Hi everyone,
First off, I’m grateful to be part of a community that shares a (more or less) common vision. I’ve been supporting this movement since before the Orange Turd. To no ones surprise my commitment has only grown stronger over the past few years.
What I notice lately is that many discussions seemingly just celebrate alternative products (“Look, this alternative brand is EU‑based!”), which is great for awareness. However, I’m missing conversations about what we actually do beyond posting links and recommendations.
I’m not here to judge anyone’s level of involvement. Everyone follows their own moral compass. Rather, I’d love to hear about the concrete steps people are already taking (or considering).
Here is a sample of the sort of thing I would be interested in to hear about. Be careful to not spoof yourselves.
Political engagement
- Are you involved in any political activities that align with the BuyEuropean ideas?
- Do you back any European‑focused parties such as Volt?
Outreach beyond the forum
- Have you discussed BuyEuropean ideas with friends, family, colleagues, or acquaintances who aren’t already in the community?
Physical visibility
- Have you placed stickers, flyers, or other visual cues in public spaces (shops, campuses, workplaces) that promote “Buy European” or highlight non‑EU alternatives?
- The lack of such… basic visibility is one thing that surprises me the most where I live.
Fediverse advocacy
- Do you recommend decentralized platforms (PieFed, Mastodon, PeerTube, etc.) to anyone as part of a broader “European‑first” digital strategy?
- I have friends moving off Meta etc., but it all seems… sporadic and unorganized. Without collective movement at colleges and campuses I don’t see how these things will ever actually grow.
Feel free to answer any (or none) of these questions, add your own experiences, or suggest additional ways we could make a larger impact.
I am sorry if this sounds direct and targeted. I think I just want to know if others are… doing stuff while I feel apathetic and powerless.
I always want to do more and never get to it. My small steps are: 1) Went from drinking coca cola to local brand sodas (i drink 1-2 every day so some impact there). 2) Became a member of a pro green and europe political party, although my contribution is only monetary + voting as I don’t live in the country I vote in. 3) Occasionally bring up subject with friends and family. 4) I recently sent my first letter to the municipality. This one was about bike infrastructure, so not about the same subject but it felt really empowering to have a small contribution to the better workings of my local community and they actually changed some signage close to my house.
Once I speak the local language better I’m interested in joining a local movement but I don’t know if I actually manage to cross that barrier when I get to it