Editorial
Gre e nh am Com m on: w om e n bl ock ing th e gate s ofth e nucl e ar bas e . Ph oto: W RI arch ive s
A Cal lfor a Nonviol e ntStrate gy ofth e Gl obalPe ace & Jus tice M ove m e nt By Ste l l an Vinth age n We l ive in a h is toricaltim e of s ocialch ange . W h il e th e e conom y, s tate re gim e s and w ars are be ing gl obal is e d, th e s ocialforce s of pe opl e 's m ove m e nts are as w e l l . Atl e as t15 m il l ion de m ons trate d w orl dw ide agains tth e w ar in Iraq 2003. Th e gath e ring of"th e gl obal m ove m e ntofm ove m e nts " atth e W orl d SocialForum continue s to grow , th e l ate s tin Bras ilw ith 150000 participants . Th is gl obal pe ace & jus tice m ove m e nth as draw n th e concl us ions ofe arl ie r s trate gie s ofre form th rough nationalpartie s and e l e ctions and re vol ution th rough arm e d re be l l ion, and is s e arch ing for a nonviol e nt s trate gy ofs ocialch ange .
Tw in probl em Curre ntgl obalconfrontations l ik e Prague (w ith th e W orl d Bank ), Goth e nburg (w ith EU) or Ge noa (w ith G8) e xh ibita tw in probl e m due to l ack ofa coh e re nt s trate gy: viol e ntriots and ine ffe ctive nonviol e ntre s is tance . Th e s e and oth e r prote s ts h ave al so fail e d to organis e e ffe ctive nonviol e ntconfrontations and ne w coh e re nts trate gie s ofnonviol e nt e ngage m e ntw ith gl obalpow e rs . Th is tw in probl e m is a probl em aris ing in partfrom a l ack of s k il l e d nonviol e nce w ith in th e m ove m e nt. Ve ry fe w pe opl e w ith k now l e dge ofnonviol e ntth e ory and m ove m e ntpractice h ave tak e n an organis ing partw ith in th e m ove m e nt(w ith s om e e xce ptions in USA). Itis al re ady cl e ar th atth is gl obalm ove m e ntis nota s im pl e s pontane ous outburs tofm obil is ation,
butan ongoing m obil is ation. Th e W SF is e xpl icitl y s e arch ing for a non-arm e d and non-e l e ctoralpol itics (s e e th e W SF ch arte r at w w w .forum s ocial m undial .org) – a k ind of"non-viol e nts ocialre s is tance " – w h il e notoutl ining w h at th atre al l y m e ans . Since no nonviol e nts trate gy h as be e n adopte d s o far th e re is now an ongoing dis cus s ion on m oving aw ay from gl obalconfrontations . Th e confrontations are s e e n as unproductive and too m uch ofs ym bol ic bas h ing ofth e l ogos ofth e pre s e ntw orl d orde r (Bus h , W TO , G8 e tc.) – in favor ofm ak ing al te rnative s vis ibl e and cre ating l ocalre s is tance . Th e e m ph as is on cons tructive al te rnative s is gre at– as a m atte r offact a ce ntralpartofth e k ind ofnonviol -
e nts trate gy Gandh i did s ugge s t– w h il e th e probl e m is a l ack ofre s is tance approach . In m y unde rs tanding, th e pre s e ntgl obalm ove m e ntis a m ove m e ntre ady for adopting a nonviol e ntre s is tance s trate gy as its approach to pol itics and s ocial ch ange . Th e l anguage ofnonviol e nce al re ady e xis ts w ith in num e rous w ork s h ops , de cl arations and organis ations : affinity groups , dis obe die nce , pe ace ful , dial ogue , guide l ine s e tc. O rganis ations l ik e
W ar Re s is te rs ’ Inte rnationalh ave th e pote ntialto contribute to th is de ve l opm e ntofa nonviol e nt s trate gy. H ow e ve r, itis notonl y th e gl obalm ove m e ntth atl ack s an unde rs tanding ofnonviol e nt s trate gy, w e w h o w ork w ith nonviol e nce are l ack ing a gl obalunde rs tanding ofnonviol e nce , and ne e d to de ve l op a gl obalre pe rtoire ofnonviol e ntre s is tance toge th e r w ith th e gl obalpe ace and jus tice m ove m e nt. Th is is a ch al l e nge for nonviol e ntactivis ts and s ch ol ars to de ve l op s om e th ing ne w from pas te xpe rie nce s .
Trans ce nding traditional pol itics Th e m ove m e ntofm ove m e nts is trans ce nding both th e l ocal /gl oball e ve l s ofpol itics , and th e ve ry ide a ofpol itics confine d into ce rtain are as (e .g. m il itaris m , e conom ics , cul turalor e nvironm e ntal ) or s ubje cts (e .g. nucl e ar w e apons , cons cription, ge ne tical l y m odifie d crops and agrobus ine s s or th ous ands ofoth e r s ubje cts ofth e e vil e ffe cts ofpre s e ntw orl d s ys te m s ). Th is is a m ove m e ntofth e ful l fl e dge d h e te roge ne ity th ats ocial l ife is about, and th e dive rs ity of tactics ne e de d in prote cting th at l ife . W h atth atm e ans for nonviol e ntre s is tance is difficul tto com pre h e nd, butcl e arl y s om e th ing diffe re nt. W e are in ne e d ofa com pre h e ns ive s trate gic fram e w ork w h ich is adoptabl e for various conte xts and ne e ds . Traditional l y pow e r criticalapproach e s (s uch as fe m inis m or anarch is m ) and nonviol e nt re s is tance h ave be e n m arginalto "m ains tre am oppos itionalpol itics ", buttoday itdoe s noth ave to
be s o. Th e re s e e m s to be a gre ate r ne e d for approach e s th atnot onl y critical l y e ngage w ith oppre s s ion and viol e nce ofal lk inds , but al s o h ave th e practicaltool s from ce nturie s ofe xpe rie nce s to cre ate ch ange . Itis m y firm be l ie f th atth e gl obalm ove m e nts ne e d to be offe re d th e ch oice ofa com pre h e ns ive al te rnative to th e us ualpol iticaltraditions . Ifth e com ing s truggl e s ofgl obalconfrontations are notbuil ton th e (l im ite d butye tw e l lfounde d) h is toricale xpe rie nce s ofnonviol e nt m ove m e nts , th e n th is fragil e m ove m e ntofm ove m e nts in th e m ak ing m igh tbe l e s s e ffe ctive and e ve n m igh tl oos e its m om e ntum ofm obil is ation and its capacity for cre ating l as ting ch ange . W h atw e aim to do: W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnationalis cal l ing on nonviol e ntre s is tance traine rs , s ch ol ars , activis ts and organis e rs to participate in th e confe re nce “Gl obal is ing Nonviol e nce ” in orde r to e xpl ore toge th e r h ow w e can adopts trate gic nonviol e nt re s is tance in gl obalne tw ork s . W e do notth ink w e al re ady h ave th e ans w e rs ofh ow to go aboutth is m il dl y s pe ak ing gigantic tas k , but w e k now th atw e h ave to try, h is tory is drafting us . Th e m os tim portantm atte r is to re cognis e th atcurre ntnonviol e ntk now l e dge , training form s , s trate gy, organis ationalform s and action form s (i.e . our nonviol e nt re pe rtoire ) ne e d to be de ve l ope d in accordance w ith gl obalconditions . W h ats pe cific de ve l opm e nt is ne e de d is notye tcl e ar, butw e continue d on page 2
Gl obal is ing Noniol e nce – th is is th e th e m e ofth is Brok e n Rifl e , and itis th e th e m e ofour upcom ing confe re nce in Jul y in Ge rm any (m ark th e date s : 23– 27 Jul y). Butw h atdo w e m e an w h e n w e s ay Gl obal is ing Nonviol e nce ? Ste l l an Vinth age n e xpl ore s w h atnonviol e nce h as to offe r for th e gl obalm ove m e ntfor pe ace and jus tice – th e "m ove m e ntofm ove m e nts ", conve rging ats ocialforum s and m ajor s um m its ofgove rnm e ntor inte rgove rnm e ntalins titutions . M ore corre ctl y it's probabl y diffe re ntw ings ofth is m ove m e ntth atm e e tatone or th e oth e r – or e ve n organis e paral l e le ve nts , as re ce ntl y w ith th e W orl d SocialForum and th e Al te rnative SocialForum in Caracas (s e e page 2). ButSte l l an Vinth age n al so argue s th atw e – th e protagonis ts ofnonviol e nce , butal so th e m ove m e ntofm ove m e nts as a w h ol e – l ack a gl obal s trate gy ofnonviol e nce , and an ide a w h atnonviol e nce re al l y m e ans for a gl obals truggl e. W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational 's confe re nce Gl obal is ing Nonviol e nce w ants to e xpl ore th e s e q ue s tions , bas e d on our e xpe rie nce w ith noniol e nt action and cam paigns , butal so our aw are ne s s th atw e don't h ave al lth e ans w e rs . W e h ope th atth is is s ue ofTh e Brok e n Rifl e e ncourage s you to join us in th is de bate – e ith e r by joining us atth e confe re nce , and/or on th e W ik i ath ttp://w w w .w ri-irg.org /w ik i/inde x.ph p/Globalis ing_ Nonviolence . Anoth e r w orl d – a nonviol e ntw orl d – is pos s ibl e. Andre as Spe ck
Th e Brok e n Rifl e Th e Brok e n Rifl e is th e ne w s l e tte r ofW ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational , and is publ is h e d in Engl is h , Spanis h , Fre nch and Ge rm an. Th is is is s ue 69 , M arch 2006. Th is is s ue ofTh e Brok e n Rifl e w as produce d by Andre as Spe ck . Spe cialth ank s go to M ajk e n Sore ns e n, H ow ard Cl ark , Ste l l an Vinth age n, Joch e n Stay, and al loth e rs w h o provide d th e inform ation us e d in th is is s ue , and to Pe ace Ne w s and Gras w urz e l re vol ution for incl uding th is is s ue in th e ir M arch is s ue . If you w ante xtra copie s ofth is is s ue ofTh e Brok e n Rifl e, pl e as e contactth e W RI office , or dow nl oad itfrom our w e bs ite . W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational , 5 Cal e donian Road, London N1 9 DX, Britain te l+ 44-20-7278 4040 fax+ 44-20-7278 0444 info@ w ri-irg.org h ttp://w ri-irg.org/pubs /br69 -e n.h tm
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Th e Brok e n Rifl e No 69 , M arch 2006
Gl obal is ing Nonviol e nce
Al te rnative Social Forum in Caracas Paral l e lto th e officialCaracas "pol ice ntric" W orl d Social Forum , s pons ore d by th e Ch ave z gove rnm e nt, th e nationaloil com pany PDVSA and e ve n th e Caracas H il ton h ote l , an Al te rnative SocialForum took pl ace , organis e d by anarch is tand antiauth oritarian groups in Ve ne z ue l a, and w ith outs ubs idie s , w ith outcom prom is e s w ith pow e r. M os tparticipants probabl y s aw itl e s s as a counte re ve nt, butas a w e l com e addition to th e officials ocial forum , and m any particpate d in both – incl uding W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational . Th e al te rnative forum did notonl y dis cus s is s ue s th at w e re l e ftoutofth e officialforum – m il itaris m in Ve ne z ue l a (q uite obvious l y an is s ue th atis not wel com e in a country w h e re th e pre s ide ntis a m il itary), th e s ocialand e col ogicalcons e q ue nce s ofVe ne z ue l a's oiland coalproduction, m os tl y for th e "w orl d m ark e t", h um an righ ts in Ve ne z ue l a or anarch is m in Cuba, to m e ntion jus ta fe w . M ore im portantth an th at, th e al te rnative forum e ngage d in a re alde bate , unl ik e th e form at ofte n found atth e officialforum , w h ich did nots e e m ve ry diffe re ntfrom cons um e ris m , jus tin a "l e ftis t" variant, w ith h undre ds l is te ning to s uppos e dl y inte l l ige nts pe e ch e s butw ith l ittl e s pace to re al l y participate . Stil l , th e al te rnative forum w as al s o a pl ace ofcritiq ue of th e officials ocialforum proce s s , and th e "ins titutional is ation of th e W orl d SocialForum th at h as s pe l l e d its de ge ne ration ove r h al fa de cade ofde ve l opm e nt. Th is bure aucratis ation of th e W SF is contrary to its ge ne s is and originalprincipl es, w h ich s pok e ofa conve rge nce ofdive rs e and contradictory m ove m e nts , a 'm ove m e ntof m ove m e nts '. Atits curre nt s tage , th e W SF is s e rving to catapul tand l e gitim is e a s e rie s ofl e ade rs , gove rnm e nts , ins titutions , NGO s and l e ftis t pol iticalpartie s w ith re l ative l y l arge e conom ic pow e r and re s ource s ;th is h as th e e ffe ctof furth e ring th e s e inte re s ts and m arginal is ing m ore radicaland 'm inority' m ove m e nts . O ne of th e prioritie s ofth e Al te rnative SocialForum w as to ge ne rate an autonom ous s pace to de ve l op and inte rre l ate various l ocal m ove m e nts , w h os e dive rs e s ubje ctivitie s offe r al te rnative vis ions to th e im pos e d dis cours e and M anich ae is m th ath as ch aracte ris e d Ve ne z ue l a in re ce ntye ars ", s o th e organis e rs ofth e al te rnative forum . No s urpris e th e n, th at th e pol iticalpol ice obs e rve d th e Al te rnative SocialForum . O fcours e , itw as n'tte ns of th ous ands th atparticipate d, but propabl y s e ve ralh undre ds . But m ore im portant, a com m unicty w as cre ate d, and re alne tw ork ing took pl ace , w h ich w il lh ope ful l yl as tand w il lcontribute to th e de ve l opm e ntofs om e th ing ne w . Andre as Spe ck w w w .fs a.contrapode r.org.ve
W orl d SocialForum – Forum for Nonviol e nce ?
Caracas , January 2006: A m arch during th e W orl d SocialForum . Ph oto: M ik e Rh ode s , w w w .indybay.org H ow ard Cl ark Th e W orl d SocialForum is th e l ate s t– and one ofth e m ore attractive atte m pts – to provide an inte rnationalproce s s to s tre ngth e n coope ration be tw e e n a w ide range ofre l ate d m ove m e nts ofs ocialre s is tance bas e d on m ore or l e s s com m on val ue s . Afte r five ye ars , th is proce s s s h ow s s ign of ins titutional is ation – it's popul ar e nough for s om e gove rnm e nts (nationalgove rnm e nts s uch as th at ofCh ave z in Ve ne z ue l a or th e re gionalgove rnm e ntofCatal uña) to w antto be s e e n as s upportive . Ye tatth e s am e tim e th e proce s s re m ains ope n e nough to cl arify and update its anal ys is , for ins tance l as tye ar adopting a s tate m e ntfrom W om e n Living Unde r M us l im Law s offe ring a fe m inis tcritiq ue ofs o-cal l e d anti-w ar m ove m e nts th atal ign th e m s e l ve s w ith patriarch alre l igious fundam e ntal is m . I im agine th atate ve ry Social Forum – be itre gionalor gl obal– th e re h ave be e n activis ts pre s e nt
Continue d from page 1
A Cal lfor a Nonviol e nt Strate gy do re cognis e th atw e are in a ne w s ituation. Th e gl obalm ove m e nts w il lm ak e us unde rs tand th e ne w s ituation and, h ope ful l y, w e w il l th e n l e arn and contribute w ith our unde rs tanding ofnonviol e nt s trate gy, m ak ing th e gl obalm ove m e ntofm ove m e nts notonl y ch al l e nging th e pre s e ntw orl d orde r bute ffe ctive l y ch anging it. Anoth e r – and nonviol e nt– w orl d is pos s ibl e! Ste l l an Vinth age n, W RI Trie nnial Com m itte e , and De partm e ntof Pe ace & De ve l opm e ntRe s e arch Göte borg Unive rs ity, Sw e de n
in s om e w ay as s ociate d w ith th e W RI. I s ay “im agine ” be caus e w e are rath e r a l oos e ne tw ork . Som e th ing l ik e a SocialForum offe rs us e fulne tw ork ing opportunitie s – and frank l y in s om e w ays can be as us e fulas s om e e ve nts w e organis e for ours e l ve s (and at our ow n e xpe ns e !). Th is us e d to be th e cas e in th e 19 80s w ith th e Europe an Nucl e ar Dis arm am e nt Conve ntions – inde e d I m e ts om e W RI m e m be rs th e re w h o I ne ve r m e tatW RI m e e tings . Th e END Conve ntion, h ow e ve r, w as aboutw ar and w e apons . Th e SocialForum de al s w ith m uch w ide r is s ue s . Inde e d, th e Ch arte r for th e W orl d SocialForum doe s nots pe cifical l y m e ntion w ar and th e onl y re fe re nce to th e m il itary is th atm il itary organis ations w il lnotbe re pre s e nte d. H ow e ve r, itdoe s s pe ak of nonviol e nce . Tow ards th e e nd, in Para 13, w e re ad th at“th e W orl d SocialForum s e e k s to s tre ngth e n and cre ate ne w nationaland inte rnationall ink s am ong organiz ations and m ove m e nts ofs ocie ty,
s te l l an.vinth age n@ padrigu.gu.s e Th is articl e is a ve ry s h ortve rs ion ofan articl e publ is h e d by W ar Re s is te rs ’ Inte rnationalin a s e rie s ofarticl es l e ading up to th e Inte rnationalTrie nnialConfe re nce in Jul y 2006 in Ge rm any. In th e originalve rs ion ofth e articl e (go to h ttp://w ri-irg.org/tri2006/e n/ne w s / m s g00001.h tm l ) you can re ad an anal ys is ofw h atcons e q ue nce s gl obal is ation h as for conte m porary pol itics and a de tail e d action pl an for de ve l oping a nonviol e nt s trate gy w ith in th e gl obalpe ace and jus tice m ove m e nt.
th at– in both publ ic and private l ife – w il lincre as e th e capacity for non-viol e nts ocialre s is tance to th e proce s s ofde h um aniz ation th e w orl d is unde rgoing and to th e viol e nce us e d by th e State , and re inforce th e h um aniz ing m e as ure s be ing tak e n by th e action ofth e s e m ove m e nts and organiz ations .” So h e re is a cl e ar pointofre fe re nce for W RI. O ur ow n W RI de cl aration doe s n'ts pe cifical l y m e ntion nonviol e nce . Th e firs t partis our re fus alto s upportw ar, th e s e cond partour com m itm e nt to re m ove th e caus e s ofw ar – w h ich for m any ye ars w e h ave tak e n to m e an our com m itm e ntto prom ote nonviol e nce to re m ove th e caus e s ofw ar. H e nce al lour de bate s on m anife s tos for nonviol e ntre vol ution, our s tate m e nts aboutactive nonviol e nce as an al te rnative to arm e d s truggl e , our confe re nce s on nonviol e nts ocial de fe nce , and our m ore re ce nt w ork on “nonviol e nce and s ocial e m pow e rm e nt”.
W RI cannote xis tas an is ol ate d organis ation – w e h ave to tak e our pl ace am ong th os e s ocialm ove m e nts w h os e goal s we s h are . Th atis our s ph e re ofaction. Th e re are tim e s , w h e n w e fe e lm arginal– and ce rtainl y itis m ore appropriate for W RI to be s e e n atth e re ce ntal te rnative s ocialforum in Caracas th an ch e e ring on th e Ch ave z gove rnm e nt– butth e re are tim e s w h e n w e conne ctw ith vitalis s ue s and im pul s e s w h ich , organis ational l y, w e oth e rw is e h ave to putto one s ide as be ing be yond our l im ite d re s ource s . Righ tfrom th e be ginning W RI h as pos e d a radicals ocialanal ys is – an anal ys is far m ore w ide re ach ing th an our organis ational program m e can be . Al s o w e prom ote val ue s , val ue s to practis e notjus tin th e organis ation butin our dail yl ive s and re fl e cta m uch w ide r cons cious ne s s th an bal d anti-m il itaris m . Toge th e r, th e s e putus firm l y am ong th e “m ove m e ntofm ove m e nts ” th atgravitate tow ards th e SocialForum s . H ow e ve r, th e re is s om e th ing el s e w e h ave , and th at– for al l th e controve rs y ove r nonviol e nce – h as be e n w e l com e d w h e n w e h ave offe re d it. Th is is a re cord of care fulpre paration and h one s t, criticale val uation ofnonviol e nt action. Th e s e h ave rare l y be e n actions organis e d by or in th e nam e ofW RI or its affil iate s , but actions in w h ich our m e m be rs h ave participate d, w h ich w e h ave dis cus s e d and w h ich h ave give n us ide as to appl y in our ow n s ituations . From outs ide , s om e tim e s pe opl e vie w us as be ing l ik e a “cl ub for th e nonviol e nt”. O ne of th e ch al l e nge s w e face is to s h ow th atours is notan e xcl us ive nonviol e nce , nor a nonviol e nce fixe d in tim e or partofa particul ar cul ture – butis continual l y re -cre ating its e l fin fre s h conte xts . O ur confe re nce Gl obal is ing Nonviol e nce s h oul d be an im portants te p in th is dire ction. H ow ard Cl ark h as re ce ntl y hel pe d AprilCarte r and M ich ae l Randl e to com pil e Pe opl e Pow e r and Prote s ts ince 19 45 – a bibl iograph y ofnonviol e ntaction to be publ is h e d by H ous m ans in M arch . (Sorry, butitonl y cove rs publ ications in Engl is h .)
W ar is a Crim e agains tH um anity: Th e Story ofTh e W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational Ne w book by De vi Pras ad "W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational , born out of th e h orrors and s tupidity of W orl d W ar I, h as k e pt th e banne rs of cons cie ntious obje ction and abol ition of w ar fl ying th rough th e m os t atrocious ce ntury of Europe an h is tory. W ar re s is te rs , organis e d or not, w il lbring about th e e nd ofw ar." Joh an Gal tung, dr h c m ul t, ProfofPe ace Studie s De vi Pras ad s tudie d at Sh antinik e tan, Tagore 's Unive rs ity, w ork e d as a te ach e r and artis t in Se vagram , Gandh i's as h ram , from th e 19 40s until19 62. From 19 6219 72 h e w as Ge ne ralSe cre tary ofth e W RI. Publ is h e d by: W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational ISBN 0-9 03517-20-5. 560 page s , 67 ph otos . Publ ication date : 21 O ctobe r 2005 £28.00 pl us pos tage . O rde r now on our w e bs h op ath ttp://w ri-irg.org/e n
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Pre conditions and s ocial -pol itical factors for m as s civildis obe die nce . Gl obal is ing Nonviol e nce W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnationalConfe re nce Sch l os s Eringe rfe l d Pade rborn, Ge rm any 23-27 Jul y 2006
Confe re nce fe e s
Participation in th e confe re nce cos ts 200€ (re gis tration, accom m odation and m e al s ) for individual participants . Th e fe e for re pre s e ntative s oforganis ations is 250€. Th e re a ch e ape r options (bring your ow n te nt/caravan) avail abl e , ifyou cannotafford th e ful lfe e . Pl e as e ch e ck th e re gis tration form , e ith e r onl ine or dow nl oad th e PDF ve rs ion from th e confe re nce w e bs ite . Bl ock ading in a nucl e ar w as te train in Ge rm any: h ow do you ge tpe opl e onto th e track s ?Ph oto: W RI arch ive s Joch e n Stay Joch e n Stay, w h o w as active in civildis obe die nce cam paigns agains tth e de pl oym e ntofPe rs h ing-II nucl e ar m is s il e s in M utl ange n in Ge rm any in th e 19 80s , and l ate r in th e cam paigns agains tnucl e ar w as te s h ipm e nts in th e 19 9 0s and e arl y 2000s , re fl e cts on h is e xpe rie nce w ith m as s civildis obe die nce . In th e pre s e nts ituation, itis cl e ar th at courage ous action is again ne ce s s ary, buth e as k s : Is civildis obe die nce w ith th e participation of th ous ands ofpe opl e an appropriate pe rs pe ctive for th e pe ace m ove m e nttoday? Itis e vide nt– and th e m any fail e d atte m pts prove – th atnot jus tany is s ue , nor in jus tany pol iticalconte xt, and nor w ith jus tany pol iticalapproach can th ous ands ofpe opl e be attracte d to tak e part in civildis obe die nce . Som e pol iticalconditions h ave to be m e tfor it to w ork . I w il lgive te n points , w h ich can be found in M utl ange n and w ith “X-th ous ands in th e w ay”, butI don'tcl aim to be abl e to offe r a re cipe for s ucce s s : 1. Th e is s ue ath and is pe rce ive d by m any pe opl e as a re alth re at. Be ing affe cte d as a pe rs on is al so a crucialfactor. 2. Th e is s ue ath and is one w h e re m any pe opl e be l ie ve th atpow e rfulinte re s ts are s upe rior to pol itics and th atparty pol itics doe s notre pre s e ntth e w il lofth e pe opl e. 3. Th e m ove m e nth as be e n abl e to focus on h igh l y vis ibl e , controve rs ial , or s ym bol icalpartofa big, ge ne ral , and h igh l y com pl ex is s ue , and to ge ne rate a confl ict around th is part, w h ich s ym bol is e s th e is s ue as a w h ol e. 4. Th e m ove m e nth as be e n abl e to e s cal ate th e confl ictatone concre te pl ace – M utl ange n, Gorl e be n – s o th atth e pl ace its e l f ge ts a l arge s ym bol ic m e aning and e ve n be com e s partofth e ide ntity ofth e m ove m e nt. 5. Th e cam paign gains e ne rgy from a s ocialvis ion w h ich goe s
far be yond th e pol iticalaim , and w h ich is re fl e cte d w ith in th e cam paign, in th e w ay pe opl e re l ate to e ach oth e r. I onl y w antto m e ntion gras s roots de m ocracy, cons e ns us de cis ion m ak ing, affinity groups and s pok e s council . 6. Th e cam paign for civildis obe die nce is carrie d by a circl e ofactivis ts , w h o for ye ars putal lth e ir e ne rgy and tim e (al m os tful l -tim e ) into th e cam paign and th e ful fil l m e ntofth e ir vis ion. 7. A form ofcivildis obe die nce is de vis e d w h os e cons e q ue nce s are ne ith e r too h e avy nor too l igh t. Th is m e ans th rough l im ite d viol ation ofth e l aw and th rough th e pre pare dne s s to confrontth e cons e q ue nce s publ ic aw are ne s s is cre ate d, butal s o th atm any pe opl e are pre pare d to w age civil dis obe die nce , be caus e th e l e gal and ph ys icalcons e q ue nce s are l im ite d and cos ts can be cal cul ate d. 8. Th e actions de ve l op into a good m ixture ofe ffe ctive dis ruption ofth e m ach ine ry and ritual . For m e , ritual s are notne gative , as l ong as th e y are fil l e d w ith l ife . 9 . Th e m obil is ation for th e actions as k s for a pe rs onalcom m itm e nt from participants , for ins tance via pl e dge s . 10. Participants h ave th e opportunity to pre pare th e m s e l ve s w e l l .A l otofe ffortis putinto cre ating of an organis ationalfram e w ork th at al l ow s th e individualactivis tto focus on th e actofbl ock ading its e l f. Th os e are s om e com m onal itie s . Butth e re are al s o diffe re nce s , factors th ath ave ch ange d s ince . I w antto nam e s om e of th os e too. (...) ► Th e us e ofand pre paration of civildis obe die nce is now s e e n from a m ore pragm atic pe rs pe ctive . In M utl ange n th e re w as a l ong and de e p de bate w h y civildis obe die nce is jus tifie d in tim e s of th e nucl e ar arm s race . Now adays , m any s e e civildis obe die nce as one norm alform of action, w h ich is abl e to ge tm ore publ ic atte ntion th an a norm al de m ons tration. Butitis al s o at-
tractive be caus e itprovide s th e opportunity to putyour ow n body as a s panne r into th e w ork s . ► “X-th ous ands in th e w ay” w ork s l e s s w ith e xis ting groups . Th ough th e y s til le xis tand form th e core ofth e action, m os tactivis ts join as individual s or in s m al l groups , and onl y form affinity groups on arrival . Th e re fore one or tw o days ofpre paration are ne e de d be fore an action, to turn a ch aotic m as s into a com m unity re ady and abl e to act. And e ve n th is com m unity is l ittl e m ore th an an e xpande d core ofparticipants . M os tactivis ts join s pontane ous l y and w ith outpre paration, and th e action h as to be pl anne d in a w ay th atm ak e s th is pos s ibl e. ► Th e actions are a bitm ore “m il itary s tyl e ”. Be caus e th e pol ice try to pre ve ntany action in advance , us ing bans on de m ons trations and de pl oying h uge am ounts of pol ice , ofte n ge tting to th e action can be th e m os tdifficul tpart. W atch ing an action of“X-th ous ands in th e w ay”, w e can s e e
Trave linform ation h ow th ous ands w al k al m os tl ik e a route col um n to th e action, w h e re th ous ands ofpol ice w ait, re m inis ce ntofim age s from th e Napol e onic w ars . Th e diffe re nce be com e s obvious w h e n s h ortl y be fore th e confrontation w e fan outand cal ml y butde te rm ine d w al k th rough th e pol ice l ine s . ► W h atch ange d too is th e pe rce ption ofs ucce s s . O ur aim s in th e '80s w e re s e th igh too, butth e individualactivis tw as aw are th at th e action its e l fw oul dn'ts top th e arm s race . Now adays m any are m ore am bitious and w ants h ortte rm s ucce s s . Th is is an abs tractfrom a l onge r pre s e ntation by Joch e n Stay atth e confe re nce “w ith ne w e ne rgy for pe ace ”, 7 De ce m be r 2002, Sch w äbis ch Gm ünd, Ge rm any. Th e ful lve rs ion h as be e n publ is h e d (in Ge rm an) in ge w al tfre ie ak tion no 138/139 , 1s t+ 2nd q uarte r 2004, and a trans l ation w il lbe pos te d on th e W RI w e b page !
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Gl obal is ing Nonviol e nce
Th e Brok e n Rifl e No 69 , M arch 2006
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Confe re nce dis cus s ions w il l : Anal ys e th e conte m porary s ituation ofe conom ic, cul tural and pol iticalgl obal is ation. H ow are capital is t gl obal is ation and m il itaris m re l ate d? De ve l op s trate gie s for nonviol e ntre s is tance tow ards th e unjus tas pe cts of gl obal is ation. H ow do w e cre ate nonviol e nts ocial ch ange ? Bring toge th e r pe opl e from th e gl obal is ation critical m ove m e ntand W RI's ne tw ork ofpacifis ts and anti-m il itaris ts for m utuale xch ange ofide as on nonviol e ntopportunitie s for re s is tance . Stre ngth e n ne tw ork s and cre ate ne w l ink s be tw e e n activis ts from al love r th e w orl d.
Confe re nce s tructure
Each day ofth e confe re nce w il lbe gin w ith a s h ortpl e nary s e s s ion on th e day's m ajor topic. Th e n participants w il ldivide into th e m e and activity groups , w h e re th e s am e pe opl e w il lm e e te ve ry day during th e confe re nce to dis cus s a s pe cific th e m e in de pth . Th e afte rnoons w il lincl ude one -
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tim e w ork s h ops and pl e nary s e s s ions .
Day Topics 1. Gl obal is ing Nonviol e nce
W e aim to m ak e th is a h igh l y participatory confe re nce and th at w il lbe gin w ith th e ope ning s e s s ion.
2. M il itaris m and gl obal is ation
Th e m orning pl e nary w il las k : H ow do e conom ic gl obal is ation, m il itaris m and w ar re l ate ?Th e e ve ning pl e nary w il laddre s s is s ue s aris ing from th e "privatis ation" ofw ar, by th e incre as e in "outs ourcing" to private com panie s .
3. Le arning from gl obal is ation from be l ow
Th e righ tto re fus e to k il l
Th e m e s for dis cus s ion w il l incl ude cons cie ntious obje ction, w ar tax re s is tance , de s e rte rs , and/or w ar re s is tance w ith out cons cription. "Th e Righ tto Re fus e to K il l " is one ofW RI's m ajor program m e s .
4. For a nonviol e nts trate gic fram e w ork
Vide o activis m
W h atdoe s a nonviol e nt s trate gy h ave to contribute to th e m ove m e ntfor gl obal is ation from be l ow ?W h atdoe s invol ve m e ntin th e m ove m e ntfor gl obal is ation from be l ow h ave to contribute to a nonviol e ntantim il itaris ts trate gy?
5. From prote s tto s ocial ch ange
Dis cus s ing al l iance s and goal s , and re vie w ing th e pl ans and ide as de ve l ope d during th e confe re nce .
Th e m e and Activity Groups M il itaris m in a gl obal e conom y
M il itary indus try te nds to be privatis e d, dive rs ifie d, and gl obal is e d, and ye ts til lcom pare d to oth e r indus trie s privil e ge d. Th is group w il lanal ys e th e s trate gy and th e practice of th e gl obalm il itary-indus trial com pl e x.
M il itary pre s e nce
Britain and e ve ryw h e re e l se: W RI, 5 Cal e donian Rd, London N1 9 DX, Britain
Nonviol e ntcitiz e ns ' inte rve ntions
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W h atare th e s trate gie s and obje ctive s ofgl obal is ation-critical m ove m e ntand th e pl ace of nonviol e nce w ith in th e s e ?H ow do th e activitie s ofth e inte rnational anti-w ar m ove m e nts fitw ith th is ?
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Nonviol e nts trate gy and gl obal is ation
Inve s tigating nonviol e nt actions al re ady tak ing pl ace agains tth e ne gative as pe cts of gl obal is ation, th e m orning pl e nary w il lfocus on h ow Ge rm an and Eas tAfrican groups h ave w ork e d toge th e r agains tth e trade /traffic in s m al larm s . Th e e ve ning pl e nary w il lconce ntrate on th e s trate gie s purs ue d by th e m ove m e nts invol ve d in gl obal is ation from be l ow to s upportcitiz e ns ' pe ace proce s s e s in Pal e s tine as a s pe cific cas e s tudy.
Th e m il itary h as a profound im pacton s ocie ty and cul ture th rough proce s s e s of m il itaris ation. Itoccupie s s pace , both ph ys icaland cul tural . Th is group w il le xam ine pos s ibl e nonviol e nts trate gie s for de m il itaris ing s ocie ty.
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re s is tance to oppre s s ion in oth e r parts ofth e w orl d.
Nonviol e ntcitiz e ns ' inte rve ntion is a practicale xam pl e ofgl obal is ation from be l ow , m ak ing l ink s gl obal l y and s upporting pe ace buil ding and
Th is th e m e group w il lnam e s om e ofth e bigge s ttrans national corporations th atm ak e a profit th rough w ar, and s e e k w ays to dire ctnonviol e ntactions agains t th e s e com panie s .
Nonviol e nce training for be ginne rs
Th rough gam e s , rol e pl ays , e xe rcis e s and dis cus s ions , th e participants in th is group w il lbe introduce d to various as pe cts of th e fie l d ofnonviol e nce . Th is group is both about practicalintroduction to th e te ch nicalas pe cts ofvide o and abouth ow to us e vide o as a pol iticaltool . Th is group w il l produce a vide o ofth e confe re nce !
W ar Re s is te rs ' Inte rnational W RI be l ie ve s th at"w ar is a crim e agains th um anity" and w ork s "to re fus e w ar and to re m ove th e caus e s ofw ar". Founde d in 19 21, itis now a ne tw ork ofpacifis ts , antim il itaris ts and nonviol e ntactivis ts on e ve ry contine nt. Th rough outits h is tory, m e m be rs ofW RI h ave tak e n a l e ad notonl y in m ove m e nts agains tw ar butin appl ying nonviol e nce to a w ide range ofoth e r s ocialis s ue s , both in th e ir ow n countrie s and inte rnational l y.
Ge rm an Confe re nce H os ts
Th e Confe re nce w il lbe h os te d by and organis e d in coope ration w ith al lW RI's Ge rm an affil iate s , participating in th e W RIFörde rve re in as a l e gal fram e w ork : ► De uts ch e Frie de ns ge s e l l s ch aft- Ve re inigte K rie gs die ns tge gne rInne n (DFG-VK ) ► De uts ch e Frie de ns ge s e l l s ch aft- Inte rnational e de r K rie gs die ns tge gne r (DFG-IdK ) H am burg ► Inte rnational e de r K rie gs die ns tge gne rInne n (IdK ) Be rl in ► Ins titutfür Frie de n und Ge w al tfre ie K onfl ik tbe arbe itung (IFGK ) ► Arch ivAk tiv ► Gras w urz e l re vol ution ► Antik rie gs m us e um Be rl in