We are applying for funding for the book, video documentary and course.

These points will form the structure of the handbook. We feel there are many different challenges to be considered. Each of these core areas will be thoroughly addressed, with examples from the activists’ everyday experiences and with specific advice on the procedure that should be taken. As the work on the handbook progresses, we will put elements from its contents on the website to enable us to conduct a dialogue with users on its utility.
 
The same chapters will form the themes for the DVDs. Here we will try to show specific examples from cases that have been conducted, or that are being conducted, and the people behind the activities.

We are also working on elements for a game.

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