Editor’s Note From Rivera Sun
Why are politicians so fixated on driving humanity into apocalypse? Australian’s government campaigned on climate action, but then approved three new coal mines that will lock-in carbon emissions until 2066 – long past the deadline for stopping the climate crisis. The only good news about this is that Australians protested the decision in cities and towns across the country. The Aussies have a long history of resisting mining, including some notable successes. Will they be able to rollback this devastating decision?
In Nonviolence News, there are more stories about nonviolent action being used to uphold, defend, or expand democracy. Tunisians are holding mass protests in the run-up to their election, demanding the release of political prisoners and journalists, and an end to the repression of opposition candidates and organizers. Meanwhile, Colombians are rallying against a right-wing ‘institutional’ coup that is using accusations of excessive campaign spending to oust the president. In the United Kingdom, the citizen democracy group Assemble projected a massive EVICT THE LORDS message onto the British Parliament Building, saying that the unelected aristocrats and the careerists politicians are failing to meet critical needs. There’s also an interview from an organizer with the 2017 campaign #GambiaHasDecided that gives us lots to learn from in terms of countering tyrants and ensuring democracy.
Thousands of US students walked out of over a dozen schools in Georgia after yet another school shooting. Hundreds of thousands more students in over 50 cities went on school strike on Friday as the climate movement kicked off a global reparations campaign. Other stories show examples of how society can improve the physical and mental well-being of children, including encouraging walking to school (a surprising by-product of a car pollution law in London) and creating device-free zones with people of all ages. There is also very intriguing story about a global campaign, Children’s Voting Colloquium, that has organized adults in 12 countries to pledge to vote on behalf of a child, calling attention to the fact that today’s politics determines the future of those who have no say in the decisions currently.
As usual, these are just a few of the many stories that we’ve found. Even just scanning the round-up will give you a sense of the power and potential of nonviolent action in our world. But I encourage you to click through to the original source articles and read more – there’s lots to learn from each story.
In solidarity,
Rivera Sun
First Gaza Encampment Trial In U.S. Finds Protesters Not Guilty In New Orleans: On Friday, September 20, Tulane University encampment arrestees held a rally at 8 a.m., outside of the Orleans Criminal District Court, just before a monumental win for the city’s movement. Read more>>
London Saw a Surprising Benefit to Fining High-Polluting Cars – More Active Kids: Four in 10 London children stopped driving and started walking to school a year after the city’s clean air zone went into effect. Read more>>
Landmark Declaration of Rights Safeguards Biobío River in Chile: Biodiversity and Rights of Nature defenders celebrated a “historic moment” on Wednesday as communities in Chile joined advocacy groups in launching the first Declaration of Rights protecting an ecosystem in the South American country, with the document aiming to safeguard “the rights of Chile’s Biobío River against mounting environmental threats.” Read more>>
Adjuncts Score a Win At Northern New Mexico College: Like contingent faculty around the country, adjuncts at Northern New Mexico College deal with precarity, poor pay and exclusion from decision-making. NNMC serves mostly Latinx and Native American students, so the school itself gets slighted by the state—but organizing is starting to change all that. Read more>>
Germany Has Stopped Approving War Weapons Exports To Israel: Germany faces mounting pressure from legal cases arguing that German weapons exports to Israel breach humanitarian law. Read more>>
US Federal Housing Grants Are a Win for Climate Change and Environmental Justice: More than $69 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development will be used to improve energy efficiency and install solar power and heat pumps in affordable housing units. Read more>>
California to Ban All Plastic Bags in Grocery Stores by 2026: California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 1053 banning all plastic bags at grocery stores in the state beginning in 2026. In 2014, California passed a ban on plastic shopping bags, but a loophole allowed shoppers to still be able to purchase bags made of thicker plastic for a dime apiece. A decade later, the choice will no longer be, “Paper” or “Plastic,” but “I brought my own,” “Paper” or “No, thanks.” Read more>>
‘Power Belongs To The People’ – New Wave of Protests In Tunisia As Elections Approach: The protests reflect widespread discontent with the authoritarian repression under President Kais Saied since his 2021 self-coup. Read more>>
Colombians Mobilize In Support Of Pension Reform. And Against “Institutional” Coup That Would Seek To Remove Gustavo Petro: Thousands of Colombians took to the plazas of towns and cities across the country on September 19 to reject the attempts by the Colombian right-wing to overthrow the democratically elected government of Gustavo Petro and ratify their support to his government’s Pension Reform. The latest plot was denounced by the head of state last week on September 12, when Petro outlined that there was a plan underway to overthrow his government and replace him with Efrain Cepeda Sarabia, who is currently the president of the Congress of the Republic. Read more>>
“EVICT THE LORDS” Projection Lights Up Parliament: On 23 September, the words “EVICT THE LORDS” and “POWER TO A HOUSE OF THE PEOPLE” were projected onto parliament. This rounded off a day in which Assemble, a group with roots in the modern climate movement, highlighted “five urgent political priorities” that people around the country had decided on. Read more>>
Grassroots Group Registers Marginalized Communities To Vote: Courageous Resistance of the Desert is focusing on helping former felons reclaim their voting rights through nonpartisan effort at local movie theater, elsewhere. Read more>>
After Georgia Shooting, Students Walk Out Demanding ‘Future Free From Gun Violence’: The organizing group March for Our Lives said the statewide walkouts “speak to the urgency and frustration young people feel after yet another shooting has been met with only ‘thoughts and prayers.'” Read more>>
Nonviolent Medicaid Army Protests Across 10 States: Healthcare workers, Vermont residents and members of the Vermont Worker’s Center gathered at the Vermont Supreme Court on September 23 to put the health care system “on trial”. The protestors denounced national Medicaid cut-offs and a Green Mountain Care Board consultant’s report, written by Bruce Hamory, which suggested the restructuring of Vermont’s healthcare system. The protest is part of a national “Nonviolent Medicaid Army Week of Action” that will span across 10 states. Protesters across the U.S. are demanding an end to Medicaid cutoffs and an expansion of healthcare. Read more>>
Activists Pledge To Give Their Votes Away To Children In Global Campaign: A group of academics and activists have launched a global campaign to enfranchise children, by pledging to give their own votes to a young person until the voting age is significantly lowered or abolished.Some members of the Children’s Voting Colloquium have already voted on behalf of a child even if this has meant opting for a different political party or candidate of their choice. The group says giving votes to children as young as six would push governments to tackle long-term issues. Read more>>
Artists Decry Film Censorship in the Philippines: Two films were recently rated X and banned from being seen in cinemas. They told the story of a child who misspelled Santa as Satan. The other was a profile of an abducted activist. Artists are protesting the censorship. Read more>>
Reports On Some of The 5,223+ Actions During Campaign Nonviolence Action Days: Candlelight vigils, concerts in parks, direct actions for nuclear weapons divestment, endangered species identification walks, traffic safety actions, and so much more. Here’s a glimpse of what’s been happening during the 5,223+ actions that are part of Campaign Nonviolence Action Days, Sept 21-Oct 2. Read more>>
Protests Erupt After Labor Approves Coal Mine Expansions: Climate activists and organizations say environment minister Tanya Plibersek’s decision on September 25 to approve the expansion of three thermal coal mines in north-western NSW will “supercharge climate change”. Read more>>
Oil Kills: Inside the International Uprising Disrupting the Aviation Industry: Despite increasing repression, an unprecedented alliance of civil resistance groups is targeting airports on three continents to demand a binding treaty to end fossil fuels by 2030. Read more>>
California Sues ExxonMobil for Deceiving Public About Recycling Plastics: The fossil fuel giant spent decades spreading propaganda that recycling could solve the plastic waste crisis. Read more>>
Meet The Two Native American Women Fighting To Save Nuclear Exposure Benefits: The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), the quarter-century old law that compensates Americans sickened by U.S. nuclear testing, expired this summer, but two Native American women are keeping up the fight, even if they have to fund the effort themselves. Read more>>
Green Groups Applaud 1 Million Public Comments Urging Biden to Protect Old-Growth Forests: “The Forest Service should listen to the public and finalize policies that truly safeguard our oldest forests,” a coalition of environmental organizations advised. Read more>>
‘Back With a Bang’: Climate Marches Kick Off Worldwide as Global South Seeks Reparations: “It is unconscionable that Global North governments have continuously rejected their responsibility to deliver adequate climate finance for the Global South.” Read more>>
Activists Protest, Urge Global North To Pay $5 Trillion Owed Global South Over Climate Crisis: Activists took part in numerous climate actions around the world on Friday, September 20, 2024, to call on the governments in the Global North to pay up $5 trillion annually as a down payment towards their climate debt to the countries, people and communities of the Global South who are the least responsible for climate disaster but are the most affected. Read more>>
New York City Youth Strike Against Fossil Fuels And Greenwashing Ahead of NYC Climate Week: The Fridays for Future protest called for a focus on ending production of oil, gas and coal at the annual gathering that coincides with the U.N. General Assembly session. Read more>>
Nigerian Government Unleashes Massive Repression After #EndHunger Protests: At the beginning of August this year, tens of thousands of Nigerians rose up to denounce the government in a movement that was organised under the slogans #endbadgovernance and #endhunger. For too long, protestors complained, Nigerians had been suffering from hunger, high petrol prices and corrupt and incompetent government. Read more>>
Controversial French Anti-Riot Force Deployed In Martinique: But the measure was met by defiance by many on the island, with massive peaceful protests breaking out Saturday night. Videos from local media show crowds of thousands peacefully walking along highways overnight banging on drums and waving flags. Read more>>
For The First Time In 30 Years, Teamsters At Marathon Oil Refinery In Detroit Are On Strike: Close to 300 workers walked out September 4. Welders, firefighters, and heavy equipment operators in the union are demanding a raise that keeps up with cost of living, along with better hours. Read more>>
Hundreds of Thousands Face Eviction For Tiger Reserves In India – So Indigenous Communities Are Fighting Back: Thousands of Adivasi (Indigenous) people across India have rallied against forced evictions in the name of tiger conservation. They held mass protests at several of the country’s most famous tiger reserves. Read more>>
Haitian Group In Ohio Files Criminal Complaint Against Trump, Vance: A grassroots immigrant advocacy group filed a complaint seeking criminal charges in Springfield, Ohio, against former President Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R), over their role in elevating false allegations about Haitian immigrants abducting and eating local pets. Read more>>
The Surfer And Tribal Chief Fighting To Save A 550km South African Coast: An unlikely crew of activists is banding together against mining companies responsible for pillaging the country’s West Coast for centuries. Read more>>
NDN Collective Rallies in Front of the White House, Calling for Clemency for Leonard Peltier: At 80 years old, Peltier has been incarcerated for nearly 50 years and is now in very poor health. Time is of the essence to release Leonard Peltier, the longest held Indigenous political prisoner in U.S. history. Read more>>
Dispatch From Missouri – Mourners Decry Execution of Marcellus Williams: Bearing witness to Missouri’s latest state-sponsored killing, mourners spoke out at a vigil outside the execution room. Read more>>
Dads Wrap Baby Slings Around Statues For Paternity Leave: Over the past week, men have been draping baby slings on famous male statues across London and Edinburgh to raise awareness of the U.K.’s paternity leave policies and advocate for more paid time off for new fathers. Read more>>
Over 800 Missouri Medical Professionals Back November Abortion Ballot Measure: Hundreds of medical professionals in Missouri have signed an open letter encouraging residents to support a ballot initiative in November that would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. Missourians “are suffering under this cruel abortion ban,” the medical professionals said in their letter. Read more>>
What’s Behind India’s Latest #MeToo Movement In Malayalam Cinema? A probe panel’s report has lifted the veil on widespread sex abuse in the industry, with more women coming forward with allegations too. Read more>>
Thailand Becomes First Southeast Asian Country To Legalize Marriage Equality: The king of Thailand just gave Royal Assent to a law allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt. Read more>>
Where Every Day Is “Bring Your Kid to Work” Day: When a workplace provides child care, it’s easier for caregivers to juggle family and career — and they’re more likely to keep working there, too. Read more>>
Anti Space Radar Campaign ‘Demands Answers’ From Ministry of Defence After Public Consultation Becomes An ‘Utter Shambles’: A campaign group has stepped up its actions over controversial so-called ‘space radar’ ‘DARC’ plans for Wales – as the Ministry of Defence (MoD) presides over an ‘utter shambles’ of a public consultation. Read more>>
On Board The ‘Handala’ – A Little Ship To Gaza: The “Handala” and her small crew set sail from Oslo, Norway, with a big goal. To challenge and, indeed, break the siege of Gaza. “Although we haven’t made it yet, we have spread the story of Palestine.” Read more>>
Palestine Action At Elbit in Bristol AGAIN – Using a Van To Shut The Factory Down: It shows for the umpteenth time that direct action does work – as the group halted production, therefore stopped arms going to Israel to be used in its genocide in Gaza, and terrorism in Lebanon. Read more>>
Why I’m Protesting Outside The Aerospace Summit In Ōtautahi: Its ties to foreign militaries and weapons companies mean that the industry is steeped in blood. Read more>>
In Today’s Russia, Dissent Means Keeping Hope Alive: In Russia, signs of opposition to the war in Ukraine haven’t developed into a mass movement. State repression has closed off the avenues of mass politics, forcing dissidents into mainly symbolic protests. Read more>>
Giant Projections Against Fossil Fuels Light Up NYC: WHOA! Activists projected these huge images across NYC last night with the message that it’s time to #MakePollutersPay for climate damages! Read more>>
Creating a Co-owned Pocket Community: Phil Levin and Kristen Berman wanted to live with their friends, but they didn’t want to sacrifice their privacy, so they started their own intentional community where you can choose your neighbors and eat together but still have your own home. Read more>>
Artist Uses 15,000 Teddy Bears In Memorial To Gaza’s Children: An artist has created this memorial to the children of Gaza using 15,000 teddy bears. Watch here>>
Nigerian School Funded With Plastic Waste Proceeds On the Brink of Collapse: A school scheme to educate poor children and clean up pollution in Lagos brought hope. Now its future is at risk. Read more>>
Australian Ghost Nets Art – Indigenous People Turning Trash Into Treasure: Creating artworks from abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear to highlight effects of ocean pollution. Read more>>
Family Games and No Phones: An ‘Old-School’ Approach to Kids’ Mental Health: In one Long Island district, a free wellness center offers kids coping skills and support to get through their most vulnerable moments. The approach is old-school, a throwback to a time decades ago, before cell phones pushed kids into introversion and became a hotbed for bullying, when neighbors really knew each other and what was going on in their lives. Read more>>
What The US Can Learn From Gambia About Defeating Petty Tyrants: A Gambian organizer who helped bring an end to dictator Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year rule explains the importance of agreeing on a common purpose and demystifying despots. Read more>>
Today, the World’s Richest 1% Own More Wealth Than 95% of Humanity: The immense concentration of wealth, driven significantly by increased monopolistic corporate power, has allowed large corporations and the ultrarich who exercise control over them to use their vast resources to shape global rules in their favor, often at the expense of everyone else. Read more>>
We Are Suffering From ‘Militarism Abuse Disorder’: With symptoms that include the endangerment of a safe and healthy future, it’s time we kick the habit of military dependency. Read more>>
Why Ending Factory Farming Would Be a Benefit For All: Nonviolence Radio interviews Cassie King from Direct Action Everywhere about a historic ballot measure in California that would prohibit factory farming — and help transform our relationship not only to animals but one another. Read more>>
Reviving Asian American Solidarity: Working-class, pan-Asian communities have historically been integrated and in solidarity with Black and Brown communities. For example, in Harlem, New Orleans, and the Central Valley of California, South Asian migrant workers integrated into Puerto Rican, Dominican, Black, and Mexican families and communities for protection against white supremacist violence and economic exploitation. The he “model minority myth” was created to drive a wedge between them. Read more>>
Tell President Biden: De-escalate Israel-Hezbollah Violence Now: As Israel bombs Southern Lebanon, the Biden administration — as the Israeli government’s close ally and chief supplier of its weapons — has influence and pressure left to bear that can stall the escalation and secure a ceasefire in Gaza capable of stopping this deadly and dangerous spiral of violence. The choice is between de-escalation and more war, and the president needs to hear from you now. Learn more>>
Stand In Solidarity With Latin American Climate Activists: Do you agree that we need to transition off of fossil fuels and invest in community-owned renewable energy projects that deliver reliable energy in Latin America and all over the world? If the answer is yes, please add your name to stand in solidarity with the communities who are fighting back. Learn more>>
Peace At The Polls: Meta Peace Team and Pax Christi USA are teaming up to offer this practical skills workshop to help ensure a safer voting experience for everyone this Fall. Our emphasis will be on recognizing potential threats before they erupt, utilizing effective de-escalation language & skills, and basic Bystander Intervention. (Oct 6) Learn more>>
Defending Democracy With Nonviolent Action: Worried about democracy? Contested races, stolen elections, violence at the polls, dictatorial power grabs, misinformation … the threats are numerous. The good news? People worldwide have been dealing with these dynamics for decades, especially with powerful civil resistance movements. Join author/activist Rivera Sun to learn how nonviolent movements have defended democracy against the odds and in the worst of times. (Oct 16) Learn more>>
Media & Communications For Peace Course: This 6-week course explores how and why media and communications — operating within the wider MICIMATT (Military Industrial Congressional Intelligence Media Academia Think Tank) Complex — shape so much of modern life, from public opinion, politics, international relations, culture, social movements, economics, and education, to more, in both times of peace and war. (Starts Nov 4) Learn more>>
TidalWave2024 w/ Dissenters: Join the Dissenters’ annual membership conference, where young people from across the country will convene in Chicago for three days of connecting, learning, and taking action to build the movement to defund war and militarism. From October 25 – 27, Dissenters from across the country will arrive in Chicago to strategize about how they can organize young people in the heart of U.S. empire and build our power to wage anti-imperialist campaigns and dismantle the U.S. war machine. Learn more>>