Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day and others saw that sometimes a situation calls for action rather than words. Many of us in the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC) are feeling that now is such a time. We are planning some specific nonviolent direct actions (NvDA) soon. We note that all successful movements have incorporated NvDA, otherwise known as peaceful civil resistance, as a way of symbolically highlighting the importance of the issues at stake.

To prepare for the coming actions, ARRCC is hosting some one-day workshops with facilitators from Pace e Bene who specialise in NvDA skills development and the spirituality of non-violence.

At the workshop we will review several ways we may take action against injustice, while remaining compassionate and nonviolent. This is not only about civil disobedience. You may simply want to learn more about civil resistance and explore whether or not you want to participate in some way. This will be a safe environment, with plenty of opportunity to raise questions and concerns.

Suggested donation: $50 or $15 concession (However, price is not a barrier – contact us.)

Date: Saturday, 18 March, 9.30 for a 10 am start, finishing at 4 pm

Where: The Den, Urban Seed, 116 Little Bourke St, Melbourne.

Co-facilitators: Simon Reeves and Simon Moyle, Pace e Bene

RSVP essential

Enquiries: 02 9150 9713 or [email protected]

(Apologies to our Jewish friends. A Sunday training will be considered if there are expressions of interest.)

The content will include the symbolic and strategic role of civil resistance, different roles people can play, the process of ‘getting arrested’ 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 informing participants of actions being planned. These workshops are not a place for debating climate science or for exploring the history and spirituality of civil resistance. The emphasis in this workshop is on ‘getting ready’ to take action.

The facilitators

Simon Reeves

Simon is a community development worker and nonviolent educator. Simon currently works as team leader for Urban Seed in one of Victoria's most socially and economically disadvantaged communities. He has also worked for Pace e Bene Australia as their peace associate for a number of years and over this time engaged in many different nonviolent campaigns for peace and justice. Simon recently completed his Masters in Social Change and Sustainability. He is married to Kaylene and has three young children.

Simon Moyle

Simon lives in the Merri Merri watershed with his wife and four children. He is the elder at GraceTree, a small Christian community who practise hospitality, contemplation, and work with their hands. He is a nonviolence trainer who has run training for groups as diverse as World Vision, Occupy Melbourne, Love Makes A Way and the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. He is also an activist who has been involved in the antiwar, climate, and refugee movements.

Nonviolence in the spiritual traditions

Nonviolence is at the heart of the Gospels and all the major faiths.

“To practice nonviolence, first of all we have to practice it within ourselves.” Thich Nhat Hanh

“You see that the world is going toward destruction and violence. And the specialty of violence is to create hatred among people and to create fear. I am a believer in nonviolence and I say that no peace or tranquillity will descend upon the people of the world until nonviolence is practiced, because nonviolence is love and it stirs courage in people." Abdul Ghaffar Khan

“Love, overflowing with small gestures of mutual care, is also civic and political, and it makes itself felt in every action that seeks to build a better world. Love for society and commitment to the common good are outstanding expressions of a charity.” Laudato Si’, para. 231, Pope Francis

“Unless we use the weapons of the spirit, denying ourselves and taking up our cross and following Jesus, dying with Him and rising with Him, men will go on fighting, and often from the highest motives, believing that they are fighting defensive wars for justice and in self-defence against present or future aggression.” Dorothy Day 

“(There is) enormous power potential inherent in nonviolent action and in resistance to an opponent possessing vastly superior means of violence.” Hannah Arendt