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Integrating the elements of successful activism Campaigns as complex adaptive systems

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Integration of all elements we need to always be mindful of: the importance of integrating tactical components into effective holistic campaigns The interconnectedness of individuals and groups involved in social movements The dynamic and organic nature of social movements as aspects of ecological systems

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Integration of tactical elements: creating amplification cycles No campaign element exists in isolation All elements may be capable of amplifying others Ideally positive feedback loops can be established that amplify pressure on targets Be careful of positive feedback loops that can damage your own campaign, these may need to be dampened

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4 What is Direct action? Direct in that it is Action intended to Direct in that it is Action intended to expose a problem expose a problem demonstrate a solution or demonstrate a solution or prevent irreversible damage prevent irreversible damage It is empowering, because it directly address the problem (blockades) It is empowering, because it directly address the problem (blockades) Actions generally speaks Actions generally speaks louder than words

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5 Roles at a Protest There are a variety of essential roles that are needed. Someone who observes and bears witness Someone who observes and bears witness Peacekeeper one who seeks to defuse conflict Peacekeeper one who seeks to defuse conflict Bunny one who places themselves in an arrestable position Bunny one who places themselves in an arrestable position Buddy the friend and carer of the bunny who watches over them Buddy the friend and carer of the bunny who watches over them Coordinator who has a strategic perspective Coordinator who has a strategic perspective Media spokesperson Media spokesperson Police liaison Police liaison

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6 Be Smart at protests Bring the following: Clothes, food, water, chairs sun protection for all weather Clothes, food, water, chairs sun protection for all weather Present yourself in a mainstream way Present yourself in a mainstream way Phone, Camera and chargers Phone, Camera and chargers Signs/banners Signs/banners Protest devices (if applicable) Protest devices (if applicable)

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What is the theory of change behind our protests? Blockades etc are proof that industry is forcing its way into a community over the head of local opposition Blockades etc are proof that industry is forcing its way into a community over the head of local opposition This inflicts an ever growing price on government and the companies This inflicts an ever growing price on government and the companies This message has to be repeated again again at increasing cost to our opponents This message has to be repeated again again at increasing cost to our opponents 7

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8 Intentional law breaking? The vast majority of people who attend are not breaking any laws The vast majority of people who attend are not breaking any laws But some people will choose to place themselves in strategic arrestable situations But some people will choose to place themselves in strategic arrestable situations Police generally respect orderly arrestable protests Police generally respect orderly arrestable protests The legal system has a long tradition of recognising the role of conscientious objectors and the courts are usually lenient on them The legal system has a long tradition of recognising the role of conscientious objectors and the courts are usually lenient on them

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Strategic arrestable actions Well placed, comfortable and difficult to remove, one protester achieves more than 30 in a mass arrest scenario 9

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Exit strategy It is important to know ahead of time that each local blockade is a battle in a longer war It is important to know ahead of time that each local blockade is a battle in a longer war Maintaining morale within the movement is the key challenge Maintaining morale within the movement is the key challenge 10

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Take home messages about NVDA Strategic arrest vs. mass arrest Strategic arrest vs. mass arrest Exit strategy awareness Exit strategy awareness Police liaison Police liaison Avoid unnecessary arrests Avoid unnecessary arrests Maintain morale with a theory of change that includes repeated defeats Maintain morale with a theory of change that includes repeated defeats 11

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Understanding your groups relationships Your group potential allies corporate targets political targets foes related groups volunteersdonorssupporters Complex relationships exist between your group and other players and between players Any one player could be made the centre and webs constructed around them The purpose of campaign mapping is to realise opportunities for amplification or areas requiring dampening

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Influencing corporations We can no longer focus solely on change through the public sector We can no longer focus solely on change through the public sector Activist strategies need to create conditions that align corporate self interest with our campaign goals Activist strategies need to create conditions that align corporate self interest with our campaign goals This is done by creating an atmosphere where there will be adverse consequences for the company that breaches widely held social values This is done by creating an atmosphere where there will be adverse consequences for the company that breaches widely held social values 13

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The growing activists toolkit Brand attack Brand attack Supply chain targetting Supply chain targetting Ethical investment Ethical investment and divestment campaigns and divestment campaigns Strategic shareholder actions Strategic shareholder actions *Social movement risk as an investment risk *Social movement risk as an investment risk 14

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The amplification cycle of corporate campaigning 15 Effectively the very fact of social movement activity can be harnessed as a risk factor that can be used to unsettle non-ethical shareholders The risk amplifies at every turn through the cycle

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The new frontier: risk based campaigns All of the older methods of corporate campaigning have relied on the choices of the ethically oriented, but there is a need to go beyond this All of the older methods of corporate campaigning have relied on the choices of the ethically oriented, but there is a need to go beyond this The challenge is to use the prism of investor self interest as a mechanism for pursuing the public interest The challenge is to use the prism of investor self interest as a mechanism for pursuing the public interest 16

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Case study : Northern Rivers destroys Metgasco 17 Social movement Campaign takes off March 2012 Lismore rally 7000 march in early May Public poll 87% against CSG Sept State government grants production license Sept Blockades Nov to March Coy admits to market protests hurt us Jan 24 Coy discloses new Govt regs will affect it Coy announces suspension of whole program ANU divests Feb 26

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The fall and fall of Metgasco Effective community mobilisation Effective community mobilisation Entrenched blockades Entrenched blockades Concerted corporate disclosure campaign and shareholder risk campaign Concerted corporate disclosure campaign and shareholder risk campaign All combined to devastating effect All combined to devastating effect Incidentally the corporate disclosure campaign also silenced coy attacks on the movement for alleged violence Incidentally the corporate disclosure campaign also silenced coy attacks on the movement for alleged violence 18

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19 Metgasco shares drop as protests escalate Mick Daley 13th Dec 2012 2:09 PM COAL seam gas mining company Metgasco's shares plummeted to an all- time low of 15.5 cents this week, a drop of some eight per cent since last week. The apparent nervousness of investors is not shared by Metgasco CEO Peter Henderson, who was issued an extra 1.3 million shares by the company on November 14 and has vowed the company will press ahead with CSG well drilling, despite the massive community opposition. See also http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/pr otests-do-hurt-csg-miner/1731009/ But in the past week, protestors at Glenugie (south of Grafton) have stopped a truck with a generator from entering a drilling site, and a drill rig has been held up in Casino while protestors continue a vigil ouside Metgasco's office.

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Social movements as complex adaptive systems

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A Ricketts 2012 21