Editor’s Note From Rivera Sun
On Earth Day, April 22, 2023, millions of people are taking action on behalf of our imperiled planet (or, more accurately, our imperiled species and ecosystems). With the climate crisis heating up, business-as-usual destroying hope, and politicians dragging their feet, many people are doing far more than picking up garbage and planting trees. Nonviolent actions for fossil fuel divestment, stopping pipelines, declaring climate emergencies, halting oil leases, and much more are happening. Next week, we’ll have stories on the thousands of actions that are happening this weekend, but here are a few stories that have already occurred.
Peoples Earth Week is underway with 1,300 people putting up 60,000 climate posters across the United States. In France, 30,000 people took action to stop wasteful water plans from squandering resources in a drought-prone region. Just Stop Oil disrupted the United Kingdom’s Grand National Horse Race and the World Snooker Championship. In Australia, Rising Tide activists (pictured) halted a coal train and used shovels to offload the coal from the cars in a message that it was time to quit coal. A community in Washington is celebrating after public pressure and legal challenges cancelled a methanol plant that was slated to be the worst climate-polluter in the state.
In other Nonviolence News, US mail carriers, Canadian treasury workers, and Memphis sanitation workers are all on strike. French citizens are in the streets to defy all the authorities’ attempts to raise the retirement age. India’s farmers are taking action again; 100,000 rallied against the Modi government. Iran’s government is trying to reinstate the dress codes that led to mass protests in September. Egypt’s female social influencers are also struggling amidst a morality police crackdown. Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, some of the women who brought about the Good Friday Peace Accord in 1998 are getting well-deserved recognition for their efforts.
There are so many intriguing stories in this issue of Nonviolence News. Be sure to check out the humorous story of Kansas mischief-makers who planted flowers in potholes and the Lebanese board game that teaches players how to counter corrupt politicians. On a more somber note, there’s an in-depth analysis on how US residents respond when an armed protest occurs. Another article pays tribute to Traute Lafrenze, the last member of the German White Rose that resisted the Nazis, who recently died at age 103.
In solidarity,
Rivera Sun
Photo Credit: Australian climate activists unload coal train, halting the train for 5 hrs.
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A Community Says ‘No’ to a Massive Climate-Polluting Refinery: Under legal and public pressure, a developer abandoned plans to build a methanol refinery in Kalama, Washington, that was set to become one of the top climate polluters in the state. Editor’s Note: This “win” happened in January, but since we missed it, enjoy it now. Read more>>
Starbucks Workers Unionize 300th Store Less than 18 Months After First Win: Less than two years after Starbucks workers went public with their union campaign, the union has now won its 300th store, marking a major milestone in the campaign that is now helping to inspire a new generation of union activists. “Starbucks baristas are writing labor history,” said organizer Michelle Eisen. Read more>>
Washington Becomes Sixth State to Pass Shield Law Protecting Trans Residents: LGBTQ advocates say that laws protecting trans health care in safe haven states could prove to be lifesaving. Read more>>
The Denver High School Where Teens Get Sober: “Recovery schools” blend typical high school curriculums with addiction treatment, leading to higher rates of attendance, graduation and sobriety. Read more>>
Indian Workers And Farmers Unite Against Modi Government: On April 5, 100,000 Indian workers, farmers, and agricultural laborers demonstrated against the neoliberal assault on the lives and livelihoods of the Indian working class. They accuse the ruling party of fueling sectarian and caste-based violence, while stamping out all forms of dissent. Read more>>
French Workers Take the Streets As Pension Reform Becomes Law: Spontaneous protests broke out in France on April 14, Friday, after the country’s Constitutional Council ratified the increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64, the most controversial aspect of the pension reforms pushed by the Emmanuel Macron-led government. Macron signed the bill into law early on Saturday. Read more>>
Myanmar Militar Junta Grants Amnesty to Over 3,000 Prisoners: Myanmar’s Military Junta granted amnesty to 3,015 prisoners in an order, and 98 foreign prisoners and five Sri Lankans. It is to mark the Southeast Asian country’s traditional New Year with peace in mind and on humanitarian grounds, as well as in view of relations between the respective countries and Myanmar. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners denounced that at least 17,460 citizens who protested against the 2021 coup are still detained. Read more>>
Reinstated Rep. Justin Jones Carries Infant-Sized Casket In Protest For Gun Laws: The recently reinstated Rep. Justin Jones carried an infant-sized casket into Tennessee’s Capitol as protesters calling for gun safety legislation outside the Capitol were blocked from bringing caskets inside. Read more>>
Myanmar Democracy Activists Take On The Corporations that Finance Coup Regime: Myanmar/Burma democracy activists are stepping up their campaign on United States President Joe Biden’s administration to impose sanctions to stop North American oil and gas companies from financing the Myanmar military coup regime’s war against the people. Read more>>
Students Walkout After White Man Shoots Black 16-Year-Old for Ringing Doorbell: Protests erupted on Sunday in a Kansas City, Missouri, neighborhood after a white homeowner shot a Black teen twice after the teen mistakenly rang the man’s doorbell while trying to pick up his younger brothers. The white homeowner who shot 16-year-old Ralph Yarl was released by police 24 hours after being detained. Read more>>
Nigerian Explorer “Discovers” UK Lake And Renames It To Challenge Colonial Narratives:
In a bold move to challenge colonial narratives that have long claimed the discovery of African landmarks, a Nigerian man living in the United Kingdom has discovered a new lake in Leicester, East Midlands, and named it Iyi Ojemba. Mazi Uba Acho, a native of Igbo Naton in West Africa, posted on Facebook about his discovery, highlighting the absurdity of the colonialist mindset that sought to claim discovery of places already known to local communities. Read more>>
Mass Mobilizations In Tehran On World Al-Quds Day: Massive mobilizations in defense of Palestine and against Tel Aviv’s violence have been registered in the capital, but also in other cities of the Islamic republic, including Qom where a million people participated. People marched carrying banners with messages in solidarity with Palestine and against Israel and the United States. Read more>>
Bolivia’s Coup Leader Añez Is Indicted for the Senkata Massacre: In 2019, Jeannine Añez issued a decree authorizing joint operations between the Armed Forces and the Police against against the Indigenous population of El Alto. On Monday, Bolivian Prosecutors filed a criminal charge against Jeanine Añez for the “Senkata Massacre”, a case in which the leader of the coup-born administration can receive up to 30 years in prison for crimes of genocide, homicide and serious injuries. Read more>>
Organizers Are Resisting a 2-Tiered Legal System in Majority-Black Jackson, Mississippi: On July 1, House Bill 1020 will take effect, and the whole of the City of Jackson will be no more — at least with respect to the administration of its criminal legal system. Instead, the city will be partitioned into unequal halves: a Capitol Complex Improvement District (CCID) and an unnamed nowhere land. Black Jacksonians plan to make this attempt at reinstating white supremacist rule “extremely difficult” to implement. Read more>>
Inside the Effort To Change Racist School Mascot: More than 1,200 high schools across the United States have racist mascots. And while some states have moved to ban such imagery outright, calling it offensive and out of touch, efforts to do so have also met intense resistance by supporters who say the team names are central to the traditions and identity of their communities. Read more>>
Reporter’s Recording Reveals Oklahoma Sheriff’s Violence & Racism: An Oklahoma sheriff’s office says a newspaper’s audio recording in which the sheriff and other county officials are reportedly heard discussing killing two journalists and hanging Black people was illegal and predicted felony charges will be filed. Read more>>
Educators & Publishers Fighting Attempts To Erase Racial Justice From Curriculum: The right-wing has compiled a glossary of terms they’re trying to remove from curriculums nationwide. Here’s a sample of words that are included: woke, whiteness, white supremacy, white fragility, unconscious bias, systemic oppression, systemic racism, social and emotional learning, restorative justice, racial justice, privilege, patriarchy, multiculturalism, intersectionality, internalized racism, identity, inclusivity education, equity gap, culturally responsive teaching, cultural awareness, critical self-reflection, critical pedagogy, anti-racism, anti-Blackness and anti-bias training. Read more>>
Australian Rising Tide Activists Stop Coal Train, Seek Support For More Civil Disobedience: Rising Tide stopped a coal train for 5 hours on April 16 at the Port of Newcastle, Australia. There was a tremendous media response, due to the dramatic photos of people shoveling coal off uncovered coal trains onto the ground. Read more>>
Extinction Rebellion Readies For “The Big One”: Hundreds of thousands will converge on government offices in the United Kingdom. The action will go on for four days: from 21 to 24 April. It also coincides with Earth Day on 22 April. The Big One’s aim is that large numbers of people will keep returning to parliament for several days. The event will feature performances, speakers and workshops. Read more>>
French Activists Struggle To Protect Water: 30,000 protesters (including Extinction Rebellion rebels) marched to the construction site of one of a series of planned mega-basins – huge open-air water reservoirs that will irrigate industrial agriculture to the detriment of everything else, from small-scale farmers to river ecosystems. Read more>>
“New Oil And Gas Will Snooker Us!” Just Stop Oil Disrupts the World Snooker Championship: Two supporters of Just Stop Oil have disrupted the World Snooker Championship, climbing onto the snooker tables and throwing paint over one. They are demanding that the government stop all new UK fossil fuel projects and are calling on UK sporting institutions to join in civil resistance against the government’s genocidal policies. Read more>>
Just Stop Oil and Animal Rising Disrupt Grand National Horse Race: “We stand in solidarity with all who risk their liberty by engaging in civil resistance against our broken system. Disruptive action is the only effective mechanism normal people have to enact social change.” Read more>>
Elderly Women Sue Switzerland For Inaction On Climate Change: These women seek an ambitious sentence that could force the Swiss State to reduce carbon dioxide emissions quickly. On Wednesday, elderly Swiss women accused their State before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for its inaction on climate change, which prompts heatwaves that put their health at risk. Read more>>
#PeoplesEarth Week Launches Art-Based Action Across US: This week is the Peoples’ Earth Week, and activists have been putting hundreds of climate movement posters up in community spaces, bank walls, and other highly visible places all across the country. In total, 1,300+ people received 60,000 climate art posters. Read more>>
Minneapolis Letter Carriers Are Rallying: Letter carriers got a glimpse of what a fighting strategy to win a strong contract could look like when 150 workers and supporters rallied in downtown Minneapolis April 2 under the banner “Staffing, Safety, and Service—Letter Carriers Need a Raise!” Members highlighted the root causes of the staffing crisis: mandatory overtime, pay that hasn’t kept up with inflation or with industry competitors like UPS, a toxic working environment at many stations created by bullying tactics from management, and overall poor working conditions that have led to huge attrition rates of new hires. Read more>>
In Photos – French Workers Rally Against Government Pension Reform Plans: This photo essay takes you into the street to see the massive protests in France. Each photo has a brief description of what’s going on. View here>>
Film And Television Satirizing Wealth Rise In Popularity: Films and shows like “Knives Out,” “Triangle of Sadness” and “The White Lotus” reveal a public discussion on wealth. Now more than ever before, there is a general awareness and conversation surrounding the immorality of extreme wealth. Read more>>
Striking Hotel Workers Say Managers Pocket 50% of Tips: Despite the cold weather, dozens of workers and their supporters picketed outside the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore in February, as they had been doing—and have continued to do—for months. The workers are demanding better wages and working conditions, which they say they are owed on principle—but also because of the heavy public subsidies their employer receives. Read more>>
Canada’s Largest Federal Public Service Union Goes on Strike: The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) announced that over 155,000 citizens working for working for Treasury Board and Canada Revenue Agency go on strike on Wednesday. Wages are the primary issue. Read more>>
Memphis Sanitation Workers Walkout: Some of the concerns relate to truck conditions, needle exposure, and respect. They’ve been pushing for better safety measures for years, and they have no plans to stop. “We’re at the negotiating table, and we’re demanding better wages, of course, but for whatever reason, they think that we should give up our safety bonus.” Read more>>
Volunteers And Victims of US Border Patrol Violence Demand Justice: Hundreds of people die every year at the hands of US Border Patrol agents, either from being beaten, shot, car chases or being left stranded in the desert, simply for exercising their right to move. Read more>>
Florida Immigrant Rights Allies Rally: Wielding large signs and vibrant hand flags representing different countries, dozens of students and residents alike chanted in unison: “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here!” The Gainesville, FL, residents were protesting proposed state legislation House Bill 1617, which would increase penalties for those working with undocumented immigrants and survey collection on them. Read more>>
Iran Tries To Reimpose Dress Codes: Iran is trying to reimpose strict dress codes months after a wave of unrest in which women and girls removed their headscarves in protest following the death of a young woman who had been detained by morality police. Read more>>
Egypt’s Female Social Media Influencers Face Arrest, Jail On ‘Morality’ Charges: Egyptian authorities have since 2020 carried out a campaign to silence female social media influencers, using a cybercrime law to detain them on vague charges such as violating “public morals” and “undermining family values”. Read more>>
Phoenix Indian Center Celebrates 3rd Annual Two-Spirit Powwow: This past weekend, the Phoenix Indian Center hosted an annual powwow that welcomes and celebrates its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and two-spirit (LGBTQ2S) relatives in a movement that has been growing throughout Indian Country. Read more>>
LGBT Allies Are Working Together to Jam Missouri’s Anti-Trans “Tip Line”: Social media users are urging people to protest against an online form created by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, which solicits responses from state residents who claim to have knowledge of questionable practices relating to gender-affirming care for transgender people. The form was created in response to dubious whistleblower claims about a children’s hospital. Read more>>
Women of Northern Ireland Gain More Recognition For Important Role In Peace Process: It took a quarter of a century but Mo Mowlam and other women who helped clinch the Good Friday agreement are finally gaining recognition. After years of being belittled, marginalized or forgotten, the late Northern Ireland secretary and other figures are receiving tributes from politicians, diplomats and artists on the eve of the agreement’s 25th anniversary. Read more>>
Veterans Push Back Against Military Recruitment in Schools: The branches of the U.S. military have long seen high schools as optimal recruiting grounds. Some veterans are beginning to fight the propaganda and tell students the truth about military service. Read more>>
Remembering Traute Lafrenz, Last Surviving Member of the White Rose Resistance: Following her death at age 103, Lafrenz leaves a legacy that shows the lasting power of truth and nonviolence in the face of monstrous evil. Read more>>
Power Play – The Lebanese Board Game With a Political Point To Make: ‘Reformists’ take on the corrupt ‘elite’ in a game that recreates the golden age – and invites players to imagine a different history. Read more>>
Someone Plants Flowers In Kansas Potholes: Drivers in this Kansas town had to dodge something different than potholes Wednesday morning. They had to avoid flowers in the road, planted in the dead of night. Read more>>
Music Video Issues Plea For Climate Action: “Granddaughter’s Eyes” is a music video that invites us to pay close attention to the Earth, to love her deeply and take action to heal her wounds. The song reminds us that every act of attention is an act of reciprocity, generating wonder and joy, perpetuating the gift. Read more>>
How Cleverly Subversive Nicknames For China’s President Fuel Dissent: By using nicknames to disguise their dissatisfaction with Xi Jinping, Chinese people are building the kind of courage that has inspired recent protests. Read more>>
University of California Workers Center Disability Justice in Union Organizing: Workers built solidarity by rejecting the “deserving vs. undeserving” disabled model and scarcity approach to access. Read more>>
US Public Opposition For Armed Political Demonstrations: Like violence perpetrators, armed demonstrators exert an outsize influence on politics by inhibiting speech and changing behaviors by leaders and citizens with visible threats of violence. Here’s what US citizens think about armed protests. Read more>>
How To Share – 300 Guides To Help Your Community Thrive: Shareable has a growing collection of how-to guides to help you save money, reduce waste, and build community through sharing. Read more>>
Metta Center’s Nonviolence Report: In this episode of Nonviolence Radio, we take time to focus on news from around the movement, while jumping right into the Nonviolence Report. In the later part of the show, we have some fun answering questions from some of our listeners from around the world. Read more>>
Burying 200 Years of the US Monroe Doctrine: It’s time to bury the Monroe Doctrine and foster positive relationships across Latin America and the Caribbean. Join activists at American University on Saturday, April 29th for the Forum: “In Search of a New U.S. Policy for a New Latin America: Burying 200 Years of the Monroe Doctrine,” followed by an arts and culture event that night. The day before, April 28th, is an Advocacy Day in Congress, to promote policies that foster cooperation and mutual respect towards our neighbors in the South. (April 28-29) Learn more>>
How To Hold A Nonviolence Teach-In: Get skills and tools for holding a nonviolence teach-in. This session will cover what to teach, how to facilitate a lively discussion, where to hold your teach-in, and how to reach out to partner groups to make it happen. We will share creative ideas for your teach-in and help you feel comfortable in asking your faith center, local school, youth group, or even your workplace to hold an event. (May 13) Learn more>>
Writing Nonviolence II: Personal Stories & Memoir With Rivera Sun: From saving spiders to eating a vegetarian diet to protesting against nuclear weapons, we all have nonviolence stories to share. This 6-week course will explore how you can express your experiences in writing. We will look at personal stories, creative essays, and memoir for people of all ages. (Starts May 16) Learn more>>
Intro to Gandhian Nonviolence with Ela Gandhi: This four week course will explore Gandhian nonviolence, constructive program, preparation for action, and more. Learn more>>
Send a Message To Asset Managers: Stop Big Banks From Funding Climate Chaos! BlackRock, Vanguard, Fidelity, and State Street, four of the biggest players on Wall Street, are top shareholders at nearly every major bank and insurance company. Their size means they have make-or-break voting power in determining the outcomes of these votes. Learn more>>
24-Hr Peacewave: International Peace Bureau and World BEYOND War are planning a second-annual 24-hour peacewave on July 8-9, 2023. This is a 24-hour-long Zoom featuring live peace actions in the streets and squares of the world, moving around the globe with the sun. (July 8-9) Learn more>>
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