Homework

Please read People Power and the Upside Down Triangle, which builds on the idea of non-cooperation by explaining how institutions help to prop up the status quo. Draw your own upside down triangle and brainstorm some of the institutions that support whatever aspect of the status quo you most want to change.

Extras!

If you’re life and reading list are full enough right now, don’t feel any pressure to read everything in my Extras section. On the other hand, if you are new to thinking about direct action and want a little more of the “what” and “why,” read The Power of Nonviolent Direct Action by my friend Daniel Hunter, a longtime campaign trainer who is currently coordinating 350.org’s international trainings

If you have a little more time and want a whole book about campaigning, check out George Lakey’s newest book How We Win. Daniel and I are both interviewed in it, but the bigger reason to recommend it is that George has been campaigning on a wide range of issues since the Civil Rights Movement, and in this book he synthesizes what he has learned.

For those who were unfamiliar with the controversial film Planet of the Humans, which came up last night, this is one of many articles critiquing it.

You can google any of the stories I told last night to learn more, but there was a specific question about the Walk to Work action in Uganda. Tragically bystanders were killed during the walk mobilization (which I had not realized), and the guilty soldiers were not held accountable. Criticism of Yoweri Museveni and his repression have only grown since then. This article speculates that the opposition to his rule has grown so much that he may finally be deposed from power in next year’s elections. Next week, when we talk about choosing a target, one factor we’ll start to discuss is the potential risk from taking on different targets.