Volunteerism and being an advocate/activist is not something Americans learn in school. Therefore, most Americans (and perhaps folks in other countries too) have a limited idea of how to take action on something that has moved them. Many often feel overwhelmed by all of the different issues they want to take action on and therefore often pick one or a couple issues.

Popular Issues:
Illnesses (cancer, diabetes, MS, etc.), Reproductive Rights, Environment, Economic Justice

Popular Actions:

Giving/Raising Money, Voting, Attending a Protest/March/Sit-In/etc., Writing an Op-Ed or Letter to the Editor, Being a Volunteer for that Cause or Organization

While these issues and actions are all super important, I think types of action and which issues is far from finite. Actually, there are an infinite number issues to act on and an infinite number of ways to take action.

You know what issues move you and you know, much more than you think, how to take action and be affective.

Here's my Approach:

Whichever, Wherever, Whenever, Whatever

WHICHEVER issue you want to work on is the right issue.
WHEREVER you are when you take an action is the right place. WHEREVER that issue is happening is the right place.
WHENEVER that issue happens is the right time. WHENEVER you take action is the right time.
WHATEVER action you take is the right action.

Let's put Whichever, Wherever, Whenever Whatever into action.

Last week I was staying at the Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago. I stored my computer in a locker and then lost the locker key. I had to pay $200 cash to a locksmith who did less than 5 minutes of work to open up the locker. I felt that I was being ripped off so I asked to speak to the manager. I stated that I didn't think that service was worth $200. While I paid the amount to get my computer, I did create a public scene of sorts, spoke to various levels of management, and got their and the locksmith's name. And now I'm writing about it and sharing with you.

So:

Whichever: I felt I was being ripped off by the locksmith, hotel, or both
Wherever: At the Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago
Whenever: August 25, 2006
Whatever: I argued with Hotel Management because I thought I was being ripped off. I took down the locksmith and manager's name and wrote about this experience on my blog.

Another example:

Whichever: Death penalty reinstatement efforts in Wisconsin
Wherever: Wisconsin
Whenever: Right Now
Whatever: I am taking a year off from grad school and moving from Philadelphia to Milwaukke to work for No Death Penalty Wisconsin