![Start a petition action header image](/sites/default/files/2021-07/Start_a_petition_header.png)
Start a Petition
How This Helps
Showing decision-makers that many people care is an important part in making systemic change.
What You May Need
- Internet access for research
- Paper and pens for a hard-copy petition
- A petition creation website for online petitions
Things To Think About
To write a meaningful petition, begin by choosing a topic that you care a lot about. Start by exploring the Clothing4Climate resource library to find a topic that is interesting and important to you.
Next, you will have to decide whether your petition will be for or against something. For example, a petition might be against microfibre pollution in our oceans. A petition also could be for the creation of a new thrift shop in your community.
Whatever you choose, make sure you are passionate about the issue.
What will the petition be about? Will it be for something or against something?
To write a meaningful petition, begin by choosing a topic that you care a lot about. Start by exploring the Clothing4Climate resource library to find a topic that is interesting and important to you.
Next, you will have to decide whether your petition will be for or against something. For example, a petition might be against microfibre pollution in our oceans. A petition also could be for the creation of a new thrift shop in your community.
Whatever you choose, make sure you are passionate about the issue.
When you write your petition, you need to be clear. Make sure you figure out what exactly you want decision makers to do in response to your petition. Do you want them to create a new law? Change an existing law? Stop an event from happening?
You should do some research to choose an action that is doable and also has an impact.
What action do you want decision-makers to take?
When you write your petition, you need to be clear. Make sure you figure out what exactly you want decision makers to do in response to your petition. Do you want them to create a new law? Change an existing law? Stop an event from happening?
You should do some research to choose an action that is doable and also has an impact.
When you create a petition, have a target in mind that you can send it to once it has enough signatures. This could be a specific person or a group of people.
Think about what person or interest group would be able to make a real change if your petition got through to them.
Who will you send the petition to?
When you create a petition, have a target in mind that you can send it to once it has enough signatures. This could be a specific person or a group of people.
Think about what person or interest group would be able to make a real change if your petition got through to them.
How you create your petition will affect how many people will sign it. If you create a paper petition, it is easy to pass around at school and in your neighborhood. On the other hand, if you create a petition online with a google form or on a petition website, it is easier to share with people across the world.
What form will your petition take?
How you create your petition will affect how many people will sign it. If you create a paper petition, it is easy to pass around at school and in your neighborhood. On the other hand, if you create a petition online with a google form or on a petition website, it is easier to share with people across the world.
It is important to share your petition with others to get the most signatures as possible. If your petition is focused on an issue in your community, think about how you would reach out to those people for signatures.
If your issue is a global one, think about how you could share your petition on social media or on a website.
How will you get people to sign your petition?
It is important to share your petition with others to get the most signatures as possible. If your petition is focused on an issue in your community, think about how you would reach out to those people for signatures.
If your issue is a global one, think about how you could share your petition on social media or on a website.
When you start your petition, set a goal of how many signatures you want to get before sending your petition out to your selected person or group.
Think about how many people you could realistically get to sign your petition and set this as your minimum amount. Anything more than that number is a bonus!
How many people do you hope will sign the petition?
When you start your petition, set a goal of how many signatures you want to get before sending your petition out to your selected person or group.
Think about how many people you could realistically get to sign your petition and set this as your minimum amount. Anything more than that number is a bonus!
Get Inspired
Go Further
- Post your petition on social media and get students across the world to support your cause.
- Write a letter to your government representative explaining the importance of your petition.