Introduction
Here is a collection of different case studies and stories of organising and movements from across the globe collated and presented by 350.org.
The story telling lab weaves lessons from a range of stories and perspectives, including people close to the ground and nationally.
Each case draws out lessons from the people involved and concludes with broader generalisations. Whilst these case studies are focused on 350 and the climate movement the lessons learned and reflections are applicable to any campaign.
Stories
Movement Support Teams
Movement Support Teams are peer to peer learning. Instead of staff supporting volunteers, it’s teams of volunteers supporting each other in the movements. It’s a way to scale up and expand movements.
This story is a slide presentation with video and includes:
- What is a Community of Practice?
- Examples of Movement Support Teams from Racial Justice and Equity, Climate Camp in Asia, German Movement Support Team
- Core Lessons when setting up a Movement Support Team
How to Recruit More People: Lessons from Rukiya in 350 Kenya
Rukiya, a 350.org organiser in Kenya, shares stories of how they recruited people for the African DeCOALinise Campaign. The story includes:
- Recruitment challenges
- About the Ladder of Engagement
- Recruitment ideas and tips
How France Fought to Keep it in the Ground
Learn about the 350 campaigns in France and
- Setting bold goals
- Campaign Strategy
- Decentralised campaigns
Climate Impact Organising Lessons from Australia, US, Pacific Islands, and UK
Four different organising responses from different countries to climate impacts.
Organising Civil Disobedience for Newcomers
At Ende Gelände nearly 1,500 people shut down one of the world’s largest open-pit mines, with the world’s biggest diggers. Afterwards Olivia wrote, “We were two vans of divestment campaigners from Sweden joining the action, all completely without experience of civil disobedience. Let me just say that after the action (despite bruises, aching bodies, hair and clothes covered in pepper spray) they all said they’d do it again. Most of them are very excited about Paris and upcoming actions.”
Given the police violence (which was worse than the news reported), how was the action organised so that people emerged and wanted to do it again? These are a few lessons from a conversation with Olivia, Tine and Emma with Daniel facilitating.
How to Remotely Mobilise in a Closed-country when you’re Working Remotely
Reflections from Liangyi Chang, a .350 organiser in Taiwan who organised the Global Climate March in China.
Making Escalated Actions Bold and Safe Despite Repression: Lessons from Brazil
How to influence a political ‘frenemy’: Lessons from 350 Canada’s Climate Welcome
Reflections of the climate welcome by 350 Canada to the newly appointed Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau.
#WhenWeLose: How Healthy Campaigns Respond in the Face of Bad News
5 key lessons learned from the following campaign case studies:
- Sweden and Brown Coal / Lignite
- US Immigrant Rights
- Canada’s Keystone 1
How to Win by thinking like your Opponent: Lessons from 350 Australia’s Campaign against the Galilee Basin
This story illustrates 350 Australia’s strategic decision-making process as they took on the largest coal export facility project in the world, showcasing their ability to think like their opponent and strategically target banks, ultimately selecting the Commonwealth as their primary focus for maximum impact.
Getting People to your Actions
This is an organising story telling lab on turn out which is recruiting people to attend or take part in an event. This includes lessons on getting people to your actions based on 3 case studies.
- Keystone XL Pipeline
- Break Free DC Action
- Dakota Access Pipeline Solidarity Action
Making Strategic Planning Flow: An Organizing Story Tellling Lab on how Europe made its Process Work
6 lessons and a review of how to make the strategy planning process better.
About the Author
350.org is a global grassroots organization that was founded in 2008 by author and environmentalist Bill McKibben and a group of college students. The organization’s name comes from the goal of reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels to 350 parts per million, which is believed to be the safe upper limit for the Earth’s climate.
350.org works to build a global climate movement by organizing campaigns, rallies, and events to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change and push for policies and solutions that will help address the crisis. The organization focuses on promoting renewable energy, divesting from fossil fuels, and transitioning to a more sustainable and equitable economy. It has chapters and partner organizations in countries around the world, and has played a key role in mobilizing people to take action on climate issues, including organizing major international campaigns such as the Global Climate Strike and the People’s Climate March.