Things to consider when planning an Action
Give yourself time. At least a month planning, preferably. This is especially important for nourishing a regenerative culture. It also allows you to sit with ideas and reflect and develop them without rushing into things
This is not an exhaustive list but covers the main headings it will be useful to think about before reaching out for helpType of Action
Spicy/Family friendly, Press/Media impact, Creative, March, Rally, Occupation
Openness
It is best to tell everyone what you are doing – there is huge power in telling the government, the police and the media where you will be and when, and then doing it. This is an act of pure defiance. We are too many to stop. We are reclaiming our power. It is also respectful to give members of the public /city transport management due warning of disruption so they can choose to not drive their car/take another route. Recognize important routes where access needs to be clear for emergency vehicles. We aim to disrupt, but not to harm.
There may be different levels of OPENNESS in the planning of an action and within parts of an action:- COMPLETELY OPEN All parts advertised on social media, best for mass-mobilisation
- COMBINATION OF OPEN AND CLOSED This is the main model used in XR – a hybrid of the effective elements of mass mobilisation and high disruption. Actions are openly advertised ( e.g a mass rally out- side Parliament) with certain parts that are co-ordinated secretly by Affinity Groups (e.g like the location of particular roadblocks.)
- CLOSED All aspects hidden due to need for surprise. Rebels take closer care with their secure communication channels. We recommend this for high risk actions. Please consider seriously the potential for public backlash and ask for feedback from other trusted rebels/ contact the national Media and Messaging team for advice on a channel through media@rebellion.earth
Support from Back Office
- If there is any likelyhood of arrests happening during the action, then inform the Back Office team so that your rebels can be supported.
Numbers
Think about NUMBERS when planning:
- How many rebels are needed?
- How will you reach out to them?
- How many public do you expect to be there?
- How can more people be involved?
- What roles carry the risk of arrest?
- What can you achieve with the number of rebels you have?
- Has everyone done an NVDA (Nonviolent Direct Action) training and/or other trainings? Highly advised! Contact your local XR to find out when trainings are going on.
Location and Timing
Think about LOCATION when planning:
- Always do a reccie! Scout the location out thoroughly, preferably at the same time of day as when your action will take place.
- How does your chosen location fit with your narrative?
- Does it gain publicity?
- Does it cause effective disruption if that is your aim? Who are you disrupting?
- Will disruption be to influential people more than public; is it an influential area?
- Which parts of the area / terrain are public, or private, or a highway?
- Are you blocking any emergency service access, e.g. near to a hospital or firestation? (Don’t!)
- What will police presence be like / are there private security there?
- What legal implications will the location incur? Is there a byelaw in place? What different criminal charges could there be depending on exactly where it happens?
- How will you publicize the location? Do you meet up at the location you are disrupting; or meet in a publicized location and keep the area you want to disrupt secret?
- Have you considered all possible scenarios and how you might deal with them? E.g. heavier security for a building than you anticipated, dense public presence that is in the space you want to use, another event or blockage already occurring etc.