Nonviolent Action Network

David Rovics has written a provocative blog criticizing Black Bloc property destruction tactics and attacks on the police.  The article strongly endorses nonviolent and formalized (meaning electoral and judicial) resistance.  Black Bloc tactics have had mixed success.  In many cases, property destruction has garnered enormous attention for grievances.  The property destruction has communicated an intensity of anger/grievance that is valuable.   However, it has also often alienated allies (including potential police allies) and pissed off locals who are most affected by the property destruction.  The biggest criticism for these approaches is a strategic one.  It is difficult to point to a strategic campaign that has benefited from these tactics in recent decades.  We can find no successful social movement sucessess. No political, economic, or legal victories. No significant cultural changes.

Anger actions (whether involving property destruction, attacks on police, or nonviolent (such as Act-Up) are best used to demonstrate the intensity of a problem and deeply held belief.   However, violent anger attacks have not shown success in building  social change movements capable of achieving political goals.

http://www.songwritersnotebook.blogspot.com/

After years of dedication to the cause of nonviolent activism, Howard Zinn passed away yesterday, January 27,2010.  Most famously know for his authorship of “A People’s History of the United States,” Zinn devoted his life to peaceful resistance.  Haunted by his experience as a bombardier during WWII, he began questioning the motivations of military action and winning wars through civilian deaths and collateral damage.  Since then he has taught at Spelman College and Boston University and been at the forefront of the civil rights movement as well as anti-war movements.  For more information: click here.

Individual acts of nonviolent resistance happen everyday. Some are successful. Some are not.  In this case the Lokhoboti Reang defied Mizo mobs engaged in a pogrom to evict Brus from Mizoram, India, by refusing to leave her house when threatened.

To quote from the outstanding fact finding report  published by the Asian Centre for Human Rights,  “The mob also sought to burn down the house of Surjamoni Reang. However, it could not be burnt as
Ms. Lokhoboti Reang refused to vacate the house.
Ms. Lokhoboti Reang told the ACHR FFT:
“They ordered me to get out of the house so that they can burn the
house. I told them I will die inside the house but not get out. Then
they took out a dagger to scare me. I told them you can kill me but I
will not leave the house. We will die here (Mizoram) but not leave”.
All these happened in presence of the security forces and the district
officials.”

Unfortunately, although there were successful acts of resistance, 5000 have been displaced with 2000 fleeing Mizoram for neighboring Tripura, where they live in squalid conditions.

An encouraging sign of compassion comes from the Mizo christian churches that have a mixed track record of support for those beyond their communities.  According to the report, substantial funds were raised by Presbyterian, Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists, Methodists and Baptists.  Let’s hope that the various denominations can also increase their support for Burmese refugees and provide more leadership in upholding the human rights for all the people of the region.

As an aside-

I look forward to the day when flat footed liberation front engages in a nonviolent struggle to eradicate high heel shoes that women all wear in Aizawl and many parts of Mizoram.  Mizo women associate high heels with being a good christian, a peculiar relic of American missionaries. Spending every day walking up and down stairs makes high heels in hilly Mizoram is as sensible as kilts in northern scotland and abayas and hijabs in tropical climates.

INSTITUTE FOR PEACE WORK

AND NONVIOLENT CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION

Wahlenau, Germany

In conjunction with Nonviolence Peaceforce

Announces a new Working Paper:

Civilian Peacekeeping. A Barely Tapped Ressource

Ed. By Christine Schweitzer

This Working Paper in English language includes five contributions on the subject of „Civilian Peacekeeping“. The articles have been written independently of each other and for different audiences. These audiences had in common that they were mainstream policymakers and scientists, not people from the peace and nonviolence movements. All the authors have for some time or still are involved with the NGO Nonviolent Peaceforce, and therefore chose the majority of their examples from the experiences of the work of NP.

Contributions by:

„Introduction – Civilian Peacekeeping. A Barely Tapped Ressource“ – Christine Schweitzer

„The World Needs ‚Another Peacekeeping’“ – Rolf Carrière

„Best Practices for Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping – Tim Wallis

„Peacekeeping with Nonviolence: Protection Strategies for Sustainable Peace“ – Rachel Julians

„Humanitarian Protection as an Additional Function of Humanitarian, Development and Peace Projects – or Rather a Task Requiring Experts?“  – Christine Schweitzer

„The Responsibility to Protect: Towards an Expanded Role for Global Civil Society“ -  Christine Schweitzer

IFGK Working Paper No 23, Civilian Peacekeeping. A Barely Tapped Ressource, Ed. Christine Schweitzer, Vehrte: Sozio-Publishing, ISBN 978-3-935431-79-8, Recommended Price: 7,50 € (plus portage).

The paper can be downloaded for free from the websites of  IFGK (http://www.ifgk.de/oben/publikationen_all8.htm )

and soon also of Nonviolent Peaceforce (www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org).

Paper versions can be ordered at: Sozio-Publishing, Farnbrink 32 a, D-49191 Belm-Vehrte, Tel.: ++ 49 / (0) 05 406 / 81 88 44 , Fax: ++ 49 / (0) 05 406 / 81 88 45; E-Mail: service@sozio-publishing.de, Internet: www.sozio-publishing.de

On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Nonviolence International staff were asked the question, How does MLK, Jr. continue to influence your life?  Here are some of their answers.

“I was raised with Dr. King as a role-model. We have many people who are primarily conflict avoiders in our somewhat spoiled society. Dr. King refused to sweep white supremacism and racial segregration under the carpet. He was a fighter, a nonviolent fighter who tried to show his opponents that change would actually be beneficial to all. If the US political leaders had followed the values and policies of Dr. King (and the Congressional Black Caucus) since 1968, we would live in a more just and peaceful world. His dream lives in me.”

- Michael Beer

“As a Palestinian with my people divided over many countries, I feel that Dr. King’s success in promoting equality and justice for African Americans is inspirational. I hope my Palestinian colleagues in Israel and elsewhere will struggle with nonviolent means to end the second-class treatment of Palestinians. Dr. King’s nonviolent philosophy was deeply grounded in his religious beliefs which focused on the inherit worth of all people and a refusal to make opponents enemies. I believe strongly in promoting a nonviolent philosophy of truth, dignity and courage. King’s Memphis allies carried around signs that read, “I am a man.” I Am A Palestinian.”

- Mubarak Awad

“On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Iranian activists are following his example, engaging in mass protests, boycotts, strikes and civil resistance to fight for freedom and justice because they do not seek peace that comes at the price of quiet repression. Dr. King is often cited as an authority on peace and reconciliation. But what I find impressive about him is not his willingness to take the safe option of going with the flow, but his relentless challenging of the status quo. He understood that without justice, equality and freedom, the promise of peace rang hollow. He did not see peace narrowly and solely as the lack of violence and war as many activists do today, but peace of the mind, heart and conscious that will only come with justice and equality–peace in every sense of the word. That’s the peace that inspires me, and that is why I follow the example of Dr. King.”

- Sam Sedaei

“I am part of a generation that learned about Martin Luther King, Jr. beginning in elementary school. My teachers introduced him as one of many heroes in American history, but it wasn’t until much later that I was really introduced to Dr. King. I learned he was not only a civil rights leader, but also a strong advocate of the use of nonviolent methods to address conflict and injustice. As we reflect on his life and service this year, I am struck by just how unique he was in our historical tradition, which tends to celebrate people who achieve change through one form of violence or another. Dr. King continues to inspire me to seek an end to injustice wherever it occurs with passion and conviction, but without violence. ”

- Matt Chandler

“The words and actions of Dr. King have inspired major decisions in my life.  When my uncle was taken as a political prisoner in 1976 by the military dictatorship in Uruguay, I learned at a young age that those who pursue active nonviolence can be targeted as enemies by the powers that be.  This was reconfirmed when learning about the life and witness of Dr. King who said in his “Beyond Vietnam” speech delivered on April 4, 1967, a year before he was assassinated, that the United States is ‘the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today.’  In early June 2009, President Manuel Zelaya of Honduras hosted leaders of the hemisphere under the theme ‘Culture of Nonviolence,’ where Dr. King’s spirit was very present.  Later that month, President Zelaya was ousted violently in a military coup, and he remains holed up in the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa, where I have learned about his commitment to the principles of nonviolence espoused by Dr. King.”

- Andres Thomas Conteris

We encourage you to add your answers as comments to this post.

Lynne Shivers, long time NV scholar and activist, shared the news that George Willoughby died today.

With great sadness, I report that George Willoughby died at 2:20 AM on Tuesday, January 5 at home. He complained of chest pains and difficulty breathing, then died.  Family members were with him.

He was Co-founder of many organizations and efforts including:
Peace Brigades International,
World Brigades,
Movement for  New Society,
Central Committee on Conscientious Objection.

He sailed on the Golden Rule that was the first direct action against nuclear weapons testing. He participated in first invasions of Nevada Nuclear test site. An incredible activist and leader with world-wide impact.

As a friend wrote, all is well, and all will be well, but right now it feels like there is a hole in the universe.

You can connect with the family at his house where his daughter Sally, lives: 340 Pine St., Deptford, NJ 08096.  Phone 856-227-5723.  Sally’s e-mail is <willowbee@juno.com>

Plans for the memorial meeting are being made.

Andres Conteris, Nonviolence International Director of the Americas Program, has outlined 10 additional ways the US government has supported the Honduras coup d’etat.  Despite vigorous nonviolent resistance, the coup appears to have largely succeeded at great cost to the Hondurans, the future of democracy in Latin America, and to perceptions of continued US patronizing policies.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/03-7

Al Giordano  of  Narconews has an article explaining how the resistance movements in Honduras and Iran are here to stay. And that media coverage often focuses on the elite leadership fight but does not substantially explain the power shifts and breaks at the street level.

http://narcosphere.narconews.com/thefield/3701/iran-civil-resistance-breaks-through-censorship-again

On December 30th, 2009 Gus Dur died at the age of 69.  He was a key figure in Indonesian history serving as a transition president after the Suharto era.  He was an ardent admirer of Mahatma Gandhi and promoted values of nonviolence, tolerance, religious pluralism, and democracy.

Here is a post that describes in some detail his belief and commitment to nonviolence.

World wide activism in support of the resistance to the Coup D’etat has been terrific. Demonstrations, hunger fasts, letters to editors, politicians, and much more.  Andres Thomas Conteris has been in Honduras since the coup and has served as a bridge between international and local resistance efforts.

People like Andres are key to stitching together a sustainable and powerful and coordinated movement.

Here is an audio link to his interview on KPFA on the 6 month anniversary of the Coup.

US President Obama’s visit Japan became something meaningful for those who are seeking a peaceful world in Japan.  In his interview, he referred to his interest to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the future. In addition to his speech in Prague expressing his strong commitment on nuclear détente, this statement was accepted with a huge applause by Japanese people, because this is what no US President has ever done. Many Japanese appreciated his sincere efforts toward peace in the world.

War is a violation of humanity and social welfare. War is wrong because it produces a lot of grief and hatred, among not only present generations, but also future generations on all both sides. Many Japanese think what Japan did during World War II was wrong. Victims of the atomic bomb blasts understand the situation at that time, and many think it was inevitable. However, after decades of suffering, now they realize the reason why they have to survive, and their responsibility for peace promotion. They tried to hide themselves from society and conceal their identity as victims. Now, they begin to tell their stories to help people understand how tragic war is. They have even become brave enough to show their tears while recounting their experiences. They do not ask for an apology or issue blame for dropping the atomic bombs; instead, they wish for peace in the world so that there will be no more people like them.

The reality is cruel, and sometimes people make difficult decisions. What people can do and what they should do are different. To make a responsible decision, they have to know its consequences. Therefore, it is good for the US President who, is legitimized with enormous power, to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki to truly see the consequences of nuclear weapons. We cannot make his decision, but we can support him to make a good decision.

“Please rest peacefully; we shall never repeat the mistake.” These are the words engraved on the memorial for the atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. We should keep this oath for peace in our minds and reflect on our actions. With his unprecedented statements about the goal of nuclear disarmament, with US President Obama in office there may be a great opportunity to respond to those voices and bring peace into all war victims’ hearts.

US President Obama’s visit Japan became something meaningful for those who are seeking a peaceful world in Japan. In his interview, he referred to his interest to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the future. In addition to his speech in Prague expressing his strong commitment on nuclear détente, this statement was accepted with a huge applause by Japanese people, because this is what no US President has ever done. Many Japanese appreciated his sincere efforts toward peace in the world.

War is a violation of humanity and social welfare. War is wrong because it produces a lot of grief and hatred, among not only present generations, but also future generations on all both sides. Many Japanese think what Japan did during World War II was wrong. Victims of the atomic bomb blasts understand the situation at that time, and many think it was inevitable. However, after decades of suffering, now they realize the reason why they have to survive, and their responsibility for peace promotion. They tried to hide themselves from society and conceal their identity as victims. Now, they begin to tell their stories to help people understand how tragic war is. They have even become brave enough to show their tears while recounting their experiences. They do not ask for an apology or issue blame for dropping the atomic bombs; instead, they wish for peace in the world so that there will be no more people like them.

The reality is cruel, and sometimes people make difficult decisions. What people can do and what they should do are different. To make a responsible decision, they have to know its consequences. Therefore, it is good for the US President who, is legitimized with enormous power, to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki to truly see the consequences of nuclear weapons. We cannot make his decision, but we can support him to make a good decision.

“Please rest peacefully; we shall never repeat the mistake.” These are the words engraved on the memorial for the atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. We should keep this oath for peace in our minds and reflect on our actions. With his unprecedented statements about the goal of nuclear disarmament, with US President Obama in office there may be a great opportunity to respond to those voices and bring peace into all war victims’ hearts.