Activism

=Ideas for action=
 * //Dissent is the highest form of patriotism. Howard Zinn//**


 * Some argue that people resort to violence when they feel they have no choice. Below is a list of options for taking non-violent action on a issue of importance to you.**

__Disclaimer__: This page is a compilation. It is in no way an advocacy of any of these modes of action or groups. Hopefully it will be helpful.

Until live links are added to this list, conduct internet searches on how to accomplish any of these actions that interest you.

Feel free to add your own ideas, especially about school site actions. Just click 'Edit This Page' above.


 * Finally, if this website helped you, please email us at the link below. Let us know of any actions that you have taken to help those around you so that we may coordinate efforts.**

**Please email us your actions or reactions**


 * Thank you.**

__Table of contents__
Preparing for action Encouraging action School site actions MDCPS Board and other districts Connecting Voting Media Political action Personal action Civil disobedience Other non-violence or civil disobedience References

Preparing for action
Maintaining personal peace (Pirsig, __Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance__, and others)

Encouraging action
//**People do not lack motivation. They need dialogue and consensus.**// from [|Per Herngren © - PATH OF RESISTANCE - THE PRACTICE OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE]

Consensus Dialogue Non-violence Compassion

School site actions
Teach to the contract

Email list

[|Consensus decision-making] Recruiting volunteers

Quality circles Affinity groups (see [|Per Herngren © - PATH OF RESISTANCE - THE PRACTICE OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE])

UTD organizing training Survey Phone tree

Stickers, including bumper stickers T-shirts Noise makers

EESAC & PTSA: speak at meetings Rules vary according to bylaws. Contact your school's organizations for more information.

Union meetings: Potluck, or, Take food, ask for donations.

Union meeting at Coral Gables Senior High on 11/20/07 Slogan: Since we're going to talk about something bad for your health (the insurance proposal), let's get together and have some fattening food. Cooked crepes

**Miami-Dade County Public Schools or other school districts**
Call, write letters or email MDCPS Board and FL reps United Teachers of Dade

Teach to the contract

[|Attend School Board planning meetings and regular meetings]

[|Speak at School Board meetings] Bring a list of people who agree with your position.

Take other action at: The School Board Local government representative offices United Teachers of Dade headquarters (See below for further ideas on this)

(From __50 Ways to Love Your Country, by MoveOn.org__)

I. Connecting
Create an effective online petition Spread the word about online petitions Sign a petition Share informed political recommendations Speak out online Email the President (and other politicians) Meet with your representatives

II. Voting
Vote Mobilize underrepresented voters Register voters in unlikely places Organize an issue-specific voter registration drive Get your office to vote Maximize the vote on election day Make a personal request to nonvoters Participate in a phone bank

III. Media
Read more, watch TV news less Write a letter to the editor Respond to biased reporting Alert the media to uncovered events Place an ad Reform the media Make your own media Write an Op-Ed piece Start a political book club

IV. Political action
Write letters to Congress Talk to officials you didn't elect Support clean elections Volunteer for campaigns Help run a campaign Hit the streets for your candidate Run for office Donate money Host a house party Petition effectively Attend a Meetup Serve as an elected official Act outside the box

V. Personal action
Serve your community Defy City Hall Respond locally to national issues Attend a rally Instigate protective laws Initiate a Constitutional Amendment Get a socially responsible day job Take action with your family Host a political salon Let your money speak Help others express their political views Express your views through art Advertise your political vision

(From __Act Up Civil Disobedience Training)__

Step by Step Escalation in a Nonviolent Campaign

 * 1) Investigation and Research: checking facts and allegations, building an airtight case against opponents and preparing for countercharges
 * 2) Negotiation and arbitration
 * 3) Meeting with opponents to settle conflict before going public, ultimatum issued before moving to next level
 * 4) Public forums, letters to editor, etc.
 * 5) Basic public education on issues: picketing, leafleting, etc.
 * 6) Public contact with opponents
 * 7) Demonstrations, rallies, marches: show of strength by maximizing numbers
 * 8) Limited strike involving those immediately affected
 * 9) Boycott against company or product in question, if appropriate
 * 10) Limited noncooperation by those most immediately affected
 * 11) Massive illegal actions
 * 12) Noncooperation, civil disobedience, direct action
 * 13) General strike
 * 14) Establishing a parallel government

Other non-violence or civil disobedience

 * Non-cooperation**

"Redemption Song", Bob Marley**
 * __Music__

From [|Per Herngren © - PATH OF RESISTANCE - THE PRACTICE OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE] Sit-ins / occupation Camp Conscientious objection**
 * Blockade

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasting
 * Fasting**

Fasting at the Open Directory Project Fasting Support - Fasting Retreats Therapeutic Fasting - Worldwide Links

http://sci.pam.szczecin.pl/~fasting/breakfast.pdf http://altmedicine.about.com/od/detoxcleansing/a/BreakingFast.htm http://soilandhealth.org/02/0201hyglibcat/020127shelton.III/020127.ch30.htm http://fasting.ygoy.com/breaking-your-fast/ http://www.freedomyou.com/fasting_book/how%20to%20break%20a%20fast.htm

Links
[|Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia] [|mkgandhi.org]
 * Mahatma Ghandi**

Rev, //John Dear// S.J. is a Jesuit Priest, Peace Activist, Organizer, Lecturer, Retreat leader, and author/editor of 20 books on peace and nonviolence.
 * [|FatherJohnDear.org]**

[|Google search "blog listing Miami activism"] [|Google search: Miami activism blog] http://www.miami-dade-dems.blogspot.com/ http://criticalmiami.com/tag/activism/ http://www.starhawk.org/activism/activism-writings/activism-writings.html [|Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM)] [|Google search: ACLU Miami activism blog] http://carlosmiller.com/2008/04/14/aclu-misses-obvious-first-amendment-violation-in-harvard-incident/ http://carlosmiller.com/ http://southfloridadailyblog.blogspot.com
 * Miami Activism blogs**

[|NEA Now] [|Saul Alinsky: The American Organizer] [|Recruiting Members] [|Issue Organizing]
 * NEA**

[|Activism Watch] [|GET ACTIVE - GUIDE TO ORGANISING A COMMUNITY GROUP] [|Protest.Net: A calendar of protest, meetings, and conferences] [|Trinity College Civil Disobedience page] [|War Resisters League] [|Why War? How to Engage in Direct-Action Civil Disobedience] [|Wikipedia list of social networking websites]
 * Other organizations**

[|**Free speech** versus bureaucracy, chapter 5 of Information **...**] [|Act Up NY Civil Disobedience Manual] [|Handbook for Nonviolent Action] [|Top Five Books on How to Take Action to Change the World]
 * Electronic texts**

Gandhi, __Autobiography, The Story of My Search for Truth__ Gandhi, __Selected Writings__, Dover Books Gandhi, __Satyagraha in South Africa__ (translates to 'Soul Force or Truth Force in South Africa') [|Herngren, Per © - PATH OF RESISTANCE - THE PRACTICE OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE] [|Herngren, Per - Spanish - El Camino De La Resistencia] MoveOn.org, __50 Ways to Love Your Country [|Thoreau, Henry David. "Civil Disobedience".]__ Williams, Juan. __Eyes on the Prize__ Zinn, Howard. __A People's History of the United States__.
 * Books**

__Suggested internet searches__ Non-violence Civil disobedience Civil disobedience manual Civil disobedience handbook


 * Remember to add your own ideas, especially about school site actions. Just click 'Edit This Page' above. Thank you.**