We could have started off with a lawyer joke, but honestly we are so very lucky to have had the chance to deal with the best of them in our work supporting activists with legal information, referrals and “know your rights” briefings across the country. No joke lawyers – we need you!We unfortunately see repression continuing to grow – an unprecedented attack on nonviolent activists happened today with three people on minor charges being remanded for three weeks. It has been previously unheard of for people on civil disobedience charges to be jailed, or required to await sentencing on remand (in lock up or prison) in Australia – though unfortunately it is commonplace for minor crime for Aboriginal people.We recently met with a growing coalition of groups monitoring and challenging the raft of anti protest laws across the country – … Read More »

This is an edited transcript of a talk from Progress 2019 on 20th June on a panel convened to discuss Big Ideas for Human Rights – we were lucky to share the stage with The Human Rights Law Centre, and people discussing citizen led participatory democracy, donation reform and exciting new anti corruption work from Hannah Aulbey.As an organisation working to support civil resistance and nonviolent direct action, and grassroots activism we see whats happening on the ground, and it isn’t pretty. In fact the reason I didn’t get to cover this written speech in total whilst I was there, was that it felt important to include another story. I didn’t get to see Kumi Naidoo and his call for civil disobedience (oh hai we’d love some help! No NGO’s do this bar some small/highly skilled/technical Greenpeace actions – good … Read More »

We were thrilled to be invited to submit an essay to this brilliant collection – Rebalancing Rights – Communities, Corporations, and Nature.

What would change if we decided that the natural world we are part of had rights of its own – the right to exist, to habitat, to be free from pollution?

This collection began its life as an exploration of the concept of Rights of Nature. However, in early research and conversations it swiftly became clear that it would be worthwhile setting this concept into the broader context of the suppression of human rights and civil and political rights. As it was frequently pointed out, there is little point establishing a new set of rights if existing rights are not being honoured. Worse, given ongoing anti-environmental framing, it could … Read More »

What is happening on Djab Wurrung country, with the birthing trees and how do I help.

Firstly, to be clear, we are not a First nations run group. We are an organisation that works in solidarity to train, resource, mentor and support all people across the many Aboriginal nations on this continent – who are engaging in civil resistance – civil disobedience and non-violent direct action – to protect country, and culture, and stand for social and racial justice.

One of the ways we can do that is to gather up resources to make them easily available and amplify the voices of mob on the ground when they are busy with acts of resistance.

LATEST NEWS – As of 27/3/19 Main Roads have agreed to halt proceedings until the next Federal Court hearing regarding Aboriginal Heritage in mid April. People are still … Read More »