Who is an activist?

Some time ago, Dr  Gene  Sharp created a list of 198 non-violent forms of activism. Some of those were street marches, many were not. 

I have quite a few times come across a view that the only valid form of activism is what involves you being arrested. 

That certainly creates publicity, and often is essential to achieving change, but it is NOT the only valid form of change, nor is it always essential. 

In the 1990s, I was part of a group that achieved change to human rights legislation without a single street march - there was public pressure through writing, but no arrests. 

Emphasising street marches as the only form of protest excludes those with limited mobility - and a half-****ed after the fact inclusion doesn't do anything for the despair of "oh I'm not included as an activist". 

The behaviour of police means arrest is going to be triggering for survivors of sexual assault - another group that is exzcluded. 

Worst of all is that, despite the many benefits of visible street protests (including demonstration of ally-ship), it is sometimes not going to be effective - the evil Margaret Thatcher's refusal to budge is an example. The aim of all protest to effect a change for the better: that means changing the hearts and minds of powerful elites, which can be done by pressure, which can become bullying if not executed with careful consideration and thought, or, in some cases, persuasion. 

Whatever methods are adopted, they must involve careful consideration and thought (the effectiveness of Dr Sharp's methods have been analysed on a database at https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/),and be inherently inclusive. 

This post was inspired by a post on social media, but I was unable to find a way to link to it here.

Election outcome in my home state

The anti-ALP media beat up has been proven wrong by my home state returning the current government as a majority government - see here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, here, here, here, here, and here, and here, and also here.

The anti-Daniel Andrews band kept frantically beating their hysterical drums, and this destroyed the mainstream media’s credibility a little further. 

The pandemic response wasn’t perfect, but it kept people alive. 

And it helped exposed the frenetic obsession with being humans doing rather than humans being. For a long term sustainable future, we need to get our economy off its addiction to growth, and to create a people-focused system, rather than an elites- and corporations-focused system. 

The other major advantage of yesterday’s result is that it stopped the transphobic and other human rights abuses that were being promoted by the neoliberals - and the evil of some minority parties and people that seemed, to me, to be driven by conspiracy fantasies.(I touched on some of that here.)

If there is more of that dangerous behaviour without any overt and effective response, in my opinion, our society as a whole risks becoming even more psychologically unbalanced than has been created by the last ten or so millennia of materialism and social inequality that was eventually refined into the current perversion of capitalism (it’s not actually capitalism).

And the mainstream media bears a large portion of the responsibility for that. 

Some human rights and other news links [Note: Content Warning - reader discretion is advised!] and thoughts - Saturday 26th November, 2022

Black Lives Matter! Be Anti-Racist, Anti-Sexist, and Actively Inclusive in ALL Areas.
The Climate Crisis is real, urgent and existential!
The Pandemic is Real, and Vaccinations save lives. Stay safe - wash your hands, wear a face mask in public if prudent to do so, and follow informed medical advice.

Some mostly human rights (including significant, relevant links in other fields - such as geopolitics, democracy, or authoritarianism) links (note: the source of news items [but not reference links] is in brackets after each item - normal rules around abbreviations will apply, and abbreviations are listed at the end of this post; links behind hard paywalls have a [$]; also, comments by me are in purple). 

Note: CONTENT WARNING - some of this content is about upsetting, disturbing or triggering events & attitudes. Seek competent help - including professional - if you need it. Content shown in green (which may be only part of a news story) is about what is generally considered “good news”, but personal history may still make such events triggering. Reader caution is recommended.

• “peaceful coexistence is not ‘utopia’ but reality, says UN official fostering intercultural dialogue” (UN);    “as Twitter burns we must not forget it is people that create social movements, not apps ... the dominant narrative is that all social media is bad, but this overlooks its powerful democratising and liberatory potential” (TG);   “UN chief calls for global ‘alliance of peace’ recognising inclusion and richness of diversity” (UN);   “from COVID to carbon, the world has simply given up” (TND);   neuroscience has proved powerful people have blind spots (TG);  
  
• on the CLIMATE CRISIS (noting the UNFCCC) and ENVIRONMENT (noting multiple  international agreements): 
• “it’s time to add climate change and net-zero emissions to the RBA’s top 3 economic goals” (TC);  
  
• on the now completed COP27:   after 30 years of trying, a loss and damage fund has (F24) been (TG) created (TC) for rich nations to help poorer nations - and South Africa's transition away from coal may be an early beneficiary, albeit one with considerable challenges (AP);   “the 1.5C climate goal died at COP27 – but hope must not” (TG) - see also here (TND);   an opinion the COPs aren’t working (TG);   20,000 people died in Europe's 2022 heatwaves (TG);  
  
• electric vehicles will become cheaper in Australia (TG);   Australia “is now 1.47˚C hotter than it was in 1910 and sea levels around the coastline are rising at an accelerating rate” (TG);   a proposed coalmine in Australia has been rejected as it will infringe the human rights of future generations (TG);  
  
• Spain will attempt to improve recycling (DW);   possible solutions to air pollution in one city n India (DW);   supermarkets in Australia will cooperate to try to find a solution to the problem of a failed soft plastic recycle scheme (SBS);  
  
  
• on the COVID-19 PANDEMIC (noting WHO advice, Article 12 of the ICESCR, and public emergency provisions of the ICCPR and the ICESCR) and other health matters: 
• “WHO convenes experts to identify new pathogens that could spark pandemics” (UN);   more resistance to the COVID zero policy of China (TG) - where cases have hit a record high (F24);   the fourth COVID wave will likely peak before the end of the year (TG);  
  
  
• on NATURAL and OTHER DISASTERS (noting Article 1(3) of the UN Charter): 
  
• the growing humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC (DW), and needs in Yemen (UN);   earthquakes in Indonesia (TND, and here (WP [$])) and the Solomon (TND) Islands (TG);   a factory fire in China (F24);   funds are being sought to fight cholera in Haiti (UN);   the ongoing floods in Australia (TG) - see also here (TND), and here (TND);  
  
  
• on Rashist  Putin and his cronies’ ILLEGAL (it is contrary to Chapters VI and VII of the UN Charter  and international law [and the 1928 Pact of Paris which was successfully used in post-WW2 trials], and possibly includes conduct contrary to the "laws" of war and international humanitarian law (IHL)) INVASION of UKRAINE: 
• on military matters:   another prisoner exchange (F24);   
• on the nuclear (weapons and power) situations:   a nuclear power plant has been shelled, and claims made of Ukrainian troops killing Russian soldiers trying to surrender (TG); 
  
• internationally:   thanks to Thailand’s efforts, most (Russia and CHina are also members) Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) members have condemned Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine (F24);   criticism of the EU’s move to declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism (quotes in the article suggest sanctions would be more effective) (DW);   Russia’s attacks have also harmed Moldova (TND);  
   
• on INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (noting the UN Charter [particularly Chapters VI and VII] and numerous  international  treaties): 
• noting particularly Chapters VI and VII of the UN Charter, the 1928 Pact of Paris used in post-WW2 trials, the "laws" of war and IHL and Article 20 of the ICCPR on WAR / CONFLICT:   after air strikes (F24) by Türkiye against Kurds in Syria, that nation’s President Erdoğan has threatened (F24) a ground invasion (is Erdoğan the world’s next potential Putin?);   the “Colombian government [has resumed] formal peace talks with [the] ELN rebel group” (F24);   “DPRK missile launch ‘latest in a series of alarming activities’ – UN political chief” (UN);   a consideration on how to develop peace in Tigray and Ethiopia (ICG);  
  
• incidents / action of concern in/regarding:   Kosovo (TG),   Kurdistan (DW) - see also here (F24),   Mali (rfi),   West Africa (R);
   
• on CORRUPTION (noting international  agreements and monitoring), MISGOVERNANCE, MAL-/MIS-/NON-FEASANCE, MISCONDUCT and THREATS TO DEMOCRACY/FREEDOM: 
• a warning that “far-right extremism and regressive governments can spark violence across the political spectrum” (PVG);   a warning the USA could still become a fascist nation (TG);   “threats of violence in my home state's election, and grotesque ignorance and false equivalence by FIFA” (blog post by me);   an opinion that, after a scathing report, Qld police have been let off with a mild talking to (I agree with that: the response has focused on doing constructive things, but there is a perception that there has been no holding to account - i.e., no justice served) (TG);   growing concerns (TG) over a violent “discontinued” arrest by NSW police which left a frail and well street figure (courts have previously criticised police behaviour towards this person) in hospital with serious injuries - and over the proposed internal “investigation” (TG);   an opinion that “BHP and Rio Tinto-funded advocacy continues to subvert democracy” (this is consistent with other articles I have read - particularly on SLAPPs - and general perception, IMO) (ACCR);   a The Guardian exclusive reports that “farmers’ group attended departmental meeting about grasslands clearing despite officials’ warnings”;  more (TG) scathing (ABC) assessments of the conduct of former PM Scott;  
  
• concerns around past/current/potential corruption/misgovernance also in   Australia (TG),   Australia (TG),   Australia (TND),   Australia (TG),   Zimbabwe (MG);
  
  
• on DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE (noting Article 25 of the ICCPR and monitoring  projects): 
• globally:   “Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said the New Zealand government will draft legislation to change the voting age to 16, after a landmark supreme court ruling that the existing age of 18 was discriminatory and breached the human rights of young people” (TG) - the decision is explained here (TC), and this looks at the possibility of the same here, in Australia (TND);   the problem of power struggles behind Wikipedia articles (TC);   Taiwan is voting (ABC);   an attempted coup in Sao Tome has failed (Barrons);  
  
• in Australia:   an opinion that “Australia needs a super profits tax – on banks” (I haven’t thought of or on this before, but the arguments are, IMO, reasonable - well worth considering) (TG);   we have moved closer to a national anti-corruption body (TG);   an examination of why the conservative party in my home state keeps hooking up with extremists (I've published other links on this topic in other posts - too many track down now) (TC) - see also this (TND);   “having a job is no longer a shield against poverty in Australia” (TG);   inequality, the climate crisis, and inflation are threatening Australia’s social cohesion (TG);   the “ParentsNext” programme, which suspended one mother for not attending an activity when her son was in hospital and has not been ended as promised by the new Albanese government, has been described as a “scandal” (TG);   “Senators from opposite ends of the political spectrum united this week in cautioning against allowing Australians to self-identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ahead of the Voice to Parliament referendum” (TND);   “privatisation has failed. Australia needs to ditch the ‘incentives’ rhetoric and simply spend money on things we need” (TG);  
  
• suppression of dissent / media in   Hong Kong (TND),   Zimbabwe (TEA);
  democracy is also at risk in   UK (Scotland) (TG); 
  
  
• on HUMAN RIGHTS (noting the various rights and treaties summarised here, IHL, Article 5 of the Rome Statute founding the ICC): 
• “protesters in Iran have set on fire the ancestral home of the Islamic republic's founder” (I can understand this being done out of the rage that Iran's repression has caused, but it is likely to enrage the hardliners, rather than lead to change) (F24);   an Iranian sport team may face reprisals for not singing their national anthem at an international sporting event as a gesture of solidarity with protestors in Iran (TG) - and this heavy-handed warning arrest has been made (TG);   40 protestors have been killed in the last week (UN), and celebrities showing solidarity are being arrested (TG);   the UN Human Rights Council has launched an investigation into human rights abuses in Iran’s suppression of the protests (UN);   a Sudanese woman’s experience has parallels with the situation that led to the protests in Iran (TG);  
  
• as hypocritical (TC) FIFA shows (F24) what (TG) horrors they are - and (of FFS Qatar! What utter BS to claim that was to protect the person against other LGBTIQA+phobes in the stadium from other, more decent, more progressive nations) (TG) Qatar (TG) also (TND), the FIFA celebration of Qatari human rights abuses will be boycotted by some bars that normally show sporting events (DW);   one team have held their hands over their mouths before a match to indicate how FIFA has silenced them (TND);  
  
• the UN Committee Against Torture is questioning Australia (it is time for our periodic questioning) over “youth and immigration detention, Indigenous incarceration and Aboriginal deaths in custody”, with “the over-representation of Aboriginal people in detention” described as “horrific” (ABC);   a social media platform is being sued over “collecting personal data to target adverts” (TG);   the need for support of the families of those who have died by suicide (this should also include family of choice - i.e., friends) (TC);   another mass shooting in the USA (TND);   more concerns about a social media platform not acting to shut down the advocacy for and propagation of violence (M) - see also this (TG);   a US police force may start using robots capable of killi9ng people (are they not killing enough people already??!!) (TG);  
  
• human rights are at risk or abuses have also occurred in:   Australian mainstream media (TG),   Saudi Arabia (UN),   Kashmir (MRG);
  
• violence in:   the Philippines (HRW),   Israel (F24),   Chad (news24),   eastern DRC (NA),   Sudan (ST);
  
  
• noting the GENOCIDE  Convention:   a call for Korea to take a lead in Asia (and the world) in dealing with the genocidal regime in power in Burma (UN);   Germany is proposing to extend the ban on Holocaust denial to all denials of crimes against humanity (DW);    
  
  
• noting the conventions and the Global Compact on REFUGEES:   the lost decade of refugees held in jails by Australia (TG);  
  
  
• noting the Yogyakarta Principles on LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE:   another anti-LGBTIQA+ mass shooting in the USA (TND) - and, as the father of the alleged killer shows himself to be a savage bigot, this “shooting shows why Australia must reform hate crime laws” (TC) - see also this (TG), this (TG), and this (M);   a notoriously bigotted US Supreme Court “Justice” is being urged by former members of her religious group to recuse herself from an LGBTIQA+ rights case because of her bigotry (TG);   record elected LGBTIQA+ representation in one US state (TG);   a rebuttal of the lie that the equal marriage quote and abandonment of TGD people was necessary (Star);   the BBC is continuing its transphobic hate campaign (M);   a notorious bigot’s attack on TGD people has been rebutted by a former-teacher Senator (QN);   past NSW police abuses of LGBTIQA+ victims of assaults (QN);  
  more LGBTIQA+ issues:   Iceland (Openly),   Italy (good news) (Openly),   Russia (TG);
  
  
• noting ICERD and DRIP on RACISM:   an example of failure to take action against racism in a school (M);   condemnation (NIT) of a brutal attack by an unmuzzled police dog on an Indigenous child - and a possible pattern (TG);   “Uncle Archie and Aunty Ruby to be honoured with Fitzroy statue” (SBS);   criticism of the favourable treatment given a NT police officer who shot and killed an Indigenous man (TND) as a former senior police officer characterises failure to investigate complaints of excessive force as corruption (TG);   sacred rock carvings stolen and subsequently displayed in museums will be returned to Tasmania (TG);   a Newtonian-“thinking” proposal for more police instead of fixing the problem (TG);  
  
  
• noting CEDAW on SEXISM:    a rape case against a police officer had no reasonable chance of conviction (this is possibly best viewed as a criticism of the family violence unit being too keen, perhaps?) (TG);   “why there are fears a campaign for menstrual leave could be derailed” (SBS);   sexual and other abuses of female protestors in Zimbabwe (YT - AI);   a female sports star has been promoting gender-inclusive period pride (ABC);   India is undercounting femicides (DW);   “survivors of gender-based violence should be encouraged to speak up and not be ashamed about their experiences” (DW);   “survivors of rape often do not report the crime to the police. A model project in Germany helps them to preserve evidence that can be used up to 10 years later, if they opt to take legal action at a later stage” (DW) - see also this (F24);  
  more sexism issues:   Spain (TG);
  
  
• noting Article 6 (4) (5) (6) of the ICCPR,   this, and this on the DEATH PENALTY:   “an Algerian court [has] sentenced 49 people to death over the lynching of a man falsely accused of starting deadly forest fires ... [but] has, however, maintained a moratorium on carrying out death sentences since the last executions in 1993” (F24);  
  
  
• noting the CRC on CHILDREN:   “many children repatriated from detention camps for [violent extremist] suspects and their families in northeast Syria are successfully reintegrating in their home countries” (HRW);  
  
  
• noting the CRPD on PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES:   the need for “people to get out of their bubbles long enough to show they care” (TG);   NDIS funding helps recipients work and make a contribution to the economy (TG);    gag laws are restricting the presence of Australians living under state control to the Royal Commission (TG);  
  
  
• noting Articles 6 (1), 7, and 8 (see here) of the ICESCR,   Article 5 (e) (i) (ii) (see here and here) of the ICERD,   Article 11 (1) (a - c) of the CEDAW,   and   Article 27 (1) of the CRPD on WORK and FAVOURABLE WORK CONDITIONS:   an examination of the right to strike (TND);   the problem of unpaid overtime (YT);   
   
• suggestions of drinking eight glasses of water per person per day have no evidentiary basis, and may be wasting water (TG); 
• concerns about the extent of early childhood education (TG);  
  

(Should you elect to write to your elected representatives or others on these matters, it may be useful to familiarise yourself with the links shown in blue - or to at least refer to them. Don't forget to CHECK whether your nation has RATIFIED the treaty concerned.)

Abbreviations:   Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project - ACLED;   Aeon Magazine - Aeon;   Africa Centre for Strategic Studies - ACSS;   Africa News - AN;   Al Jazeera - AJ;   Amnesty International - AI;   Associated Press - AP;   Australian Associated Press - AAP;   Australian Broadcasting Corporation - ABC;   Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility - ACCR;   Australian Independent Media Network - AIMN;   Australian Unions - AU;   Barrons;   Bellingcat (B);   Bloomberg - BB;   Brisbane Times - BT;   British Broadcasting Commission - BBC;   Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists - BAS;   Cable News Network - CNN;   Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - CBC;   Centre for Strategic and International Studies - CSIS;   Committee to Protect Journalists - CPJ;   Context - CT;   the (US) Council on Foreign Relations (CFR);   Crikey - C [$];   Dabanga Sudan - DS;   Deutsche Welle - DW;   European Union - EU;   Forbes - F;   Foreign Policy - FP;   France 24 - F24;   Freedom House - FH;   Genocide Watch - GW;   Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect - GCR2P;   Globe Echo - GE;   HumAngle - HmA;   Human Rights Law Centre - HRLC;   Human Rights Watch - HRW;   Independent Australia - IA;   International Crisis Group - ICG;   Just Equal - JE;   Lawfare Blog - LFB;   Lowy Institute - The Interpreter - Lowy;   Mail & Guardian - MG;   mainstream media - MSM;   Medium - M;   Michael West (news media platform) - MW;   Minority Rights Group - MRG;   Mirage News - MN;   Nation Africa - NA;   National Indigenous Television - NITV;   National Indigenous Times - NIT;   New York Times - NYT [$];   News24;   North Africa Post - NAP;   Out in Perth - OiP;   Pearls and Irritations - PnI;   Political Violence at a Glance - PVG;   Politico - P;   Premium Times Nigeria - PT;   Q News - QN;   Quartz - Q;   Radio France International - rfi;   Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE);   Reuters - R;   Robert Reich - RR;   (Bruce) Schneier - Sch;   Special Broadcasting Service - SBS;   Star Observer - Star;   Sudan Tribune - ST;   Sydney Morning Herald - SMH;   The Age - TA;   The Big Smoke (TBS);   The East African - TEA;   The Guardian - TG;   The Monthly - TM;   The National Tribune - tNT;   The New Daily - TND;   The Saturday Paper - TSP;   The Sentry - TS;   The Shot - TS;   Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA;   United Nations - UN;   Voice of America - VoA;   Wall Street Journal - WSJ [$];   War on the Rocks - WotR;   Washington Post - WP [$];   Wikipedia - WP;   Yahoo News - Yahoo; YouTube - YT.  

Finally, remember: in general, we need to be more human being rather than human doing.