Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org called in September for this years 350.org global actions on the 10/10/10 to be direct action focused. As far as I am aware the biggest action to occur in Australia on this day was the Hazelwood demo in Victoria. This action attended by 300 people did not contain any direct action component nor did any other actions around Australia on this day. As a consequence I feel that despite the media coverage obtained, the day failed to put any real heat into the issue of climate change and was not nearly as empowering for either participants or the movement as last years action at Hazelwood. Why were there no mass arrestable actions on this day anywhere in Australia? Perhaps the Climate Camp in December will be more successful. Read Bill's world below as I totally agree with his sentiments.
* Our actions must be infused with the spirit of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and other peaceful protesters before us. No violence, no property damage.
* We need large actions, with many members of the general public. Think hundreds and thousands. So don't concentrate on the kind of tactics that only a few hardy specialists can carry out; we're not going to have hundreds of people rappelling or scuba diving.
* We don't think for a minute that we can actually physically shut down the fossil-fuel economy for any meaningful period; it's too big. We need to aim for effective symbolic targets -- say, dirty, old coal-fired power plants -- and use them to make clear the need and opportunity to cut carbon fast.
* Our actions must be rooted in the communities where they are held and be organized hand in hand with local groups and activists.
* Our tactics need to engage onlookers, not alienate them. We have to have effective ways of keeping provocateurs and incendiaries at a distance, and attracting the kind of people who actually influence the rest of the public. Discipline will matter.
* We need to be transparent and open in our planning, not reliant on secrecy. We'll need to do our work certain that law enforcement is looking over our shoulders; our method can't be surprise.
* Beauty counts. We're fighting for the beauty in the world that's being stolen by our adversaries, and at the same time we're aiming for hearts and minds.
* We don't have unlimited resources. The cost and complexity of these kinds of actions can mount quickly. As with all things environmental, frugality and simplicity are virtues.
http://www.grist.org/article/2010-09-05-call-for-direct-action-in-climat...
Comments
Re: 350.org - Hardly a failure in Australia in 2010!
I'm dismayed by Indy Media's writing off of 350.org in Australia for the year. After 28 years of working on environmental issues in three countries I am still amazed at the bizarre habit of NGOs and those of like minded organisations to trash each other knowing how hard it is to get things happening on a big scale anywhere in the world on any issue! 350.org in Australia has tried in vain this year to raise funds so that we can support greater action, more visable efforts -direct, symboic and otherwise - with almost no luck at all. In Australia, it seems, the donor dollar is all but dried up on climate change dispite our being one of the only nations in the world to see little negative GFC impact. Given that, everone working on the 350.org effort here is working for free, around paying jobs and remaining optimisitc that we can and should keep up the 350 cause going in the face of no federal government action on the issue. Why in the world would anyone call an organisation's efforts in its second year a "failure" under any circumstances? Unlike larger, well established green groups, we are brand new and feeling our way - a way that is open source, open to participation and ideas and open to all kinds of action - not just direct action - on climate change. Direct action is simply not our major goal. Most of our supporters and participants are concerned citizens, not activists or paid campaigners, and we are working to build a global movement calling for climate action, not getting arrested for the sake of it. For us, it's very early on in what is likely to be a long and committed effort to see strong steps to reduce emissions in Australia and globally. Our strength so far has been in our collaborative approach to work with anyone - individuals, schoold, other organisations - in an inclusive and positive way. We intend to keep that up as best we can and to be part of the 350.org effort going forward. Don't write us off before we even get off the ground! The issue is too important and there is too much to do if we are to really address this issue. Keep watching as we develop. Last year and this year, there were more than 200 Australian 350.org events organised - some of them the most visually inspiring to take place anywhere in the world with organisers- around the country. Organisers in cities and remote areas were proud of their efforts big and small because it takes courage to make an effort when it's not your job to do so because you believe in it. For those organisers, 350.org provides a unique way for them to express their concern, anger, desire to do something right now. How could anyone call that a failure?
No reflection on 350 organisation
Hello there - firstly the article I posted does not reflect the views of the Indymedia collective. The site exists to publish views from anyone - so they only reflect my views as the author - not "Indymedia"
Secondly, Blair I am sorry if you feel dispirited as a 350.org volunteer by the article, that was not the intention. I have the greatest respect for the 350.org organisation, volunteers and its aims. In fact the article quotes the words of Bill McKibben, the founder of 350.org as I agree with the sentiments he expresses very much. When I wrote "350.org a failure" I was referring to the days actions, not the movement or organisation. I do not blame 350.org for the "failure" of more direct action to occur but the broader environment movement and I guess "the public" who I see as being currently very weak in the face of the climate crisis. This is not meant as a criticism to the few souls working their guts out as hard as they can to get actions up or educate people, but as an observation of the political weakness of the movement overall. I think Bill is right - what is needed at this point in history is broad based mass non-violent direct actions and I was merely reflecting on the lack of this action in Australia on the 10/10/10. So sorry Blair if it read like an attack on the 350.org organisation itself - it really wasn't meant that way. Good luck with your work. I hope that maybe next year as a movement we might have the collective will and strength to undertake the kind of actions Bill describes on the international day of action in Oz.