Collection

How to Make Trouble & Influence People

How to Make Trouble & Influence People

Iain McIntyre’s book How to Make Trouble and Influence People reveals Australia’s radical past through tales of Indigenous resistance, convict revolts and escapes, picket line hi-jinks, student occupations, creative direct action, media pranks, urban interventions, squatting, blockades, banner drops, street theatre and billboard liberation.

The How to Make Trouble collection on the Commons includes book reviews and two excerpts from the book (BUGA-UP and Kevin Buzzacott). Besides posts directly related to the book there is a selection of other activist history resources from Iain McIntyre.

Exploring social movement history yields strategic insight, a menu of creative tactics, and much inspiration.

Treesits, lock-ons and barricades: Environmental blockading in the 1980s

Treesits, lock-ons and barricades: Environmental blockading in the 1980s

From 1979 to the 1990s Australia, Canadian and American activists took part in a series of environmental blockades to defend old growth forests, rivers and other biodiverse places. Join Iain McIntyre for a series of conversations with the blockaders who took part in these campaigns.  

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: The AIDEX ’91 Story

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: The AIDEX ’91 Story

In 1991 over 1000 protesters blockaded the National Exhibition Centre in Canberra with the goal of shutting down the Australia International Defence Exhibition. This book includes a detailed account of the blockade, the context of the growth of the Australian arms industry, and the words of the protesters themselves.

Victoria Street Squats: Anti development struggles in Sydney in the 1970s

Victoria Street Squats: Anti development struggles in Sydney in the 1970s

Iain McIntyre talks with Ian Milliss about his involvement with Sydney’s Victoria St squats. During the early 1970s this street in Kings Cross became the focus of a long running anti-development struggle that brought together long term residents, unionists and squatters in a campaign which reignited squatting across the city.

Treesits, lock-ons and barricades: Environmental blockading in the 1980s

Treesits, lock-ons and barricades: Environmental blockading in the 1980s

From 1979 to the 1990s Australia, Canadian and American activists took part in a series of environmental blockades to defend old growth forests, rivers and other biodiverse places. Join Iain McIntyre for a series of conversations with the blockaders who took part in these campaigns.  

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: The AIDEX ’91 Story

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: The AIDEX ’91 Story

In 1991 over 1000 protesters blockaded the National Exhibition Centre in Canberra with the goal of shutting down the Australia International Defence Exhibition. This book includes a detailed account of the blockade, the context of the growth of the Australian arms industry, and the words of the protesters themselves.

Victoria Street Squats: Anti development struggles in Sydney in the 1970s

Victoria Street Squats: Anti development struggles in Sydney in the 1970s

Iain McIntyre talks with Ian Milliss about his involvement with Sydney’s Victoria St squats. During the early 1970s this street in Kings Cross became the focus of a long running anti-development struggle that brought together long term residents, unionists and squatters in a campaign which reignited squatting across the city.