Nonviolent Direct Action Skills Workshop (Sydney) Feb 2014

Saturday 8 February 2014

9am – 5pm

Quaker Meeting House
119 Devonshire St
Surry Hills (5 mins from Central Station)
(view on map)

 Cost: $40/20 (conc)

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BYO lunch or buy from the local shops. Morning and afternoon tea provided.

Description:

Many of us have experiences of activism that left us alienated, disheartened and angry. We want to make a difference to the world but we’re not sure how. In this workshop, we explore nonviolent direct action as both a moral and powerful means of social change, using a variety of resources, stories and role-plays. We will consider the symbolic and strategic role of nonviolent direct action, talk about fears and consequences, consider the place of nonviolent action in larger campaigns, look at the different roles people play in actions and explain the process of ‘getting arrested’ in a nonviolent civil disobedience action so people understand what that involves. We will run a nonviolent direct action role-play to give people a chance to try it all out, and finish with a chance to discuss and plan possible actions based on participants’ interests.

The emphasis in this workshop is on action skills development and ‘getting ready’ to take action, rather than the philosophy, spirituality and history of nonviolence.

Facilitators:

Donna Mulhearn is an activist, writer and public speaker. Donna was a human shield during the war in Iraq and later returned as an aid worker and human rights activist. She is a journalist, former political adviser and Masters graduate of the University of Sydney Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. She has spent time in the West Bank of Palestine with the International Solidarity Movement and recently returned from her fifth trip to Iraq where she researched the effects of toxic weapons such as depleted uranium on the civilian population, particularly babies in the city of Fallujah. Featured on ABC’s Australian Story program, her book, Ordinary Courage, a memoir about her experience as a human shield, was published in 2010 and will soon be available globally as an e-book. She coordinates the Australian Campaign to Ban Uranium Weapons and is currently working on a book about the 2004 attacks on Fallujah. Among a long list of nonviolent actions for peace and justice, Donna faced a lengthy trial and short prison time after breaking into Pine Gap US military base in 2005 in a “Citizen’s Inspection”, potentially facing up to ten years in prison.

Justin Whelan is the Mission Development Manager at Paddington Uniting Church, a role that involves lay ministry, community development and community organising that empowers people to be the ‘change they want to see in the world’. In his spare time he researches social movements with a particular interest in strategic nonviolent struggle. A lifelong activist whose first protest event was in the womb, Justin’s advocacy credits include winning amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Bill 2005 and swearing at his Year 11 maths teacher for failing to listen to a student’s pleas for remarking an exam. Justin has participated in numerous nonviolent direct actions in support of peace, human rights and the environment, and has been arrested for civil disobedience twice. Justin was one of the proponents of the Uniting Church in NSW-ACT’s resolution to divest from fossil fuels in April 2013.

All enquiries: Contact Justin Whelan

Christian Nonviolent Action Half-Day Workshop (Sydney)

We are currently testing interest in the following workshop to be run in Sydney early in 2014. Expressions of interest are invited through the form below.

Descriotion:

“Jesus gave us the message, Gandhi gave us the method”, said Martin Luther King Jr, who himself helped lead one of the most inspiring nonviolent campaigns for human liberation in the 20th Century. In this workshop, we explore Christian nonviolent action. Using a range of resources, videos and stories, we will consider nonviolent action as both a strategic form of struggle and a deeply faithful way of life.

Facilitators:

Donna Mulhearn is an activist, writer and public speaker. Donna was a human shield during the war in Iraq and later returned as an aid worker and human rights activist. She is a journalist, former political adviser and Masters graduate of the University of Sydney Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. She has just returned from her fifth trip to Iraq where she researched the effects of toxic weapons on the civilian population, particularly babies in the city of Fallujah. Featured on ABC’sAustralian Story program, her book, Ordinary Courage, a memoir about her experience as a human shield, was published in 2010 and is now available globally as an e-book. She coordinates the Australian Campaign to Ban Uranium Weapons and is currently working on a book about the 2004 attacks on Fallujah.

Justin Whelan is the Mission Development Manager at Paddington Uniting Church, a role that involves lay ministry, community development and community organising that empowers people to be the ‘change they want to see in the world’. In his spare time he researches social movements with a particular interest in strategic nonviolent struggle. A lifelong activist whose first protest event was in the womb, Justin’s advocacy credits include winning amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Bill 2005 and swearing at his Year 11 maths teacher for failing to listen to a student’s pleas for remarking an exam. Justin was one of the proponents of the Uniting Church in NSW-ACT’s resolution to divest from fossil fuels in April 2013.

Register Your Interest:

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QLD Engage Course Beginning July

Engage: Exploring nonviolent livingEngage flyer_Final

What is Engage?
In a world marred by violence and injustice, Engage is a small-group program that introduces a vision and tools for nonviolent living. It uses stories, small group reflections, role-plays and exercises to explore the dynamics of violence, the possibilities for nonviolent living, and actions to effect personal and social change.

How long is the program?
Engage consists of 12, 2-hr sessions, plus an action to be chosen by the group. This group will run on Monday nights, 6:30-8:30pm between:

July 15 – September 16 (10 sessions)
Break (September 23 – October 7)
October 14 – 28 (3 sessions)

To get the most out of the program, we strongly encourage attendance at as many sessions as possible.

Sessions will be held in the Hall at West End Uniting Church, 11 Sussex St.

How much does it cost?
The program costs $50pp – this includes a resource workbook for you to keep, venue hire, and workshop materials.

Who will facilitate the program?
Engage is a resource offered by Pace e Bene Australia (www.paceebene.org.au). Pace e Bene is an international network of people committed to building a more just and peaceful world.  This program will be facilitated by four locals – Bek, Bronwyn, Neil and Penny – who have previously completed the Engage program, and are passionate about sharing the experience with others

Contact:
To register, or for more information, please email: peba.qld@gmail.com
or call Penny on 0403 721 601

Announcing PeBA 2013 Inspiritors

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Pace e Bene Australia is pleased to announce that this years Inspiritors will be Wes Howard Brook and Sue Ferguson Johnson.  Wes and Sue come with many years experience exploring what it means to live nonviolently.  They will be touring Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne July – August 2013.  Pace e Bene Australia is pleased also to announce our tour partners – TEAR, UNOH, Edmund Rice, Waiters Union and Pax Christi – will also be hosting events with Wes and Sue.  To learn more about Wes and Sue click here.  To check out more about the tour click here.  To find events in your city click here.