What is going on in the world?
War, climate change, extreme poverty, global inequality, the erosion of democracy. The list goes on. Every day we’re bombarded with negative stories and bad news.
Why do I feel so powerless?
Many of us feel powerless because of the scale, complexity and emotional overwhelm of it all, and the simple belief that our actions won’t matter.
What would it take for me to act?
Clarity of purpose, belief in impact, a supportive community, clearly laid-out steps and caring enough to do something about it might be a good start.
Are you willing to take a first step?
We don’t have to feel powerless. There are things we can do. Take that first step by signing up, and let’s work together to turn our apathy into action.
Change starts here
When we trade silence for courage, even the smallest action can spark a wave of change.
Apathy to Action is a multi-faceted research and development project. It combines principles of Buddhist thinking with global activism, neurology and the latest behavioural research to develop technology-based solutions that help lift people who genuinely care from a point of apathy and helplessness to one of empathy, action and change.
If this sounds like you, why not join us?
Join the apathy to action
community today
Action is the only remedy to indifference.
This is what we’ll be doing
Join us and we’ll work together to explore three distinct activities to help us deliver the kind of change we’re desperate to see in the world.
Community building
We’ll pull together and connect, share ideas, build trust and turn our shared concerns into meaningful action.
Behaviour change
We’ll work together to inspire social action by applying behaviour change techniques to shift our mindsets and habits.
Tech development
We’ll develop human-centred technology that motivates, connects and empowers us to act on the issues we care about.
The seed of an idea
It was a few of my LinkedIn posts on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza that got me thinking. Most passed through people’s feeds without comment or reaction, but I refused to believe that people didn’t care about what they were seeing. The same applies to other global issues such as the climate crisis. We’re all now living its reality. Many people speak about their concern but don’t act. Why?
Overwhelmed by Scale
The size and complexity of global problems can paralyse action. People often feel their efforts are too small to matter.
Emotional Numbing
Constant exposure to crisis stories leads to compassion fatigue. People shut down emotionally to protect themselves from feeling overwhelmed or helpless.
Lack of Personal Connection
Injustice feels distant, something happening ‘somewhere else’ to ‘other people’. Without a personal link, it’s easy to disengage or ignore.
Unclear What to Do
Even when people care, they may not know where to start. Lack of clear actions leads to inaction and frustration.
Belief Systems and Biases
Cultural, political or ideological beliefs can create blind spots or justify inaction. People often resist information that challenges their worldview.
Social Silence
When peers don’t talk about global injustice people assume no-one cares. This perceived indifference discourages speaking up or getting involved.
About me
Hi, I’m Ken. First and foremost I’m a writer, a technologist and a strategist. I’ve dedicated most of my life to helping develop meaningful and impactful social and environmental solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, but it’s never felt enough. Despite a career spanning over two decades in the humanitarian and conservation sectors, my commitment to change has only accelerated over recent years, driven in large part by social upheaval, the vacuum in moral leadership, threats to democracy by big tech, the climate crisis, and a wider concern for the future of my young children. Apathy to Action is my latest attempt to put some of this right.
Get in touch
If you’ve got questions, have ideas or would like to either chat, meet or partner with us in some way, please reach out through email or this online form.