Effective Grassroots Organising Native Forest Issues A ten day Mega-workshop with a focus of "Effective Grassroots Organising" will be held in April, 1996. The workshop is offered by the Native Forest Network in conjunction with the Australian Nonviolence Network. So, why this workshop, what's the point, how will it help? Margaret Pestorius writes and encourages YOU to go! The forest movement is growing. But so are the multinationals. In Australia we are making gains. But in Papua, and Borneo things still get worse. Any patch of ground "saved" in Australia is only saved till the next threat - it WAS logging, now it's woodchips or in Far North Queensland, tourism. The challenge for those committed to reshaping society remains ongoing. We need many people's best thinking to become more effective. We need to involve and empower more and more people in creative work for change. Skills are already high in some areas and yet quite poor in others. For example the lobbying done by the ACF and TWS is now highly skilled and well focussed. It seems to be, however, dependent on particular political parties being in government. And only those with good bureaucratic orientation - especially writing and lobbying skills - can be usefully involved. In the grassroots, things are achieved against high odds but people involved burn out and disappear at a disturbingly high rate. Many do not stay long enough to get enough relevant skills and experience to initiate, watch over and follow through their own projects. Experienced activists have very limited resources and are too few in number. And at the community level activists face fierce opposition from the power elite and the vast network of institutions they control. Activists also face internalised opposition from their own 'unresolved' hurts and the feelings left from past attacks against them.1 Direct action is an area that invites risk taking and full-on attacks. Sometimes these come from within the organising group itself, often within the movement and of course from outside in the general community and systems of State oppression (police and media). As a result relatively few people think really well around direct action. I hold the same assumption as activist and teacher Randy Shutt: "Social change organisations are most effective when they have at least a few members who are very knowledgeable and have a wide variety of well-developed, practical skills. A few skilled activists can help a group evaluate strategies and tactics, help it stay open to new ideas, keep it focused on fundamental change, and prevent much of the in-fighting that might destroy it. They also help support and protect people from power elite attack". Groups need people who think about the group as a whole; People with the self assurance to suggest processes and direction; People who can build relationships with a wide range of people in a community regardless of the traditional roles they play; People who go looking for allies in strange places; People who see the big picture, stay creative and protect from attacks. They need members who look after new people, pay them close attention and teach skills one to one as the need arises. These are all leadership roles that can be learnt and systematically passed on to others. We should expect that everybody will come to play a good proportion of these and other leadership roles. They are not roles that only some people have "naturally". They can be learnt and practised in supportive environments. Different sorts of work, different sorts of activism, better kinds of direct community action are needed. We need to build large movements where radical ideas can be generated and protected; where people can have the space to practise new, cooperative ways of doing things; where people can connect with their internal resources and figure out what old hurts are holding them back from getting exactly what they want. To create skilled members such as these takes time and special attention. At the moment this happens almost totally randomly. It happens largely and inadequately through "on the spot" experience where young people are often in situations well beyond their depth. There are few opportunities to reinforce and evaluate experience with systematic activist education. It's nothing like school! An ongoing, gradual process of activist education would be ideal. Yet even a weekend, followed by one to one support and relationship building can make a big difference. A ten day mega-workshop will do lots to cement ideas, commitment. It will ground people in processes they can use in their own work. Even a single mega-workshop will have the additional but equally important effects of developing close relationships among committed activists and building a network across distance. There are no "answers" or "correct" procedures to learn. A good social change teacher helps participants to think flexibly together, to figure out and practise appropriate, creative ways to act and organise. We all need to be consciously passing skills on to new people, creating new responsive grassroots leaders. So come along you forest activists out there. Take time out to think, learn and evaluate with your peers. Think now of at least one other person, and support and encourage them to do the same. Take social change seriously, look to the long term and - have fun! Notes 1. I've noticed two "internal" things that get specially in the way of activist education events. a) feelings about money (usually about not having enough) b) our feelings of despair and urgency resulting in feeling like we don't have enough time. ("There's too much to do and I'm important to it all - and any way I don't want to miss out. I don't have time to go to something like that") I'm not sure what to say about these except to notice how they are with you, get support to think things through and give it a go anyway! Remember you are not alone. Margaret Pestorius email nonviolence@peg.apc.org 5/26B Upward St Cairns, 4870, phone/fax 070 521 563 Effective Grassroots Organising Native Forest Issues A ten day mega-workshop offered by the Native Forest Network, in association with the Australian Nonviolence Network. APRIL 12-23, 1996 at Commonground Cooperative, Seymour, Victoria Forests all over Australia are under threat - from woodchipping, over-logging, mass tourism, and residential development. Forest activists face difficult circumstances. They are under-resourced, over-worked, and most often face a hostile industry, government, and media. How can we be better supported and more effective? The Native Forest Network and the Australian Nonviolence Network are combining to offer a ten day workshop which will help forest activists build skills and understanding in: * Campaigning with a long-term perspective * Becoming more personally powerful * Self-nurturing and protection against burnout * Building community support networks * Finding and empowering more activists and allies * Increasing basic campaign skills (tactical planning, media, etc.) * Developing shared leadership skills (listening, assertiveness, etc.) The workshop will be led by experienced forest and nonviolence activists, and will draw on the knowledge and experience of all participants. It will provide a refreshing emotional and spiritual experience in a relaxed country atmosphere. It will build strong links among participants - to strengthen our future work and success in defending native forests. Who can attend? There is room for twelve to fifteen participants. We are looking for activists with one to three years' experience of forest campaigning, who feel they want to continue this work into the future. Younger activists are particularly encouraged to apply. How much will it cost? The workshop is residential, and will include all meals. It will be paid for on a cost-share basis which takes into account ability to pay. External funding is being sought from Foundations and granting bodies. The workshop fees might be as much as $500 per participant, or as little as $100 (excluding travel). If you are interested in attending, please contact: VIC - Anthony Amis, PO Box 222, Fitzroy, 3065. ph (03) 419 8700 TAS - Beth Gibbings, c/- PO Meander, 7304. ph (003) 622713 WA - Stewart Jackson, PO Box 8087, Perth, 6849. ph (09) 271 0570 NSW - Simon Clark, PO Box 797, Bega, 2550. ph (064) 923385 - Jarrah, PO Box 342, Bellingen, 2454. ph (066) 550087 SA - Jo De Silva, 40 Milner Rd, Hilton, 5063. ph (08) 354 0067 QLD - Bryan Law, 5/26B Upward St, Cairns, 4870. ph/f (070) 521563