Editor’s Note From Rivera Sun
Just when the rise of one authoritarian regime was depressing everyone, South Koreans burst into nonviolent action in a series of mass protests that successfully thwarted martial law and an authoritarian power grab. After President Yoon declared martial law, people took to the streets. Specifically, they surrounded their National Assembly building and helped their parliament members get into the chambers (sometimes through a window) despite soldiers and military personnel trying to stop them. In a unanimous vote, they reversed the presidential degree and lifted martial law. All thanks to the swift, mass action by the people. That’s how it’s done, folks.
It’s also a good example of why global news of movements is so important. While many of my fellow US residents are scrabbling for strategies to use against a Trump Presidency 2.0, our fellow activists across the world are demonstrating the bold responses we might need. Just look at a few examples from 2024: Bangladesh started protesting against favoritism in government job positions and wound up ousting the regime. Senegal’s contentious election almost got cancelled, but youth and poor people pressured them back on schedule – and voted their candidate into office. The Netherlands’ government was stalling on climate action so activists shut down their major highway for weeks until politicians got moving.
At the end of the year, I always write up some special reports on what’s happened in Nonviolence News this year. Watch your inbox for these pieces. I’m going to shake it up a little and focus on a few themes: what we can learn from success stories, how we can find inspiration from creative actions, and which of the best strategies from over 2,000 campaigns are worth taking a closer look at. This is part of what makes Nonviolence News so special – we have a bird’s eye view like no other. If you’d like to donate in appreciation … I’d appreciate it very much! Thank you.
In more Nonviolence News this week, Indigenous Papuans are protesting Indonesia’s transmigration plans, Georgians are demonstrating against right-wing authoritarianism, Black Friday Make Amazon Pay strikes and protests took place on 6 continents, Turkish women marching against gender-based violence were met with violent police repression, and exiles from Myanmar to Russia are finding ways to continue to resist as part of the diaspora.
We have a lot of good stories to take time to read in-depth, too. An article on 50 years of racial justice organizing in Detroit, MI; a 25-year retrospective on the Battle of Seattle; a piece on queer resistance in times of adversity past and present, a look at Algerian feminist radio, an examination of how mutual aid networks helped Chileans survive the dictator Pinochet, and a 10-part podcast series about a French village that put up an impressive nonviolent resistance to Nazi occupation. Useful stuff, don’t you think?
In solidarity,
Rivera Sun
South Koreans just demonstrated to the world that mass protest can stop authoritarian power grabs. This is not the first time South Korea has done this. In 1960, they forced a dictator to resign. In 1986, they pushed out an authoritarian regime. In 2000, they blacklisted corrupt politicians and kicked dozens of them out of power in the elections. In 2016, they forced the corrupt president to resign. So, President Yoon should have know what he was tangling with when he declared martial law. The people rose up, filled the streets, and helped the parliament members get into the building to hold a unanimous vote to overturn martial law. Read more>>
In a monumental victory for the vulnerable Arctic Ocean, Norway halted controversial plans for deep-sea mining. The decision comes amidst rising, widespread opposition to deep-sea mining across the globe. Read more>>
The ability to strike, organize, unionize, and do collective bargaining (i.e. workers negotiating a new contract with their company) is a core legal right that labor movements have pushed for over the centuries. In 2011, Wisconsin’s regressive governor Scott Walker stripped the state’s public workers of collective bargaining power. But a recent legal ruling has now restored it, thanks to the lawsuit filed by seven unions and three labor leaders. (Personally, I can’t wait for the day when the right to unionize, collective bargaining, and strike is universally and proactively enshrined in law for all workers, everywhere. Why do we have to keep fighting for these rights, company by company, state by state?) Read more>>
We’re getting somewhere. In the United Kingdom, a whopping 77% of universities have now pledged to divest from fossil fuels. The latest ones include Birmingham City University, Glasgow School of Art, Royal Northern College of Music, and the University of Bradford. Universities sit on major endowments that invested billions in the stock exchange. Divesting them is significant – and appropriate for institutions supposedly dedicated to preparing the next generation for the future. What good is an education on a dead planet? Read more>>
Students at the University of Toronto students scored a sweeping win for the climate justice movement that demonstrates how divestment campaigns can follow-up on victories to oust fossil fuel influence from donations to the university, recruitment on campus, and financing research. The best part? Dozens of other students immediately reached out to the organizers to ask them how they could organize similar campaigns on other campuses. Read more>>
Hong Kong’s top court confirmed same-sex marriage rights, affirming LGBTQ+ housing and inheritance rights. Read more>>
Indigenous Papuans are protesting Indonesia’s new ‘transmigration’ plan to resettle Indonesians in the eastern regions of Papua that have long pushed for independence. Read more>>
Here comes the AI resistance … 300 AI beta testers wrote an open letter of protest to AI software company Sora, objecting to being lured into providing free labor for a $150-billion company. They point out that artists are not free R&D (research and development) labor, among other grievances. Read more>>
At this Kentucky college, students are learning an essential skill for navigating today’s highly-polarized and often contentious world: how to talk with people they disagree with. Since breakdowns in dialogue precede descents into political violence and civil war, this kind of training is a powerful way to prevent violence … and support a democratic society Read more>>
What’s going on in Georgia (the country)? Recent protests (not all nonviolent) have led to clashes with the police. But many Georgians feel their nation is at a crossroads between European-style liberal democracies and more repressive autocracies. It’s not a simple split between political worldviews, however. Here’s a deeper look at what’s driving the protests. Read more>>
The 2021 military coup in Myanmar sparked mass protests and widespread resistance. The subsequent crackdown forced many citizens into exile. But some, like Daw Sandar Thwin, continue to resist the military junta from abroad. Read more>>
As plastics treaty talks loomed, millions demanded production cuts in single-use plastics. “This plastic crisis is rooted in the overproduction of single-use plastics, building for us and future generations a very toxic legacy,” said one Indonesian youth activist. Read more>>
In the British Museum, 200 visitors stood up and broke into three-part harmony to sing ‘It’s time to drop BP! Don’t take their dirty money!’ The Climate Choir Movement’s surprise flash mob was protesting the £50m donation the museum accepted from British Petroleum. This action is part of a broad effort to push museums, universities, and other institutions to break ties with fossil fuel companies over their continued destruction of the planet and imperilment of the human species. Read more>>
Ballet watchers felt the heat at a Swan Lake performance when climate activists with Fossil Free London disrupted the opening night of the show. They demanded that the theater break ties with Barclays Bank over the financial institutions funding of fossil fuels and weapons. Like the action at the British Museum, this effort is trying to remove social privilege and status symbols from those who make money off of causing untold suffering. Read more>>
Was it something they said? Out of 11 major federal grant awardees, the Climate Justice Alliance was the only one whose funds were delayed. The coalition of over 100 climate groups was also the only awardee that has spoken out against the US’ Palestine stance. Coincidence? They think not. Read more>>
This North Carolina city was hit hard by floods during Hurricane Helene. Now, they’re suing their electric utility for decades of lying about fossil fuel emissions and the climate crisis. While certain states have filed similar “Climate Deception” suits, the Town Council of Carrboro is the first city government to tackle a big electric utility over this. Read more>>
School kids in Kenya get their lunches from one of the world’s best programs. It’s locally-led, independently-owned, steam-powered, low-carbon and low-cost. They feed 350,000 kids each day. Read more>>
Make Amazon Pay held strikes and actions across six continents and 30+ countries over the US’ Thanksgiving Weekend and annual Black Friday sales. Workers are demanding accountability from the global giant for labor abuses, environmental degradation, and threats to democracy. “When we announced our intention to protest today, our management attempted to stop us in multiple ways. We want to say to Amazon—you could not stop us today, you cannot stop us in the future,” said one union leader. Read more>>
In 2021, they held the largest protests in human history (320 million people) and got India’s controversial Farm Bill repealed. Now, thousands of farmers and workers are in the streets once again, this time demanding that the government follow through on minimum support prices for farm produce promised during those 2021 protests. They also want protection for labor rights and the repeal of the ultra-right wing government’s labor codes. Read more>>
In Australia, 1500 Woolworth’s workers went on indefinite strike, setting up 3 picket line locations. They’re opposing the company’s attempt to suppress wages amidst the cost-of-living crisis and punitive work conditions in the scramble to implement greater automation. Read more>>
Can worker co-ops help build Dr. King’s vision of Beloved Community? Given that labor injustice impacts millions of people and contributes to the harms of poverty, exploitation, and economic injustice, it’s clear that we need major changes to the places where we work. Co-op Cincy co-founder Kristen Barker joins Nonviolence Radio to talk about how worker-owned cooperatives are essential to a nonviolent world. Read more>>
Tell rich people: Giving away money is good for you. Hoarding is bad for your health. Excess wealth is associated with lower empathy, addiction and even unhappiness. Perhaps that’s why a radical movement of extreme generosity is on the rise among affluent young people. Read more>>
At a rally in Chicago the friends and families of the wrongfully-convicted called upon the new Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen Burke to free torture survivors and those who were wrongfully incarcerated due to Chicago Police Department’s forced confessions. Burke’s predecessor freed over 300 survivors and demonstrators want her to continue and expand this effort. “Our wrongfully convicted loved ones should not have to spend another holiday in these god-forsaken slave ships called prisons,” said Jasmine Smith, co-chair of the Chicago Alliance. “Eileen Burke could free them with a stroke of her pen!” Read more>>
When the Israeli soccer team played in Amsterdam, violence broke out. Israeli football (soccer) club fans who traveled to the city for the game defaced Palestinian flags and signs hung by city residents. They chanted racist, dehumanizing slogans that led to other fans chasing and attacking them in what has been called anti-semitic violence. The incidents left the city feeling scarred and searching for ways to heal in the aftermath. One organizer said, “This episode only makes Jews and Muslims suffer the most. If we are more divided and can’t work together, there’s little we can do as communities to improve the current situation.” Read more>>
A model project in Indigenous-led urban planning in Manitoba aims to show how traditional ecological knowledge can support long-term racial equity and healing. Read more>>
This article on interracial organizing takes a close look at 50 years of racial justice campaigning in Detroit, MI. It highlights how Black and white activists worked in parallel in successful ways to challenge and transform different aspects of systemic and cultural injustice. Read more>>
On November 25, the International Day For The Elimination of Violence Toward Women, Turkish women marched against femicide, child abuse, sexual harassment, and gender-based violence. They were confronted by police who used violence, arrests, and threats of deportation to crack down. But with murders of women and children rocking the nation, Turkish women are willing to take risks to stop the pattern. Read more>>
Be disruptive! Queer history shows us that resistance is possible, anytime, anywhere. The LGBTQ+ community has faced adversity and challenges that can help us deal with Trump 2.0. Read more>>
From too-short pads to acidic ph-levels, scandals over sanitary pads are igniting feminist activism in China. Women are now campaigning for tighter standards in the production and regulation of women’s sanitary products. Read more>>
Tajikistan has a list of ‘banned professions list for women’. It used to be extensive, but the Labour Ministry just announced that it intends to review and reduce the number of professions banned for women, due to technological advancements and automation that have made these jobs safer. Women’s rights activists (and the Deputy Minister Shahnosa Nodiri) consider the bans outdated and are calling for the complete removal of the discriminatory policies. Read more>>
Since winning independence from France, Algerians have viewed radio as the voice of the revolution. But it took feminist radio programs to bring half the population into the conversation. Now, Algerian feminist radio is a critically important source of feminist ideas, values, and voices. Read more>>
Before President Biden departs office, these 46 senators want him to finally certify the Equal Rights Amendment. Under the GOP-controlled congress and White House, there’s no chance of this getting done for another four years. “There is no excuse for leaving us all unprotected,” said one advocate. The letter was reported ahead of a virtual town hall organized by the Biden Publish the ERA Alliance, which consists of 20 non-partisan advocacy groups including Doctors for America, Free Speech for People, and the League of Women Voters. Read more>>
Over 125,000 people marched in London, UK, to oppose Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The protesters demanded that the UK government end support for the violent occupation and disregard for international law. They also called upon officials to cut all diplomatic, military, and economic ties with Israel and impose an arms embargo. In addition, they want the UK to uphold the ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders and make sure that Israeli war criminals face justice. Read more>>
After the prestigious Oxford Union held a heated debate on the issue, they declared Israel an ‘apartheid state responsible for genocide’. The Union president condemned Israel’s war on Gaza as a ‘holocaust’ and a pro-Israel speaker was kicked out for harassing Palestinian student. Read more>>
Over a hundred Jewish Canadians took over their parliament building in Ottawa, Canada, to denounce their nation’s active participation in Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestinian people. They blocked the halls, bringing parts of the federal government to a halt. Read more>>
Around 75 protesters gathered at Travis Air Force Base in California to block the gates in opposition to the US’ support for Israel. 28 activists were arrested for the civil disobedience action and others delayed the 6-lane road by repeatedly pressing the pedestrian walkway button. Travis Air Force Base is where bombs from the US are shipped to Israel. See photos and videos here and read more>>
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrant for Netanyahu, Gallant, and the leader of Hamas for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Read more>>
Around 83% of Palestinian women’s organizations are still continuing some of their work amidst settler violence, war, and genocide. In this article, they express what international solidarity means to them, from boycotting Israeli companies to contacting officials to stop weapons shipments. Read more>>
At Sarah Lawrence University, the Gaza solidarity encampment has packed up after successfully getting their administration to agree to disclose its ties to Israel. Read more>>
Moana 2 just set a Thanksgiving weekend blockbuster movie record. Why does this matter to readers of Nonviolence News? Because the original Moana story hinged around a surprise nonviolent plot twist that used restorative justice to resolve the underlying conflict between the goddess Tafiti and the demigod Maui. The film has wracked up an impressive following since its low-key release. Now, parents, kids, and families are flocking to the theaters for more. Disclaimer: I haven’t watch it yet and am very curious to see if Moana 2 will stay true to the original’s nonviolent secret sauce. Read more>>
One sixth of humanity has some form of disability. For them, traveling can range from difficult to nightmarish to unaccessible. But disability rights groups are working hard to expand access. From wheelchair mobility in hotel rooms to low-sensory travel experiences, there are ways we can make easier for everyone to go places. Read more>>
Springing from the ideas of Dr. King and the mindfulness of Thich Nhat Hanh, Beloved Community Circles are a way to offer one another support in these difficult times. The Beloved Community Circles is a network of small groups of 5-12 people, geographically local to each other, who make three commitments: to engage in spiritual practice and healing together so that healing and development are core; to come to care deeply for each other’s well-being; and to participate in mindful action of the group’s choosing. Read more>>
Leaving MAGA provides an off-ramp for those who want to leave right-wing extremism behind. With personal stories and social support, the group of former MAGA supporters are trying to get others to change their views, too. Read more>>
Russians in exile face particular challenges. Split over ideological differences, spanning multiple eras of emigration, and enduring through waves of Russo-phobia, the diaspora doesn’t convene the ways other groups do. But, it seems that Russian artists in exile are a focal point for diaspora resistance. Read more>>
Comedian and social media sensation Troy Hawke stood in front of a water company industry event to greet industry bosses with his signature style of tongue-in-cheek compliments and uncomfortable truths. He’s calling attention the fact that Britain is one of only two nations in the world to have a totally for-profit water system … and it’s flooded with sewage outflows that cause botulism and other diseases. Oh, and millions of families are struggling to pay their bills for this disgusting ‘service’. Read more>>
25 years after the Battle of Seattle against the World Trade Organization Summit, we can glean important lessons on organizing from what worked stunningly well in the mobilization – and what utterly failed. Some approaches, like using a “diversity of tactics” that included sabotage, property destruction, and street skirmishes with police, backfired on activists for years to come. Read more>>
Two months after Hurricane Helene, local organizers and mutual aid volunteers in North Carolina and other impacted areas are feeling deep fatigue and high stress. But, organizer Sarah Nuñez says there are paths to healing. Read more>>
Waging Nonviolence’s 10-part podcast series “City of Refuge” tells the dramatic story of a little-known World War II rescue operation. It’s far more than a lookback at history, however. This series holds many important lessons on how we can effectively resist authoritarianism and protect vulnerable populations. Find out more>>
When Pinochet’s brutal dictatorship came to power, solidarity networks helped communities survive devastating state violence and economic oppression. As authoritarianism rears its head in new ways, here’s what we can learn from them. Read more>>
From wartime relief to global food rights, the American Friends Service Committee’s (AFSC) commitment to food justice has spanned continents over the past century. Read more>>
Gear Up: a Training Series w/ SURJ for White People to Fight Back Under Trump: Showing Up For Racial Justice (SURJ), the largest organization in the US that explicitly organizes white communities for justice, is launching our 10 week “Gear Up Training and Action Program” – a powerful opportunity to build our skills, community and power in the lead up to 2025. Learn more>>
We Fight Back – Jan 20: On Inauguration Day, January 20th, people will come together throughout the country to demand a future that centers the needs of the people over the interests of the wealthy elite. With voices raised for workers’ rights, immigrant rights, and environmental justice, we will call for an end to the genocide in Gaza, the U.S. war machine, and the rule of billionaires. Learn more>>
Pardon People With Non-Violent Offenses: Black Lives Matter calls on President Biden to pardon people with criminal offenses that did not involve violence. Add your name. Learn more>>
Preventing Political Violence: Are you concerned about your safety or the safety of others in your community? Do you want to discuss the prevention of political violence in the wake of the recent elections? On Earth Peace is holding an organizing meeting to explore the Authoritarian Playbook and share our experiences and what kind of response they’d like to be ready for. (Dec 12) Learn more>>
Use the Lame Duck Period To Stop the DAPL Pipeline: Indigenous Environmental Network is calling on you to add your voice to the call to stop the DAPL Pipeline in the lame duck period before Trump takes office. Learn more>>
Artists On Nonviolence: A Talk with Pace e Bene’s Art Makers: Join this inspiring event featuring three talented artists who have collaborated with Pace e Bene on numerous nonviolence-themed projects over the past five years. Rosie Davila, Bianca Pointner, and Leah Cook will share their art and process that they have used to make stunning graphics, illustrations, poster designs, coloring pages, and animations. The session will feature artist spotlights, thought-provoking discussions, and hands-on creative exercises designed to explore how art can impact our lives as a force for nonviolent change. (Dec 14) Learn more>>
Nonviolence Daily: A 4-Week Challenge & Book Discussion Group on Gandhian Nonviolence: Using Nonviolence Daily: 365 Days of Inspiration From Gandhi, we will spend a month reading short quotes from Mohandas K. Gandhi, along with the thought-provoking commentaries from authors Stephanie Van Hook and Michael Nagler of the Metta Center For Nonviolence. During our 4 weekly virtual sessions, we will discuss that week’s quotes, reflect on their deep meanings, and explore how these ideas about nonviolence fit into our modern lives. (Starts Jan 9, 2025) Learn more>>
Engaging Nonviolence: An Introduction: Join Rivera Sun and Anne Walter for this series of participatory virtual sessions featuring stories, discussions, exercises, and reflections in large and small groups. From practical skills to useful tools, this 6-week course explores how nonviolence can help you in personal relationships, conflicts in community, and social change. Learn more>>