United We Stand: Fostering Cohesion in Activist Groups
Article by Liane Munro about how activist groups can be more cohesive and effective. Learn about cohesion fostering practices and processes.
Format
Articles
Scaling Social Movements: An Overview
Summary of key resources about scaling – the process of increasing the size, strength, geographical reach, & impact of social movements.
Identity Groups to Build Diversity and Power
This extract from the book Grassroots and Nonprofit Leadership outlines the value of identity groups, also known as caucuses and affinity spaces.
Scaling Up Movements For Greater Impact
Scaling framework tool for campaigners to evaluate existing efforts and think about new ways of broadening and deepening impact.
Community Organising Leadership in Uncertain Times
Max Smith, co-director of the Community Organising Fellowship, outlines his thoughts on the practice of leadership for community organisers, and what it’s like to practice leadership during uncertain times created by the pandemic.
Tasmanian Wilderness Society blocks dam construction (Franklin River Campaign) 1981-83
Tasmanian Wilderness Society activists blockaded the Tasmanian Franklin below Gordon Dam site, proposed by the Hydro Electric Commission.
Australian Rainforest Action Groups boycott Malaysian rainforest timber, 1988-1994
Australian Rainforest Action Groups blockaded ships bringing rainforest timbers logged in Sarawak, Malaysia.
International groups boycott Nestle products to end indiscriminate advertising, 1977-1984
Nestle artificial baby milks infant formula marketing Third World International Baby Food Action Network.
Hazara asylum seekers hunger strike on Nauru, 2003-2004
Hazara refugee asylum seekers engaged in hunger strikes to protest their continuing detention by Australia on Nauru.
Australian women protest conscription during Vietnam War [Save Our Sons (SOS)], 1965-1972
Save Our Sons opposed military conscription for Australia’s role in the United States invasion and occupation of Vietnam.
Australians general strike for right to unionize, Brisbane, Australia, 1912
Brisbane unionists organised a general strike in 1912 to protect and enhance the rights of tramways workers to organise.
Billboard Utilising Graffitists Against Unhealthy Promotions (BUGA UP) campaigns against tobacco advertising, Australia, 1978-1994
Civil disobedience actions reversed tobacco advertising messages to show the negative health effects of cigarettes.
Australians campaign against nuclear power and uranium mining, 1974-1988
Street marches and trade union action typified Australian resistance to the building of nuclear reactors and uranium mining and export.
Quotes from Beyond the Gender Binary
Quotes which draw on contemporary experiences of living beyond the gender binary to inspire collective action, resistance and solidarity.
Dilemma Actions: the power of putting your opponent in a bind
A study of 44 dilemma actions over the last 90 years examines the many benefits of creative protests for social movements.
Australians block cricket and impede rugby tour of apartheid South Africa, 1971
Anti-apartheid protesters impeded the South African Springboks rugby tour, and stopped the cricket tour, to protest racial inequality.
Writing Engaging Articles
A list of tips on how to write engaging articles from The Commons Social Change Library. Engage with topic, structure, tone and formatting.
Greenpeace and Sea Shepherds force Japanese seafood company Nissui to sell stakes in whale hunting ships 2005-2006
Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd initiated a consumer boycott against Sealord Tuna to end whaling by its parent company, Nissui.
Australian Aboriginal workers strike for fair wages and equality, 1946-1949
Indigenous pastoral workers in the Kimberley region of Western Australia struck for equal wages and full civil rights in the late 1940s.
Indigenous Gurindji win Land Rights in Australia (Wave Hill Walk Off) 1966-1975
The Gurindji of Wave Hill Station (Northern Territory) protested by a walkout against low wages, leading to the land rights movement.