News
Supporting the #ClimateStrike
CounterAct has been supporting student activists since we established in 2013. We are thrilled to see the leadership emerging from young people as part of the worldwide #ClimateStrike protests.
Students and young people have played a critical role in social movements for decades, and training has been a part of that. From the civil rights movement (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) to the Vietnam War protests, to the people powered uprising led by Otpor youth, that defeated dictator Slobadan Milosevic in Yugoslavia, to protection of our environment and forests – young people have been at the forefront. And its hardly new. You can read more about a childrens strike in the early 1900’s here. … Read More »
New year, less you – tools for more secure activism
One of our New Years Resolutions is to encourage the progressive and radical movements on the Australian continent to get better at digital privacy and security… essentially putting less of ourselves out into the interwebs for our opposition for free.
Government and private companies collect data on activists – this has been demonstrated many times over the years. Activists working against fossil fuels are an example of people that have been targeted – innocuous peaceful activities have been reported on by expensive contractors, we have been spied on, had groups infiltrated by police and corporate spies. In the UK, long term undercover policing resulted in women having long term relationships and even children with police spies. Whilst we are not aware of such extreme cases in Australia, it is not something to take lightly, but its also not something that should … Read More »
Reflections From Walking on Country
n August 2018 I joined Footprints for Peace and the WA nuclear free Alliance on the Walkajurra Walkabout, walking 250kms from Wiluna to Leonora on Wangikatja Country. Here’s what I learned.
We are taking a huge leap
We are feeling the fear and doing it anyway!
We are flying free from charity status as of this week… we want to support civil disobedience and all types of non-violent resistance loudly and proudly. When all else fails, it is our moral duty to act… and there are a whole heap of people out there who want to act – on climate, on issues of racial and social justice… but lack the resources, training, infrstructure, pathways or experience to do it safely.
Unfortunately there are very few options through Non Government Organisations to be supported in some types of non-violent resistance, at this time, as years of crack downs on charities and environmental groups, has worn the sector down and resulted in a level of caution and timidity we believe doesn’t reflect the political reality.
At a practical level we have also … Read More »