Editor’s Note from Rivera Sun
In this week’s Nonviolence News, we share an unexpected side effect of nonviolent revolution: Armenia is seeing its diaspora return following last year’s uprising. Meanwhile, the Algerians continue pushing forward in their 29th straight week of protests. After ousting their decades-long president and clearing out numerous offices, they now won’t let the army chief rush new elections through at the expense of fair democracy. They’re not the only ones pushing for fair elections – in Ethiopia, opposition parties are threatening to boycott the elections due to biased laws that favor the incumbent party.
In other news, my “pluckiest actions of the week” award goes to Iceland and Ireland. During recent visits, US Vice President Mike Pence, notoriously anti-LGBTQ, was greeted by rainbow flags flying all over Iceland and a Gay Disco Party Protest in Ireland.
Inside the United States, citizens are grappling with the gun violence problems in interesting ways. After worker walkouts, Walmart stopped selling ammunition for assault weapons. San Francisco officials called the National Rifle Association a domestic terrorist organization. And, after Texas loosened its gun laws despite recent mass shootings, tourists have launched a Texas boycott.
At the end of this week’s Nonviolence News, you’ll find the Calls-to-Action section. Check it out. Not only is September a month of enormous climate strikes, October is full of upcoming actions for peace and justice.
May these stories bring you hope,
Rivera Sun, Editor
Photo Credit: Algerian demonstrators take to the streets in the capital to protest against the government, in Algeria, Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. Tens of thousands of protesters piled into the streets of the Algerian capital and other cities Friday, the 29th straight week of demonstrations, with many saying “no” to the powerful army chief’s call for presidential elections before the end of the year. (AP Photo/Fateh Guidoum)
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Here’s what you’ll find in
this week’s Nonviolence News:
Victory! Success Stories
Recent Actions
Climate Action
Migrant Justice
Women’s Rights
Peace Action
Knowledge & Reflection
Calls-to-Action
Thousands of Indians protest, rally, and go on hunger strike to stop a state dam from swallowing their villages. Editor’s Note: this article describes the launch of the effort, the progress, and at the end, the success. Read more >>
Armenia sees its diaspora return to the country following nonviolent revolution. Read more >>
Walmart will stop selling ammunition for assault weapons, thanks to worker walk-outs and mass petition signing. Read more >>
Louisiana Bucket Brigade and allies stop Wanhua Chemical from building giant factory in their community. Read more >>
IWW Freelance Journalists Union, only a year old, succeeded in changing a clause in a major journal’s freelance writers contract that prohibited the journalists from discussing their pay rates with other writers. Read more >>
Algerians protest against the army chief’s call for swift presidential elections. They want a say in the creation of the process to replace the president they ousted with a nonviolent campaign, and don’t want a rapid election process to undermine real democracy. Read more >>
Ethiopian opposition parties threaten to boycott election, protesting that the biased election laws favor incumbent party. Read more >>
In a bid to appease protesters, Hong Kong withdraws extradition bill entirely. Many say, “it’s not enough” and the mass protests have continued. Read more >>
Hundreds of cyclists staged a die-in in the streets of London, UK, with a mock funeral procession highlighting the impact of cars and the cyclists’ demands funding for cyclist safety. Read more >>
With Boris Johnson calling for a general election, more than 100,000 youth and other UK citizens registered to vote in 24-hrs. Read more >>
Media blackout ignores rockstar Roger Walters (Pink Floyd) protest performance outside British Home Office for jailed Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. Read more >>
US Vice President Mike Pence, notoriously anti-LGBTQ, visits Iceland … and the entire country flew the Gay Pride Flag on official buildings and businesses. Read more >> Meanwhile, Ireland greeted Pence with a Gay Disco Party Protest. Read more >>
1000 counter-protesters dwarf the hundred or so Boston Straight Pride Parade marchers. Read more >>
San Francisco officials designate the National Rifle Association as a domestic terrorist organization. Read more >>
‘Vision for Justice’: 117 civil and human rights groups offer a roadmap to transform US criminal justice system. Read more >>
New campaign launches to ban facial recognition software. Read more >>
Tourists boycott Texas because the state decided to loosen (yes, loosen) gun laws following several mass shootings. Read more >>
Two weeks until the #GlobalClimateStrike, 450 strikes in 117 countries are planned. Read more >>
Timberlands boot company drops Brazilian leather in response to Amazon fires. Read more >>
63 year old man locks down to digging equipment to stop the Adani Coal Mine in Australia. Read more >>
Extinction Rebellion shuts down Manchester, UK, blocking roads for days and bringing the city to a stand-still. Read more >>
Extinction Rebellion’s origins: a failed protest over a bus lane and a psychedelic drug retreat had key roles in forming a global climate protest movement, two founders have revealed. Read more >>
Recognizing that Muslim immigrants are part of Scotland, an official Muslim-Scottish tartan has been created to honor them and welcome them into the fabric of the country. Read more >>
A self-governed area of Athens, Greece, faces a crackdown after supporting 9,000 refugees and migrants. Currently, 1,000 refugees and Greek citizens make their homes in the neighborhood’s squats. Read more >>
Nurses and healthcare workers take action to stop a “death sentence” deportation of a woman who is part of a life-saving Stanford Medical Center treatment and research program. Read more >>
Counter-protesters outnumber far-right protesters outside Islamic conference that was hosting several Democratic Presidential candidates in Houston, TX. Read more >>
200 Catholics rallied for migrant justice in Newark, NJ, to end migrant family separation. Read more >>
Catholics make a human crucifix in street to protest Trump’s immigration policies. Read more >>
The Sh**y Media Men List goes public … the pitfalls and importance of women’s whisper networks, #MeToo, and anonymous reporting of sexual harassment. Read more >>
Thousands march in Northern Ireland against abortion. Earlier mass actions for abortion rights had pushed the government to expand reproductive rights. Now, others are pushing back. Read more >>
Is Siri a feminist? Apple rewrote Siri to deflect questions about feminism. Read more >>
Massive book launch party planned for Handmaid’s Tale sequel, including immersive theater, satirical political speeches, and 400-person costumed demonstration/book line. Read more >>
Nonviolence denialism is as dangerous as climate denialism, an article by David Swanson. Read more >>
Should we feed hungry children or the US war machine? By Medea Benjamin. Read more >>
“Yoga Dudes” project transforms iconic green plastic toy soldiers into a peace representation of strength by putting them in yoga poses. Read more >>
The rise of the “meanwhile space”. Paris allows community groups to use empty properties in new ways. Read more >>
Maine State Prison garden program offers inmates skill-building, connection to the earth, and growing power. Read more >>
Black Lives Matter At School is organizing a second week of action for Black and Ethnic Studies, counselors not cops, and other demands. Read more >>
Linking popular movements and unions is a winning strategy for workers. Read more >>
What’s going on in Hong Kong? How is US foreign ops involved? Why should we be concerned about this? What can we learn from this? Read more >>
Conflict and Nonviolence in Kashmir: Metta Center’s Michael Nagler offers an on-the-ground interview with Gandhian activist Rajiv Vora and Niyati Bhat to discuss the principles and trials of nonviolence in Kashmir. Read more >>
Classroom for Nonviolence teacher shares reflections on how to support social justice-oriented student leadership in public schools. Read more >>
Campaign Nonviolence Week of Actions September 14-22, 2019, Everywhere. Host or join a march, rally, protest, or other event or action for a culture of peace and active nonviolence. Learn more >>
Sept 20-27th, join the Global Climate Strike. (It’s not just for the kids, any more. Get ready to go on strike.) Read more >>
Shut Down DC on Sept 23 as part of the Global Climate Strike. Learn more >>
The People’s Mobilization to Stop the US War Machine and Save the Planet, Sept 20-27th in New York City while the United Nations is in session. Learn more >>
World Beyond War Learn more about the conference and rally planned for October 5-6 in Limerick, Ireland. Learn more >>
Oct 5th is a Day of Action Against Domestic Violence. Hold or join a 2-min die-in protest. Learn more >>
Oct 6, DC, Reclaim the Courts protest for gender justice on the one year anniversary of Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Learn more >>
Oct 7th is a Day of International Rebellion for climate justice organized by Extinction Rebellion. Learn more >>
Oct 11th, DC, March on the Pentagon rally and actions for peace and against militarism, imperialism, and war. Learn more >>
Occupy Wall Street S17 “The Reawakening” demonstration in New York City. Learn more >>
Sign the Global Appeal for Peace that pushes all nations to follow international law – an important demand at a time when governments routinely flout the law. Learn more >>
Support the Embassy Protectors Defense Committee as they push for the charges against the Venezuelan Embassy Protectors to be dropped. Learn more >>
