News
Suppression of the right to protest
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 »
The battle for Djab Wurrung country
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 »
15th March will make history
“she is cute and had a nice speech but it hasn’t changed anything,”
~ so said some cranky old activist muttering in the corner about Greta being a puppet whilst tens of thousands of young people around the country are prepping signs, writing speeches, bracing themselves for getting out of their comfort zone, organising logistics for rallies, talking political strategy.
The tide is turning and a bunch of people haven’t worked that out yet. They are adults. They can’t help being a little slow.
We say, Get on board or get out of the way. Find your closest strike here
When you have a mainstream TV program advertising your March you doing something right!
Young people have been at the forefront of social movements for decades…. The difference being – not this young, not this informed, and not this many.
You could feel an electricity in … Read More »
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 »