Topic

Tactics

Tactics are the exciting part of any campaign – the actions that involve people, put pressure on powerholders, and make a splash in the media. This topic includes activities to choose your tactics from a wealth of options, case studies that showcase different tactics, and the nitty gritty of organising particular actions.

illustration of group of people with their fists in the air

10 Ways People Power Can Change the World

Change the world with boycotts, workplace action and memes, political campaigns, disaster relief, civil disobedience and more.

Singers wearing hats advocating “No Torture” line up before performing at a Human Rights Day event outside of Mogadishu Central Prison in Somalia.

Campaigning in High-Risk Environments

How do organisers and campaigners keep working for social justice when the environment they’re in becomes high risk?

ChangeMakers Organising School – Online Course (Videos)

ChangeMakers Organising School – Training (videos and slides) to connect and deepen knowledge to organise for social change.

ChangeMakers Organising School – Season Three

ChangeMakers Organising School – Training (videos and slides) to connect and deepen knowledge to organise for social change.

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

Thousands of unemployed men march to the Treasury Buildings to confront Premier Sir James Mitchell 6 March 1931.

The 1931 Perth Treasury Building Riot: Unemployed workers during the Great Depression

Unemployed workers during the Great Depression, the repression they faced, and the protests and tactics they used to fight for their rights.

a collage of covers of films about women and social change

Films about Women and Social Justice and 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.

The Tactic Star

The Tactic Star is a tool for planning and evaluating tactics, it names some key factors that change agents should consider when determining their tactics.

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.

Australian Black Lives Matter Rallies

Articles, videos and podcasts related to Black Lives Matter & Stop Aboriginal Deaths in Custody rallies in Australia, early June 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.

Tactics in a time of physical distancing: Examples from around the world

How can activists take action during the Covid-19 pandemic? This article collects examples of tactics from around the world that work during physical distancing.

Strikes Resource Guide

Five books, five articles and five videos on strikes by Bright Green Independent Media for Radical, Democratic and Green Movements.

Mug sitting on laptop that says 'Not all super heroes wear capes'

Activist Inspiration and Learning in Lockdown

The COVID-19 pandemic is keeping many of us at home. Without the usual forums, film nights, and other campaign activities how can we connect to inspiration and continue learning? Here are films, podcasts, webinars and online courses.

big protest signs on a parade of cars heading down a city street

Tactics in a time of physical distancing: Examples from Australia’s progressive past

In response to the Coronavirus pandemic the Commons is sharing protests, campaigns and events from the past which highlight ways we can undertake action whilst maintaining safe health practices and physical distance.

Photo of the front cover of the Beautiful Trouble book.

Beautiful Trouble’s Guide to Activism During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Beautiful Trouble principles and creative tactics for activism while the world goes through the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes tactics for building a sense of community and continuing to pressure people in power.

Acting Up! Podcasts on 45 Years of Friends of the Earth

A 4 part podcast series from community radion station 3CR celebrating 45 years of direct action by environmental group, Friends of the Earth FOE.

How to Get More Petition Signatures

A guide developed by ActionStation to support community members to run successful petitions, including notes on strategy, tips for getting more signatures, and example campaigns.

low-angle photography of metal structure

Civil Resistance 2.0: 198 Nonviolent Methods Upgraded

A crowdsourced spreadsheet listing a number of digital variations of Gene Sharp’s classic 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action. Valuable inspiration for campaigns seeking new tactics!

Ducks For Detainees: Interview about artivism

An interview with Maggie Cowling from Ducks for Detainees which is a group that holds art events to maintain awareness of the plight of offshore detainees.