Active Citizens Transform was founded in 2004 by Charles Secrett, former Executive Director of the environmental organization Friends of the Earth, and Ron Bailey as a new non-party political movement in the United Kingdom. It aims to mobilise citizens to transform the United Kingdom into a vibrant, participatory and sustainable society. It opposes the "first-past-the-post" electoral system.
ACT published an advertisement in 2005 criticizing Labour party members of parliament who promised to support environmental policies but, under pressure from the Labour party's leadership, voted against environmental measures opposed by the British government. The advertisement was criticised by the Advertising Standards Authority for making misleading claims.
One of ACT's main projects was Local Works the successful campaign for the Sustainable Communities Bill. ACT inherited this campaign from the New Economics Foundation.
In 2006, ACT formally merged with Charter88, which in turn merged with the New Politics Network in 2007 to form Unlock Democracy.
Famous quotes containing the words active, citizens and/or transform:
“There is not enough exercise in this way of life. I try to make up by active gymnastics before I dress when I get up, by walking rapidly in the lower hall and the greenhouse after each meal for perhaps five to ten minutes, and a good hand rubbing before going to bed. I eat moderately; drink one cup of coffee at breakfast and one cup of tea at lunch and no other stimulant. My health is now, and usually, excellent.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
“Illness is the night-side of life, a more onerous citizenship. Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship, in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick. Although we all prefer to use only the good passport, sooner or later each of us is obliged, at least for a spell, to identify ourselves as citizens of that other place.”
—Susan Sontag (b. 1933)
“God defend me from that Welsh fairy,
Lest he transform me to a piece of cheese!”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)