It's been a busy 2009 already for the direct action community and we're just getting started! Training and action support requests have been pouring into Ruckus, and we've already put our network of trainers and action experts to work helping folks take action: against the attacks on Gaza and police brutality, as well as training students from New School and NYU and participants of Campus Progress's Southern Regional Conference; with many more already scheduled.
We wanted to start the year off by shining a light on a few of the organizations and coalitions we're most excited about working with right now. This is the hardest economic year most of us have ever known, so we want to be sure to prioritize and highlight work we feel is absolutely critical this year. These projects are collaborative and visionary, and we encourage you to support their work!
National Action Partnership: Capitol Climate Action
On March 2nd 2009, thousands of people from all walks of life and organizations from across the political spectrum will gather at the coal-fired power plant that powers congress for the Capitol Climate Action in DC. We have been playing a planning role, and will be there with our tactical and training hats on.
Check out Joshua Kahn Russell's post about the action, where he states, "The Capitol Power Plant is a flashpoint and national symbol for a clear message of real solutions, healthy jobs and communities, and climate justice. In this action, the medium is our message - we're engaging in an act of civil disobedience. We're highlighting the moral imperative to take action; our future can't wait, and we're willing to put ourselves on the line to ensure we have one. Nothing less than the survival of our species hangs in the balance, and we're taking ourselves seriously enough to convey that with clarity."
There is a staggering list of endorsers for this action, from Noam Chomsky, to Vandana Shiva, to Bill McKibben and Wendell Berry. Check out the inspiring list of cosponsoring organizations and endorsers here! And, it's not too late to register!! We want to see you there!
Local Action Partner: Stop the Raids Coalition
Last Halloween, this group, led by Bay Area immigrant and indigenous families and youth, sounded the alarm on I.C.E. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) for carrying out raids and terrorizing families in the Bay Area and beyond. These young folks are daring, creative, and dedicated, and we are just in awe of them! The raids haven't slowed down and neither will we. We'll be training this group for an escalated action campaign this spring. Check out photos of the Halloween action here!
Strategic Partner Update: SmartMeme
Our long-time friends at SmartMeme have been the innovators of social change through story-based strategies for awhile now, but their recent release of a brilliant new strategy manual called Re:Imagining Change has gotten us super excited! They have done amazing work with partners of ours such as the Klamath Justice Coalition, and we're scheming on how to combine forces to offer our one-two messaging and action punch to more groups, because it has already proven to be so dam effective! Get your own copy of Re:imagining change today on their website!
Check these groups out and be generous!
Love,
Adrienne, Sharon and Megan
P.S. If you haven't heard about it yet, many generations of Ruckus are taking action on coal - check out some of founder Mike Roselle's recent coal actions here!
