Editor’s Note from Rivera Sun
These are extraordinary times. Each and every person faces daily choices between fear and courage, love and hate, greed or generosity. I’ve been focused on collecting and sharing the many amazing stories of people stepping up to help other people in the hopes that they will inspire all of us to rise to the times.
Just a few days ago, I put together an entire special report on the extraordinary, nonviolent responses to COVID-19. Now, there are even more heartening stories to share. In this newsletter, I’ve included this week’s new stories along with my top 10 highlights from the midweek special.
You can read the full report “Take Heart! Humans Are Amazing” here >>
Don’t miss this week’s “Creative Action” section. From window-to-window sing-a-longs, the resurgence of Japanese mythical plague protectors, and Italian citizens using 3D printers to create free medical supplies, humanity is showing its superpowers in our time of need.
Love in the time of coronavirus,
Rivera Sun, Editor
Lead Photo Credit: Musical Mutual Aid Networks perform tiny concerts outside apartment buildings.
Norway’s Workers Win Sick Leave Pay and More: At the start of the coronavirus epidemic, Norway’s government said it would help businesses by making it easier for them to get rid of workers. But trade unions and left-wing parties fiercely denied that these measures were “inevitable” — and they won a bailout to serve working people, not just their employers. Read more >>
Shut Down Proves That Banning Motorboats In Venice Would Benefit Wildlife: As tourism’s cruise ships and tour boats ceased, the canals emptied, the water cleared, and numerous wildlife returned. The change is spurring residents to discuss the potential of demanding sustainable tourism standards for a city that sees 20 million visitors each year. Read more >>
Citizen Plumbers In India Save Millions of Gallons of Water: With DIY taps, these citizens are conserving water in a city that desperately needs it. Read more >>
China Passes New Law Banning Illegal Logging Imports: China is the world’s largest importer of illegally logged timber – but that may change. Read more >>
Activists Donned Hazmat Suits To Protest the United Kingdom’s Lackadaisical COVID-19 Response: They demanded a country-wide shutdown and other emergency measures be immediately put in place. Read more >>
Homeless LA Families Take Over Houses: Inspired by Oakland Moms4Housing, LA homeless families are taking over houses owned by the state in order to handle the coronavirus quarantine restrictions. Read more >>
A Wave of Wildcat Strikes Sweeps Italy For Pandemic Work Stoppages: Factory workers are refusing to work during the crisis and a wave of wildcat strikes swept through Italy, hitting every major industry. Read more >>
Fiat Chrysler Auto Plant Workers in Canada Walk Off the Job: Putting their health above profits, autoworkers walked out after coworkers were confirmed with COVID-19. Read more >>
Protests Against the “Bolsonaro Virus” Spread Across Brazil: Using pots-and-pans banging protests to stay safe during the pandemic but still speak up, Brazilians are demanding President Bolsonaro’s resignation. Read more >>
Transforming Mass Incarceration Plans Into Community Services Strategies: In a number of cities and counties, struggles against building jails have morphed into popular campaigns to create new non-carceral facilities designed and operated by community members. Read more >>
Medicare 4 All Unites Across Age: Seniors and younger people are pushing for affordable healthcare. Read more >>
6 Ways To Support People During COVID-19: From mutual aids to running errands to donations, here are some straightforward strategies for helping your community. Read more >>
NYC 20-Somethings Extend ‘Invisible Hands’ to Older, At-Risk Residents: Bags of goods are left at doors by volunteers who make a point to pause and chat as they deliver the purchases; cash can be exchanged in person or sent directly to a store, or through a digital transaction. Read more >>
COVID-19 Mutual Aid Networks Explode Across the United States: Teen Vogue reported that mutual aid networks are exploding online as people step up to help during the coronavirus crisis. Read more >>
London Postal Workers Strike Over Lack of Health Protections: The workers went on strike over coronavirus concerns when they were refused hand sanitizer and notification of coworker cases. Read more >>
UK Hospital Cleaning Staff Walkout After Contractor Fails To Pay Properly: The cleaning staff at the first London hospital to treat a coronavirus patient have walked out after an outsourcing firm repeatedly failed to pay them properly. Read more >>
Feminist Spring and the Patriarchy Strikes Back: How a wave of women’s uprisings is sweeping the globe – and how the patriarchy is trying to stop them. Read more >>
DisCOs Combine Coop Values With Feminist Principles: DisCOs are a commons-oriented, feminist, cooperative way for people to work together. A set of ideals and criteria for ensuring that patterns of oppression and violence that permeate our society are not replicated within intentional, cooperative spaces. DisCOs systematize fairness and the recognition of care work. Read more >>
Waorani Women Resist Ecuador’s Extractive Agenda in the Amazon: Indigenous women in Ecuador are standing up to an extractive industry that has displaced vulnerable communities and concentrated land ownership in the hands of the wealthy and multinational corporations. Read more >>
Finding Solidarity In the Fight To Oppose Extractivism in Haiti: Can activists in Haiti and American-based law students and professors create trust, honesty, and a commitment to equality in radically unequal conditions? Read more >>
Japan’s #Amabie Invokes Mythic Plague-Protector: A culturally creative hashtag campaign in Japan invokes #Amabie, the mythic plague-protecting beast that resembles a cross between a monster and a mermaid. Read more >>
Italy’s Andra Tutto Bene Campaign Spreads Hope: Posting signs in windows and photos online with the reassurance that “everything is going to be okay”, Italy’s Andra Tutto Bene campaign tries to boost the spirits of a country in crisis. Read more >>
The Uncensored Library Hiding Within Minecraft: “Reporters Without Borders created “The Uncensored Library” within “Minecraft” as what it calls a “loophole to overcome censorship.” The digital library in an open “Minecraft” server has articles and information that has been censored in many countries, but is accessible through the game. Read more >>
56 Black Men Photo Portrait Exhibit Counters Racism in London: With the news focusing on violent crime, this artist lifted up ordinary Black teens to counter the negative stereotypes sweeping through the media. Read more >>
3 Artistic Takes On Money – And That Doesn’t Mean Coloring Bills: These three artist-driven currency projects are rewiring how exchanges happen in their communities. Read more >>
People Are Converting Little Free Libraries Into Little Free Pantries: Adding food to books, the tiny street corner boxes help feed bodies and minds. Read more >>
Citizen 3D Printers In Italy Save Lives By Making Face Mask Parts: In Italy, where medical supplies ran short, citizens printed respirator valves with 3D printers and made them available for free. Read more >>
Mutual Aid Music Groups Perform Tiny Concerts Outside Apartment Balconies: Going out in small groups, they play old favorites to boost the spirits of people listening from apartment windows above. Read more >>
DJs, Drag Shows, and Dance Parties Shift Online To Carry On: Tune in from your socially-distanced home and dance your heart out. The livestreamed scene is here. Read more >>
Chicagoans Hold A Window-To-Window Sing-A-Long: Engaging community in a time of social distancing takes creativity. These Chicago residents are holding a sing-a-long. Read more >>
People With Sewing Machines or 3D Printers Are Stepping Up To Make Masks: Across the US, citizens are being called into action to help make masks during a medical industry shortage. Read more >>
How To Organize Amidst the COVID-19 Crisis: Empty the streets, make some cacerolazo noise, and more. Read more >>
New Blog Series Explores Visits To Frontline Resistance Movements: Sharing stories of trainings, struggles, and successes, this series aims to offer on on-the-ground look at organizing for change. Read more >>
Love In The Time of Coronavirus: “When societies take rapid, extraordinary steps to mitigate the shock of job loss or the expense of testing, they are pursuing nonviolent strategies—nonviolent because they resist the violence of exclusion or indifference while fostering healing and unity.” Read more >>
The Importance of Resisting Authoritarianism During Pandemics: “Security-Forward” responses are common among epidemics, but left unchecked, they give rise to destructive authoritarianism. Read more >>
“The Age of Hybrid Warfare” Free Webinar: War is more than bombs and bullets. Join World BEYOND War on March 25 for a free webinar on “hybrid warfare” – a mix of disinformation, sanctions, and unconventional tactics. We will 1) define what hybrid warfare is, and 2) discuss case studies of hybrid warfare in Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and elsewhere. Read more >>
Tell the US Government: US Troops Out of Iraq: While U.S. troops have been reduced in Iraq, they have never been removed. In January, the Iraqi Parliament voted that all U.S. troops should leave. Learn more >>
New Online Course! War Abolition 201: New online course emphasizes building alternatives to war, peace economies, and more. Learn more >>
Solidarity With Palestine: Palestinians are calling for a global week of solidarity actions March 24 to 30. Find information on how to participate >>
Earth Day Global Climate Strike: On April 22nd, the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, youth are calling for everyone to participate in a mass general strike. Read more >>
Earth Day to May Day 2020 Shut Down DC: Direct action campaign united labor and environmental justice and pushes for a Green New Deal. Learn more >>
#NoWar2020, World Beyond War’s 5th Annual Global Convergence, will be held in Ottawa, Canada, May 29-30, 2020, to coincide with CANSEC, Canada’s largest weapons expo. Register to join us this May for nonviolent activism, skills trainings, art-making, panel presentations, rallying, and more, culminating in the #NoWar2020 Conference on May 29-30. Read more >>