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Direct action
At an EXCELLENT direct action camp
provided by Operation OVER, i was
inspired by a diagram a moderator drew to
illustrate what should be the goal of
every direct action - and so i decided to create
this demo. [I learned so much that day; this is
only one example. More resources on direct
action will be provided soon.]
About DA
How to Start a Non-Hierarchical
Direct Action Group
Excerpt:
Direct action uses hands-on
intervention to directly challenge
hierarchies. By using spectacle to expose
hypocrisies, direct action terrorizes the
status quo and revitalizes public space. In
the process, it builds a delicious and
defiant culture of resistance. Direct action
encourages people to push the boundaries of
acceptable behavior in order to create new
possibilities for organizing,
self-determination and activism.
Why non-hierarchical
organizing?
In this country we are encouraged to think
that voting is a participatory act of
“democratic” choice, when in
reality it means that a majority controls the
agenda. Non-hierarchical organizing means
that everyone participates in the process.
Though there may be other models for
non-hierarchical organizing, we have found
consensus to be the most effective.
... indybay.org/...
Definition -
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_action
Excerpt:
Direct action includes such
activities as strikes, boycotts, workplace
occupations, sit-ins, ... Direct actions are
often (but not always) a form of civil
disobedience, and may be illegal.
This method and theory is
direct in that it seeks immediate remedy
for perceived ills, as opposed to indirect
tactics such as electing representatives who
promise to provide remedy at some later date.
Reformist politics (or indirect tactics) are
generally acceptable to the institutions who
they are directed against, because they
generally change nothing, while at the same
time allow most of the people who participate
to blow off some steam and feel good about
themselves, thinking that they have done
something to bring about changes, thus
allowing the offending party or institution
to continue with its harmful practices
without further harassment. By actually
rendering the institution incapable of
operating, direct action is the only
thing that the offending institution will
actually respond to, as it poses a real
threat to its existence. As the famous
anarchist Emma Goldman said "If
voting changed anything, they'd make it
illegal."
... Anti-globalization activists made
headlines around the world in 1999, when they
forced the Seattle World Trade Organization
meeting to end early with NVDA tactics such
as lying down in streets to block traffic.
Since then, NVDA has been used by activists
at many trade-related events.
One of the largest nonviolent direct actions
in recent years took place in San Francisco
the day after the Iraq War began in 2003.
Almost 2500 people were arrested in affinity
group actions throughout downtown SF, home to
many military corporations.
... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_action
No, Voting won't work
From newdemocracyworld.org/voting.htm,
by John Spritzler
Millions of Americans
welcomed the Ralph Nader 2000 electoral
campaign as a breath of fresh air in the
stale atmosphere of corporate-controlled
parties and politicians. ... The Nader
campaign demonstrated, to those of us who
blame corporate power for the problems in our
society, that we are not alone.
But before deciding that an electoral
strategy is a solution, we need to identify
what exactly is the problem.
... The majority of people, who want a more
equal and cooperative and democratic world,
are under attack by corporate and government
leaders who dominate our society. The problem
is that real democracy, in the sense of
ordinary people shaping society by their
values, doesn't exist—not on the job,
not in our government, not in our major
institutions.
...Real democracy must mean that ordinary
people exercise effective power at every
level of society to shape it with their
shared values and shared vision. It
can’t be reduced to pulling a lever
every four years.
...For people to gain the confidence to
take matters into their own hands requires
building a mass movement with exactly this
goal—a revolutionary movement. Such
a movement can succeed only by becoming a
vast democratic force consciously determined
to create a new society in its image.
...An electoral strategy actually undercuts
this real solution. Urging people to vote
is the opposite of urging them to join a
revolutionary movement. The idea of
voting is to elect other people to make
changes for us.
... newdemocracyworld.org/voting.htm
Don't pay for US militarism -
tools
-
 War Tax Resistance: A
Guide To Withholding Your Support from
the Military
War Resisters League’s 144-page
comprehensive sourcebook by Ed Hedemann.
Published in 2003.
Everything you need to know about what is
a war tax, philosophical questions, how
to stop paying for war, consequences,
resisting IRS collection, personal
histories, military spending, organizing
ideas, resources and support! Based on
experiences of thousands of resisters.
-
 Military
Myths, Produced
by ROOTS and Paper Tiger Television
Military Myths is an organizing
tool to educate the public on the
military's aggressive recruitment of low
income youth and youth of color.
Featuring interviews with youth,
activists and people of color who have
served in military, the video gives an
alternative viewpoint exposing the
tactics military representatives use to
engage youth - and the video exposes the
reality of military service. The
producers contrast media representations
of war and military life with the
personal experiences of veterans who have
gone to war. Interviews with activists
and students are also presented along
with statistics from the Veterans
Administration, CCCO, SLDN, and recent
Pentagon studies that lay clear the myths
of military life. View the trailer. Order by
phone at WRL, or online at Paper Tiger.
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