Activism Archives - The Commons

Ending the Activist Year Well

After a big year of effort it’s important to take time for reflection, evaluation, team-building, celebration, and planning. These resources will help.

koala sleeping on a log with a santa hat on his head

Wondering what to give the passionate changemaker in your life… including yourself?! Pay for a training session, look after their wellbeing, support the causes they are passionate about or buy them a book.

Books to Read About Social Change in 2021

Looking for some inspiring reading for 2021 for yourself or as a gift? Here is a list of books on activism and organising to get you thinking.

Top 10 resources of 2020

The top 10 resources of 2020 from The Commons Social Change Library featuring resources on organising, activism, campaigning and more.

7 protesters on a road block a police vehicle during the 1982 Nightcap forest blockade in NSW, Australia.

Om gaia dudes: The North East Forest Alliance’s old-growth forest campaign

This book chapter by Aidan Ricketts is about the key moments and positive sides of the old forest growth campaign in northern NSW in the 1990s.

Man standing on top of iron fence waving flag outside a building.

Stories of Unemployed Activism from Radical Melbourne: 1906-1982

Introduction Four stories about actions – demonstrations, pickets, eviction resistance and occupations – that the unemployed people of Melbourne carried out from 1906 to 1982. These stories come from the Radical Melbourne 1 & 2 books by Jeff and Jill Sparrow, published by Vulgar Press in 2001 and 2004. The books feature dozens of stories […]

man buried in the earth in soil with his head poking out. He is wearing a hat and playing a recorder.

Environmental Blockading in Australia and Around the World – Timeline 1974-1997

A timeline of blockades against logging, development, mining in Australia and around the world from the seventies to the nineties.

icon of Malala Yousafzai with her quote - There's a moment where you have to decide whether to be silent or stand up.

Inspiring quotes from women leaders and activists

Over 40 quotes by inspiring women leaders and activists from Australia and around the world about leadership, diversity and the environment.

ChangeMakers Organising School – Season Two

Notes from training sessions hosted by ChangeMakers and Tipping Point April to July 2020. The training aims to equip organisers and campaigners to respond to challenges and continue their work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Books about Women & Leadership

Five books recommended by participants and convenors of Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia. This list includes comprehensive discussions about women’s leadership, practical guides, and two memoirs from inspiring women leaders.

a collage of covers of films about women and social change

Films about Women & Social Change

An inspiring list of feature films and documentaries about women and social change including Women of Steel, Suffragette, Mission Blue, She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry and more.

Black and white cartoon drawing depicting actions during social distancing. A person leans out of a car talking through a loud hailer, fists poke out of an apartment building, there are sound lines depicting music.

Action tactics during the time of social distancing

Blackout Collective and The Ruckus Society have joined together to make this user-friendly handout about action tactics you can take during the time of social distancing. Includes car bloc, noise demo, twitter storm, phone jam and physically distanced rally.

portrait of a young boy on a video cover

Storytelling and Social Activism in Young People

A podcast about the role of young people in social activism by Dr Marilyn Metta at the Activism @ The Margins conference in 2020.

Protestors wearing masks and holding placards gathering for a Black Lives Matter rally.

Make Change: How-To’s for Effective Peaceful Protest

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement this article includes tips and links to make what you need for safe, peaceful, and effective protest. Includes signs, effigies, banners, street art, ways to manage pepper spray and tear gas, surveillance considerations and interactions with police liaison.