Editor’s Note From Rivera Sun
When I read the stories for Nonviolence News, I look for sparks of courage. I search for irrepressible creativity. I look for the powerful emotions that propel humanity to stand up for change. I seek out smart strategies and savvy organizing. And I always find these things, week after week.
In Nonviolence News this week, I want you to notice the courage of the person who smuggled out rare footage of a resistance campaign in occupied Tibet. Let your heart ache with the students in New Mexico who laid out 460 pairs of shoes – each one representing 1,000 people who were sexually assaulted in the United States. See how climate activists are swarming the system to take action from all sides of the climate crisis, including finance, politics, fossil fuel industries, and public perception. Dig into the relentless organizing that ended $8/minute phone calls in the US prison system – and bankrupted the telecom company.
We have so much to learn … and even more to do. Here are some more ways people are taking action. A woman’s soccer team in Brazil is protesting on and off the field against the return of a coach known for sexual harassment. Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community is reeling as a draconian anti-gay law is upheld. South Africa’s 4-day work week experiment was a resounding success, with more than 90% of the workers and management saying they’d like to keep the system. One favorite story of mine was how a group called Octopussy Riot knitted octopi masks and held a musical protest against fossil fuels. (I’m always uplifted by people’s creativity.)
The campaign for a ceasefire in Gaza held a worldwide day of direct action across 50 cities called the A15Action. Aiming to put pressure on the ‘economic system backing genocide’, they disrupted traffic on bridges, blocked entrances to companies supporting Israel’s weapons and military surveillance, and more. In addition, Philadelphia activists targeted the robotics company that makes Israel’s killer robots and drones. Yale students launched a hunger strike against their university’s complicity. Meanwhile, Columbia’s students reeled at a sharp crackdown on protesters, including arrests, expulsions, and evictions. The Freedom Flotilla has launched a fleet of global boats with humanitarian aid that will challenge the blockade in Gaza.
What can you learn from this week’s Nonviolence News stories? Take the time to share your take-aways with friends or in social posts. That’s how we grow stronger movements, together.
In solidarity,
Rivera Sun
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South Africa’s 4-Day Work Week Was a Resounding Success: South Africa has become the latest in a long list of 4-day week trialists. Here, the test run was a complete success. Not only the employees, but also over 90% of participating companies want to keep the reduced working hours with the same pay. This is in line with the global trend. However, one small detail distinguishes the African country from previous tests – very few South Africans want to have Fridays off. Read more>>
3 Cities That Became Better Places for Young Black Men: Ten years after the launch of My Brother’s Keeper, these “model communities” have become proving grounds for the collaboration-based formula’s success. Read more>>
The Slow Death of a Prison Profiteer – How Activism Brought Securus To The Brink: On the hook to repay $1.3 billion of debt this year, the nation’s largest prison telecom company, Securus, is on the verge of bankruptcy. Its failure would represent a remarkable victory for advocates—and a potential beginning of the end for the industry as we know it. Read more>>
Bureau of Prisons To Close California Women’s Prison Where Inmates Have Been Subjected To Sex Abuse: Advocates have called for inmates to be freed from FCI Dublin, which they say is not only plagued by sexual abuse, but also has hazardous mold, asbestos and inadequate health care. Read more>>
Finland Ends Homelessness with Housing First Policy: The “Housing First” project in Finland is still successfully reducing homelessness. Those affected by homelessness receive an apartment and additional support without any preconditions. The result: The number of people without housing is decreasing steadily since the 80s. In 2022, there were 3,686 homeless people in Finland, which is 262 less than in 2021. The aim is to end homelessness in Finland by 2027. Read more>>
Smuggled Protest Videos Offer a Rare Glimpse At Resistance In Occupied Tibet: Defying a media blackout and severe backlash, Tibetan monks, nuns and residents of a threatened mountain community are showing the world their resistance to a Chinese dam. Read more>>
Young People to World Leaders: ‘Time to Let Youth Lead’: “We need more young people represented in all spheres of decision-making—within government, at the United Nations, in civil society, private sector, and academia. And they must be taken seriously.” “We still believe in the promise of a better world for all. Do you?” Read more>>
Watchdogs’ Database Details Right-Wing Efforts to Sway US Supreme Court: “Supreme corruption demands supreme transparency,” said one campaigner behind the new effort. A trio of progressive watchdog groups on Thursday unveiled a new database detailing the “troubling connections” between the U.S. Supreme Court’s right-wing justices, the conservative organizations that have intervened in cases before the court, and the wealthy donors funding them. Read more>>
Groups Bring Tortuguita’s Killing to International Human Rights Commission: Activists hope the petition will debunk police narratives and join the international record of human rights violations. Read more>>
Colombia Promotes Economic Cooperation, Not Competition: The Colombian government under the presidency of Gustavo Petro shows that there are alternatives to the neoliberal model. Instead of emphasising competition, the economy is to be geared more towards a principle of solidarity by promoting the cooperative sector. The project suggests that it is possible to strengthen the local economy with the help of small businesses and cooperatives. Read more>>
Octopussy Riot, Red Rebels Slow March, Ecuador Against Gas Flares – XR Global Newsletter: From disco-bedience to Ecuador’s stand-off with miners, Extinction Rebellion’s Global Newsletter shares action reports from the North Sea, DRC, Kenya, Zambia, India, and beyond. Read more>>
UK Youth, Experts Occupy Coal-Sponsored Science Museum Gallery: “Why on Earth are we allowing a destructive industry to sponsor an educational exhibition whilst simultaneously setting fire to young people’s futures?”. Protesters from Youth Action for Climate Justice and Scientists for Extinction Rebellion this weekend occupied a new climate gallery at the Science Museum in London that is sponsored by the Indian coal and weapons giant Adani. Read more>>
Indigenous Leaders Call for Whales to Get Personhood: In the latest advancement of the Rights of Nature movement, indigenous leaders of New Zealand, Tahiti, Tonga and the Cook Islands just signed a treaty granting whales the same legal rights and protections as human beings. This step will pressure governments to better conserve whales, or, as the Māori call them, tohorā — the sacred ancestors of indigenous Polynesians. Read more>>
Open Letter Demands Global Finance Overhaul to Fight Climate and Debt Crises: “The institutions of world finance have lost their muscle,” wrote more than 100 activists, celebrities, and political leaders. “You can be the leaders who bring them into the 21st century.” Read more>>
‘Catastrophic’: Biden Admin Approves Largest Offshore Oil Export Terminal: Nothing about this project is in alignment with Biden’s climate and environmental justice goals,” said one campaigner. Climate action groups are vehemently rejecting the Biden administration’s claim that the approval of a new offshore oil terminal—planned to be the largest in the U.S.—is in the “national interest,” after the U.S. Department of Transportation announced the project had met several federal requirements and could begin operations by 2027. Read more>>
Protesters Slam Gas Group’s Use of Customers’ Money To Thwart Climate Efforts: Gas Leaks Project launches campaign targeting the American Gas Association, which claims nearly all utilities in the US as members. Read more>>
Sunrise Protesters Arrested at VP’s House Demanding Biden Declare a Climate Emergency: “We deserve an administration who will fight for us, but instead of declaring a climate emergency, we are seeing Biden and Harris expand oil and gas production to record levels.” Read more>>
Climate Solutions, By The Hundred: Here are some of the most surprising, most actionable, and most fun solutions explored in Grist’s newsletter Looking Forward. Read more>>
In Brazil, Women’s Soccer Team Protests Against Coach’s Return: Last September the Brazilian soccer club Santos saw manager Kleiton Lima resign as head of the women’s team after players reported incidents of bullying and sexual harassment. But after Lima returned to the club last week, some players were ready to protest. In a recent game, Brazil’s Corinthians women’s soccer team protested the recent re-hiring of Lima by pressing their hands over their ears and mouths during the pre-game ceremonies for a game. Read more>>
‘Are We Not Human?’ Uganda’s LGBTIQ Community Reels As Anti-Gay Law Upheld: Campaigners and analysts say decision, which leans on US repeal of Roe v Wade, is riddled with ‘homophobic tropes’. Read more>>
Abortion Rights Supporters Rally in Florida Ahead of Ballot Measure Vote: “There is no medical reason for abortion bans and there is no medical reason for the government to be forcing their way into our exam rooms,” said one doctor. Supporters of a Florida ballot measure that would outlaw pre-viability abortion bans kicked off the “Yes on 4” campaign in Orlando on Saturday, after the state Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the proposed amendment can be considered in November. Read more>>
United States: Arizona’s Abortion Ban Sparks New Grassroots Campaign: Abortion rights activists in Arizona for Abortion Access are collecting more than one million signatures — many more than required — to hold a referendum to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. If successful, the referendum will be held during the November election. Read more>>
Montanans Launch Push to Get Abortion Rights on November Ballot: “With 2024 shaping up to be the biggest year ever for abortion on the ballot, it is critical that Montanans can make their voices heard on this issue.” Read more>>
Serious About Gender Exploration? There’s a Doula for That. Just like birth doulas, gender doulas support people at all stages of their gender journey. Read more>>
Murmurations: Wisdom From Women Changemakers: The paradox of this time feels both new and ancient. What might it look like to belong—to ourselves, each other, and Earth—unconditionally? How might we remember what we’ve forgotten? How do we sit in paradox and use it to evolve together? Three core practices are emerging as essential to this evolution: Courageous Presence, Radical Imagination, and Embodied Adaptation. Read more>>
Palestine Allies Stage Global ‘Economic Blockade’ of Gaza Genocide: Organizer A15Action said the worldwide demonstrations targeted “the global economy for its complicity in Israel’s ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.” Read more>>
A15 Day of Action Mobilized 19 Actions Across Australia For a Ceasefire: More than 100 people participated in a blockade of the Ferra Engineering factory in Magan-djin/Brisbane on April 15 as part of an global day A15 of action against genocidal Israel. Actions were organised in more than 50 cities around the world, including 19 separate actions in Australia. The aim was to disrupt weapons’ manufacturers and to highlight Western complicity in Israel’s genocide. Read more>>
‘McCarthyism Is Alive and Well’ – Google Fires 28 for Protesting Israel Contract: “These mass, illegal firings will not stop us,” said organizers. “Make no mistake, we will continue organizing until the company drops Project Nimbus and stops powering this genocide.” Read more>>
‘My Child Is Human’: Palestinian American Mother Disrupts Testimony: A week after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told lawmakers that the U.S. has no “evidence of genocide being created” in Gaza, peace activists disrupted the Pentagon chief’s testimony on the Biden administration’s 2025 budget request and demanded he acknowledge the humanity of Palestinian children. “Secretary Austin, why are you denying Israel’s genocide in Gaza?” advocates asked the defense secretary at a hearing. Read more>>
Philly Workers March for Palestine Protests Against Israel, Militarized Robots: On Saturday, April 13, local groups protested Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed 33,000 Palestinians according to the latest figures. Organizers say that workers and unions are sending the message today. The Philly Palestine Coalition says groups involved include the Labor for Black Lives Coalition, Healthcare Workers for Palestine, Philly IWW, TNG Local 10/CWA Local 38010, SEIU Healthcare PA, Unity Caucus, Philly Tenants Union, & Workers World Party. One key focus of Saturday’s march is the company Ghost Robotics which makes what organizers call “killer robots” for Israel’s military; the company’s Vision 60 “dog robot” was reportedly used for IDF experiments in the Gaza Strip. Read more>>
Aid Coalition Says Gaza Cease-Fire Needed to Avert ‘Catastrophic’ Middle East War: “To avoid the security situation spiraling out of control, all efforts must be made to ensure de-escalation through political and diplomatic means alone.” Read more>>
Yale Students Go On Hunger Strike Over University’s Connection To Israeli Weapons: Fourteen students at Yale University are on a hunger strike over the school’s connection to arms manufacturers currently supplying Israel with weaponry. The group sent Yale University Peter Salovey a letter declaring that their strike would begin if the school did not take immediate action on the issue. Read more>>
Student Arrests, Expulsions, and Evictions at Colleges Across the US Over Palestine Protests: In advance of an April 17 Congressional hearing featuring Columbia University’s president, schools are increasingly penalizing student protesters. At Columbia, Vanderbilt, Pomona, and more, students are facing censure and arrests for sit-ins. Read more>>
Boats To Gaza Rallies Hundreds For Flotilla: VFP members Ann Wright, Elliott Adams, Barry Riesch, Jayson Mizula, and Michael Jacobsen, and VFP associate members Medea Benjamin, Tighe Barry, Lisa Fithian, Coleen Rowley, and Arla Ertz will be voyaging together on this latest Boat to Gaza. Read more>>
These Americans Won’t Pay For The War On Gaza: As the Biden administration continues to give weapons to Israel, thousands of people across the country are protesting by refusing to pay their taxes. Read more>>
Saving Paradise: The Fight to End Militarization in Hawai‘i: With 6 percent of its land occupied by military bases, Hawai‘i is our most densely militarized state. But young activists are rejecting recruiting efforts and military influence. Read more>>
Indian Protesters Pull From Poetic Tradition To Resist Modi’s Hindu Nationalism: Poetry seemed to unsettle the government the most. Dissenters reciting protest poems were accused of spreading hate against India, beaten and arrested by the police. Read more>>
460 Pairs of Shoes To Protest Sexual Assault: Yesterday, there were over 460 pairs of shoes lining Smith Plaza at the University of New Mexico, representing the 463,000 people who experience sexual assault or rape each year. Read more>>
How Folklore Can Shape Our Climate Futures: Folklorists across the United States are increasingly striving to help communities adapt to a new reality, understand how tradition shifts in times of crisis, and even inform climate policy. Folklore doesn’t seem like it would teach us how to adapt to a warming world, but even as it looks over our collective shoulder at the past, it can prepare us for a future that is in many ways already here. Read more>>
The Coffee Shops Countering Recidivism: When people leave prison, their criminal record keeps them from accessing housing options and work opportunities. Many are overcoming this challenge with the help of independent coffee businesses, be it in roasting, brewing, or being a barista. Read more>>
Is The Age Of Digital Organizing Over? The internet has become increasingly inhospitable to mass mobilizations. Corporate monopolies, increasing authoritarianism, and dangerous legislation have tightened control over the digital public square that once organically fostered grassroots organizing and real-time access to information. Read more>>
Making Community To Deal With Climate Collapse: If we consider that we as a people could soon face a climate-related collapse of our economic infrastructure, how might we avert this outcome? Or, failing that, be able to continue on while maintaining a civil society? Read more>>
Who Is Undermining Democracy Worldwide? Coups. Assassinations. Riots. Detentions. Disinformation. We know the tactics that have been deployed to undermine our democracies. But who is behind them? That is why we launched a research consortium on the Reactionary International: to trace the connections between the politicians, platforms, think-tanks, funders, foundations, publications, judges, and journalists that comprise this global network — and to support democratic systems to become more resilient to their insidious tactics. Read more>>
Environmental Resistance to Corporate Raiding: All around Bosnia-Herzegovina, ordinary citizens are mobilizing to fight industrial developments threatening to damage, or have already destroyed, parts of the environment where they live. Here’s a look at local resistance to corporate destruction of the environment and describes the complicity between domestic politicians, international officials, and the companies that strive to extract resources at all costs. Read more>>
Why Direct Action Is Becoming Common In The Fight For The Palestinian Cause: From blocking bridges to economic boycotts, direct action for Gaza is increasingly common. But can it succeed? Read more>>
How Self-Compassion Can Help Activists Deal With Stress: Why are activists, who are so passionate about their social justice work, so often burned out by those very causes? To understand how activists can better manage the challenges of their work, our research examines how self-compassion could be used to help them alleviate stress and avoid burnout. Read more>>
Building Movements Amid Today’s Crises: Focusing on transformative solidarity, a new book explores movements’ potential to bridge diverse experiences and causes and offer a unified approach to address the multifaceted crises we face. Astra Taylor, a co-founder of the Debt Collective, a union of debtors, and Leah Hunt-Hendrix, co-founder of progressive philanthropy networks Solidaire and Way to Win, draw on their experience to underscore the necessity of transformative solidarity in movement building. Read more>>
Tell Biden To Stop Overseas Fossil Fuels Project Financing: U.S. institutions and development banks are still putting billions of public funds into fossil fuels abroad. They should fund, clean, safe and affordable renewable energy with that money instead. Will you send a letter to President Biden calling on him to stop American institutions funding fossil fuel projects abroad? Learn more>>
Walking for Peace and Planet, Justice and Democracy from MAINE to WASHINGTON, D.C: There are many ways to get involved. You can be active for a week or two and then take a break and come back later as time allows. We welcome all levels of commitment, and we also welcome support in the form of monthly or one-time donations. Peace Walk 2024 is a National Project of Veterans For Peace. Get the full scoop at PeaceWalk2024.org. Learn more>>
Feminist Peace Summit: Join us at the Feminist Peace Summit 2024, organized by the Feminist Peace Initiative, a collaboration between Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, MADRE, and Women Cross DMZ! WPI is a sponsor of the summit. Click here for more details. (May 1-3) Learn more>>
Poor People’s Army March: Also known as the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, the mission of the nonviolent Poor People’s Army is to keep people alive and to build a cooperative economy and society. Endorsed by Veterans For Peace, the two-week Poor People’s Army March will go from Mikwaukee – site of the Republican National Convention (July 15) – to Chicago – site of the Democratic National Convention (August 19). The march will deliver the same message to both conventions: “We reject corporate greed and demand an end to poverty.” (July 15-Aug 19) Learn more>>
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