Howdy intrepid science defender! Thanks for taking the time to consider starting a local chapter of March Against Myths (MAMyths). Please read the following agreement before submitting the form below. If you have any questions please reach out through our contact form.
MAMyths Chapter Agreement
This agreement ensures chapters are aligned with our goals and implements the strategy to be most impactful. Please read the tabbed sections below:
MAMyths Chapter Agreement
The Counter-MAM Campaign 2017
WHY
In 2015 our organization March Against Myths (MAMyths) was created as a response to the anti-biotech stance of March Against Monsanto (MAM). Since then they have increased their junk science agenda by aggressively attacking vaccination. Their science-denial messaging needs to be challenged by science defenders!
WHEN
Saturday, May 20, 2017
WHERE
A list of MAM event locations is available on the MAM website. Wherever they have an event we will encourage locals to organize a local response to make it clear that “SCIENCE IS DEFENDED HERE!”
HOW
MAM’s events tend to congregate at one location with speakers and then a march. Local MAMyths organizers will rally their activists near their meeting space and disrupt MAM’s event with signs and chants. The international MAMyths team will offer assistance in logistics and messaging. Once an organizer is vetted we will add them to our organizer Facebook group and create an event from our official MAMyths Facebook page.
MAMyths Mission
March Against Myths was created in 2015 to fight harmful myths and to call on others to do the same. We are unabashed defenders of science utilizing grassroots organization and movement building for social change. We are proud pioneers of science activism. Myth mongers saturate minds with junk science falsehoods that instill unfounded fear. These myths are so pervasive that often, they are the loudest voice in the conversation. By rising up and disrupting efforts to propagate myths we bring awareness of another voice. A voice of reason connecting science with values. We employ tactics of nonviolent direct action where applicable. While education and correcting myths are a natural outcome of some of our projects and actions, we are an activist group, not an educational/outreach group, but rely on our partner Biology Fortified, Inc for those efforts. Vision Statement We envision a world where truth inspires the same motivation to action in science issues that compels other movements. Mission Statement March Against Myths takes action against junk science injustice.- We dialogue toward common ground Talking with others, not at others is important for constructive positive progress, together.
- We create space for science to be heard Acting in partnership with science communicators helping them do what they do best.
- We act with steadfast passion The cause is just and we must never relent for it is the right thing to do.
- We inspire and empower others to take action The cause deserves a movement and pioneering efforts to create one.
- We utilize science to inform In the fight for truth we recognize science as a crucial tool for impactful change.
- We target systems, not individuals We must trust that people victimized by myths can change.
- Love – Unconditionally for others
- Knowledge – Ideas require nourishment to grow for positive change
- Justice – Everybody deserves a fair world
- Creativity – New solutions for pioneering efforts
- Truth – A real impact requires it
- Trust – A foundation for working together
- Justice requires truth. Without knowing what is real we cannot make fair decisions. Myths are a threat to justice.
- Activism as a tool for social change plays a valid and important role
- Science deserves to be defended
- Emotion is valid
- Facts cannot advocate for themselves
- Corporate corruption is real but not inherent
- We need to be proactive rather than reactive
- Science myths are not harmless
MAMyths Code of Conduct
MAMyths adopts this code of conduct not only for the safety and fun for people participating in our activities but to inoculate our space from interlopers who may seek to undermine our efforts. Due to the nature of our volunteer-based organization we leave ourselves open to saboteurs. We should strive for transparency and virtue to maintain a strong organization to fight pseudoscience injustice.
This code of conduct applies to all MAMyths spaces, including online social media spaces and events of action. Anyone who violates this code of conduct may be sanctioned or expelled from these spaces at the discretion of the MAMyths executive directors.
Some MAMyths spaces may have additional rules in place, which will be made clearly available to participants. Participants are responsible for knowing and abiding by these rules.
Questionable behavior includes:
- Encouragement of illegal activities.
- Offensive comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, mental illness, neuro(a)typicality, physical appearance, body size, age, race, or religion.
- Unwelcome comments regarding a person’s lifestyle choices and practices, including those related to food, health, parenting, drugs, and employment.
- Gratuitous or off-topic sexual images or behaviour in spaces where they’re not appropriate.
- Threats of violence.
- Incitement of violence towards any individual, including encouraging a person to commit suicide or to engage in self-harm.
- Incitement of vandalism or property damage.
- Harassing photography or recording, including logging online activity for harassment purposes.
- Unwelcome sexual attention.
- Any messaging that is anti-GMO, pro-industry, or any form of pseudoscience or science denial.
Reporting
If you are being harassed by a member of MAMyths, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact the MAMyths executive directors at mamyths@mamyths.org. If the person who is harassing you is on the team, they will recuse themselves from handling your incident. We will respond as promptly as we can.
In order to protect volunteers from abuse and burnout, we reserve the right to reject any report we believe to have been made in bad faith. Reports intended to silence legitimate criticism may be deleted without response.
We will respect confidentiality requests for the purpose of protecting victims of abuse. At our discretion, we may publicly name a person about whom we’ve received harassment complaints, or privately warn third parties about them, if we believe that doing so will increase the safety of MAMyths members or the general public. We will not name harassment victims without their affirmative consent.
Consequences
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
If a participant engages in harassing behavior, MAMyths may take any action they deem appropriate, up to and including expulsion from all MAMyths spaces and identification of the participant as a harasser to other MAMyths members or the general public.
*This Code of Conduct was originally sourced and inspired by Geek Feminism Wiki