Saturday, 17 January 2004
Taking Action
You can talk to your friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family using some of the talking points we've provided. Talking points are facts, issues or concerns that you can use to persuade others to share your view that something needs to be done. You can use talking points in any of the following ways:
Activist Tools
Welcome, New Activists!
The peace movement is delighted you are joining us!
Some people wonder where to begin in the peace movement, since there’s much to do and can seem overwhelming. But never doubt that you can help make a difference! There are many resources available and so many strategies for becoming involved.
Most of this information is taken from United for Peace and Global Exchange. To get the detailed document, go to http://www.unitedforpeace.org/downloads/collegeorg.pdf (PDF)
Things you can do:
Join or Volunteer
Join, volunteer, or donate to a peace organization such as Oregon PeaceWorks. There are many that need your help, and are working hard to promote peace in the world.
Support online activism & grassroots organizing
There is a wide variety of online activist organizations. Many of these organizations have proven highly effective in reaching politicians at local and national levels. Check out the following: Move On www.moveon.org
Working Assets www.workingassets.com
Working for Change www.workingforchange.com
True Majority www.truemajority.com
Common Cause www.commoncause.org
NRDC www.nrdc.org
Call your elected representatives
Contact your Senators and Representative and tell them you oppose a US military occupation of Iraq. Tell them you think the occupation betrays American values, violates the will of the Iraqi people and fuels anti-Americanism. Tell them you think the money spent on occupation could be better used at home. The Capitol Switchboard is 202-224-3121.
Write a letter to the editor
Letters to the editor are a terrific way of making your voice heard. Write your local newspaper and explain why you oppose the occupation of Iraq. You can find out where to send your letters by looking on the letters-to-the-editor page of your local newspaper or checking the list of Media Contacts in this section of this website.
Education
Educate yourself about US history in general and the history of US colonialism in particular. Those who are knowledgeable about our history will generate solutions from their knowledge of what has and has not worked in the past. “Those who do not know history are condemned to repeat it.” A century ago, the US also had a bad case of colonialism. In the late 1800s and early 1900s the US military occupied the Philippines and Cuba, sparking a massive anti-imperialist movement among ordinary American citizens. We have much to learn from the lessons of the past.
Involve Others
Get your friends and acquaintances involved in the peace movement. Explain to them your positions; argue and debate if you have to. Global Exchange's Reasons to Oppose Occupation of Iraq, which are available online at http://www.globalexchange.org, may help.
Know your neighbors
Seek out people of different backgrounds, political stripes, communities, eating habits, occupations, ethnicities, citizenships, orientations, majors, minors, party habits, eye colors…you get the drift. All these folks who have one thing in common: They are against war.
Tabling
Tabling is one of the most efficient ways of distributing information to the folks. You just set yourself up in a public place with a table, some fliers with information, like who your representatives are, some facts and figures or a sample letter to your representatives.
Catchy signs or games will attract attention
Have a solidified pitch to present when people approach you at your table
Be explicit about your anti-war stance
Have information to back up your stance (check out this website or www.unitedforpeace.org for some good fact sheets).
Candlelight vigils
A popular way to remember lives lost or to commemorate other victims. Examples of candle light vigils include “Take Back the Night” vigils, the events held in the wake of September 11 and mourning the victims of the US sanctions on Iraq. Candlelight vigils usually are:
solemn and reflective
intended as a way to honor a person or a group of persons
attention-getting at night in front of your representatives’ house - don’t forget your signs!
Pass a Campus or Municipal Anti-War Resolution
Organize Getting your student government, college, city or county to pass a resolution opposing war is an excellent way to boost your campaign. A resolution is a concrete expression of the old bumper sticker: "Think Globally - Act Locally." There are 2 types of resolutions.
A Non-binding resolution expresses a group’s opposition to or support for an idea.
A Binding resolution requires specific action by your school.
Check out the work of Hampshire College and the U of Texas-Austin, they’ve passed excellent resolutions.
Organize a Demonstration
Identify and reach out to supporters/create a coalition. Campaigns work best when they are anchored by a coalition of groups and individuals. As with organizing any event, it is essential to bring together a key group of people who are committed to the project. It is also useful to reach out to other groups to see if they would want to contribute to the demonstration. Think “diversity”!
Go to www.unitedforpeace.org and you can post your activities and contact information there.
Skits and other Performances
Write and perform a short play (otherwise referred to as “guerilla theater”) that explores your issue. For example, anti-sweatshop activists have organized “sweatshop fashion shows” to show people who the real fashion victims are. A song and dance performance is another fun way to attract attention and get your point across. For more detailed information, visit www.unitedforpeace.org.
Teach- ins
Teach-ins are most effective when they supply real solutions and give opportunities to build coalitions. The best teach-ins are those that immediately give a boost to your organizing efforts and attract new people to your campaign.
Campus teach-ins with a few local professors can be a great way to show support for their extra curricular work and also to forge new relationships with professors, other student groups and other schools.
Marches
A march is much like a picket line — people hold signs and shout chants — except that the crowd is walking from one designated point to an agreed upon destination. An example of a march is any of those that occur on the National Mall in Washington, DC such as the Million Man March.
Civil Disobedience
Civil Disobedience has, in recent years, become more creative. In the ’99 Seattle WTO protests, people chained themselves to the entrance where the delegates were to enter. Sometimes protesters will scale buildings to hang signs or unfurl banners. Certainly, these are not the only types of civil disobedience…be creative!
Civil disobedience can include refusing to pay taxes or chaining oneself to a building or otherwise obstructing the daily business of others. It can be a part of any other type of demonstration or stand on its own
It is important to note that Civil Disobedience is by definition unlawful. If you plan to organize a sit-in or similar demonstration, we encourage you to obtain legal advice in advance. We suggest the American Civil Liberties Union or the National Lawyers Guild.
Sit-ins
A sit-in is probably the best-known type of civil disobedience.
Examples of sit-ins:
When protesters occupy the space of a decision maker (representative or a University President)
When protesters occupy an intersection or lock themselves to a building’s entrance (this is considered a blockade).
Walk Outs
A walk out is used to gain the attention of people who might not otherwise be aware that there is an anti-war movement going on (this is especially effective in a class, a meeting or other place where it is “inappropriate” to walk out).
As you walk out there is usually one act of solidarity. This can be walking out in silence, putting an armband on, putting tape across your mouth in an “x” to represent being silenced, etc.
There is a designated meeting place for the people who have walked out where there may be a rally, sit in, vigil, march or an act of civil disobedience. A walk out requires a coordinated effort.
Peace Camps
Peace camps effectively combine tabling, walk outs, sit-ins, and sometimes civil disobedience. Students can bring tents, sleeping bags and both learn and pass on their knowledge to passers-by. As always, prepare a directed message.
Have materials with facts and figures regarding your issues that are ready to be handed out. Attract media attention by incorporating other actions simultaneously. For example, have a hunger strike at your peace camp.
Colorful signs, outfits and other gimmicks will attract attention and help to create a space for discussion. The ultimate goal of a peace camp is to be a visual reminder of the anti-war movement and a consistent source of information.
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What Can I Do? 
