2006-11-10T15:48:00.000-08:00

THE METHODS OF NONVIOLENT ACTION
By Dr. Gene Sharp

From
The Albert Einstein Institution
(File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat)

THE METHODS OF NONVIOLENT PROTEST AND PERSUASION

FORMAL STATEMENTS
1. Public speeches
2. Letters of opposition or support
3. Declarations by organizations and institutions
4. Signed public declarations
5. Declarations of indictment and intention
6. Group or mass petitions
COMMUNICATIONS WITH A WIDER AUDIENCE
7. Slogans, caricatures, and symbols
8. Banners, posters, and displayed communications
9. Leaflets, pamphlets, and books
10. Newspapers and journals
11. Records, radio, and television
12. Skywriting and earthwriting
GROUP REPRESENTATIONS
13. Deputations
14. Mock awards
15. Group lobbying
16. Picketing
17. Mock elections
SYMBOLIC PUBLIC ACTS
18. Displays of flags and symbolic colours
19. Wearing of symbols
20. Prayer and worship
21. Delivering symbolic objects
22. Protest disrobings
23. Destruction of own property
24. Symbolic lights
25. Displays of portraits
26. Paint as protest
27. New signs and names
28. Symbolic sounds
29. Symbolic reclamations
30. Rude gestures
PRESSURES ON INDIVIDUALS
31. "Haunting" officials
32. Taunting officials
33. Fraternization
34. Vigils
DRAMA AND MUSIC
35. Humourous skits and pranks
36. Performances of plays and music
37. Singing
PROCESSIONS
38. Marches
39. Parades
40. Religious processions
41. Pilgrimages
42. Motorcades
HONOURING THE DEAD
43. Political mourning
44. Mock funerals
45. Demonstrative funerals
46. Homage at burial places
PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES
47. Assemblies of protest or support
48. Protest meetings
49. Camouflaged meetings of protest
50. Teach-ins
WITHDRAWAL AND RENUNCIATION
51. Walk-outs
52. Silence
53. Renouncing honours
54. Turning one's back

THE METHODS OF SOCIAL NONCOOPERATION

OSTRACISM OF PERSONS
55. Social boycott
56. Selective social boycott
57. Lysistratic nonaction
58. Excommunication
59. Interdict
NONCOOPERATION WITH SOCIAL EVENTS, CUSTOMS, AND INSTITUTIONS
60. Suspension of social and sports activities
61. Boycott of social affairs
62. Student strike
63. Social disobedience
64. Withdrawal from social institutions
WITHDRAWAL FROM THE SOCIAL SYSTEM
65. Stay-at-home
66. Total personal noncooperation
67. "Flight" of workers
68. Sanctuary
69. Collective disappearance
70. Protest emigration (hijrat)

THE METHODS OF ECONOMIC NONCOOPERATION: ECONOMIC BOYCOTTS

ACTION BY CONSUMERS
71. Consumers' boycott
72. Nonconsumption of boycotted goods
73. Policy of austerity
74. Rent withholding
75. Refusal to rent
76. National consumers' boycott
77. International consumers' boycott
ACTION BY WORKERS AND PRODUCERS
78. Workers' boycott
79. Producers' boycott
ACTION BY MIDDLEMEN
80. Suppliers' and handlers' boycott
ACTION BY OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
81. Traders' boycott
82. Refusal to let or sell property
83. Lockout
84. Refusal of industrial assistance
85. Merchants' "general strike"
ACTION BY HOLDERS OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES
86. Withdrawal of bank deposits
87. Refusal to pay fees, dues, and assessments
88. Refusal to pay debts or interest
89. Severance of funds and credit
90. Revenue refusal
91. Refusal of a government's money
ACTION BY GOVERNMENTS
92. Domestic embargo
93. Blacklisting of traders
94. International sellers' embargo
95. International buyers' embargo
96. International trade embargo

THE METHODS OF ECONOMIC NONCOOOPERATION: THE STRIKE

SYMBOLIC STRIKES
97. Protest strike
98. Quickie walkout (lightning strike)
AGRICULTURAL STRIKES
99. Peasant strike
100. Farm workers' strike
STRIKES BY SPECIAL GROUPS
101. Refusal of impressed labour
102. Prisoners' strike
103. Craft strike
104. Professional strike
ORDINARY INDUSTRIAL STRIKES
105. Establishment strike
106. Industry strike
107. Sympathy strike
RESTRICTED STRIKES
108. Detailed strike
109. Bumper strike
110. Slowdown strike
111. Working-to-rule strike
112. Reporting "sick" (sick-in)
113. Strike by resignation
114. Limited strike
115. Selective strike
MULTI-INDUSTRY STRIKES
116. Generalised strike
117. General strike
COMBINATION OF STRIKES AND ECONOMIC CLOSURES
118. Hartal
119. Economic shutdown

THE METHODS OF POLITICAL NONCOOPERATION

REJECTION OF AUTHORITY
120. Withholding or withdrawal of allegiance
121. Refusal of public support
122. Literature and speeches advocating resistance
CITIZENS' NONCOOPERATION WITH GOVERNMENT
123. Boycott of legislative bodies
124. Boycott of elections
125. Boycott of government employment and positions
126. Boycott of government departments, agencies, and other bodies
127. Withdrawal from governmental educational institutions
128. Boycott of government-supported institutions
129. Refusal of assistance to enforcement agents
130. Removal of own signs and placemarks
131. Refusal to accept appointed officials
132. Refusal to dissolve existing institutions
CITIZENS' ALTERNATIVES TO OBEDIENCE
133. Reluctant and slow compliance
134. Nonobedience in absence of direct supervision
135. Popular nonobedience
136. Disguised disobedience
137. Refusal of an assemblage or meeting to disperse
138. Sitdown
139. Noncooperation with conscription and deportation
140. Hiding, escape, and false identities
141. Civil disobedience of "illegitimate" laws
ACTION BY GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL
142. Selective refusal of assistance by government aides
143. Blocking of lines of command and information
144. Stalling and obstruction
145. General administrative noncooperation
146. Judicial noncooperation
147. Deliberate inefficiency and selective noncooperation by enforcement agents
148. Mutiny
DOMESTIC GOVERNMENTAL ACTION
149. Quasi-legal evasions and delays
150. Noncooperation by constituent governmental units
INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ACTION
151. Changes in diplomatic and other representation
152. Delay and cancellation of diplomatic events
153. Withholding of diplomatic recognition
154. Severance of diplomatic relations
155. Withdrawal from international organisations
156. Refusal of membership in international bodies
157. Expulsion from international organisations

THE METHODS OF NONVIOLENT INTERVENTION

PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION
158. Self-exposure to the elements
159. The fast
a) Fast of moral pressure
b) Hunger strike
c) Satyagrahic fast
160. Reverse trial
161. Nonviolent harassment
PHYSICAL INTERVENTION
162. Sit-in
163. Stand-in
164. Ride-in
165. Wade-in
166. Mill-in
167. Pray-in
168. Nonviolent raids
169. Nonviolent air raids
170. Nonviolent invasion
171. Nonviolent interjection
172. Nonviolent obstruction
173. Nonviolent occupation
SOCIAL INTERVENTION
174. Establishing new social patterns
175. Overloading of facilities
176. Stall-in
177. Speak-in
178. Guerrilla theatre
179. Alternative social institutions
180. Alternative communication system
ECONOMIC INTERVENTION
181. Reverse strike
182. Stay-in strike
183. Nonviolent land seizure
184. Defiance of blockades
185. Politically motivated counterfeiting
186. Preclusive purchasing
187. Seizure of assets
188. Dumping
189. Selective patronage
190. Alternative markets
191. Alternative transportation systems
192. Alternative economic institutions
POLITICAL INTERVENTION
193. Overloading of administrative systems
194. Disclosing identities of secret agents
195. Seeking imprisonment
196. Civil disobedience of "neutral" laws
197. Work-on without collaboration
198. Dual sovereignty and parallel government

How to Overthrow Corporate Rule in 5 Not-so-easy Steps

From ActionPA.org

Resources and information on fighting corporate power, democratizing our government and freeing people's time. Many people are spending a lot of their time volunteering to stop specific environmental threats, to address a specific labor issue, or to stop various other corporate abuses to our communities. The number of problems seems endless. Isn't there a faster way to save the world?

This page is devoted to those who are interested in getting to the root of society's problems. How nice would it be if our government wasn't answering to their corporate masters, but to community concerns? How much easier would our efforts be if people weren't so overworked and had more time to volunteer? Wouldn't it be great to have the media reporting critically on serious community issues rather than pandering to the the interests of their wealthy owners and advertizers?

These are the reforms that make other reforms possible. If fighting for institutional change is too difficult for you, jump down to the section on personal things you can do to consume less.

#1 Take away their money:

Stop Privatization / Re-Socialize Systems
Privatized systems mean that corporations get to profit from providing important social services which could be provided by (hopefully democratically-controlled) public bodies. Get involved in efforts to stop privitization of schools, municipal water/sewer systems, trash collection or other social services. Better yet, get involved in efforts to put services like health care or electric power under public control.
White Paper on Privatization
Polaris Institute
Public Services International Research Unit

Boycott / Protest Big Corporations
Withdraw your support from large corporations by consuming less and supporting local, small businesses when possible.
Corporate Dirt Archives (learn what's wrong with specific corporations)
What should I buy?? (personal things you can do to consume less)

Fight Corporate "Wealthfare"
Get corporations off the public dole and work to stop subsidy abuse by opposing things like public funding for private stadiums, excessive and unneeded highway projects and other tax breaks, subsidies and bailouts which are not in the public interest. Welfare is for people, not corporations!
Corporate Welfare Information Center

#2 Electoral/democracy:

Instant Runoff Voting
Don't let the government make you pick the "lesser of two evils" when you vote. With instant runoff voting, you can vote your conscience without fear by picking your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices (and so on). Start by putting this electoral process into practice on the local level - in your town, county or state.
Center for Voting and Democracy
Instant Run-Off.com (sign up to their national email list and locate other email lists and state campaign on their in your state page)
Try out IRV here

Public Financing of Elections
Get corporate money out of our elections!
Corporate Control of Government (the basics on public campaign financing)
Public Campaign (a national group working to get private/corporate money out of our elections)
Researching Your Politicians (info on who is funding your politicians plus resources on corporate control of elections)

Ballot Access / 3rd Parties
Support efforts to help 3rd parties get on the ballot and challenge the two corporate parties!
Green Party
Ballot Access News

Initiative and Referendum
Put more decisions directly in the hands of the voters. If your state doesn't allow initiative and referendum, join others to pass a law to allow for it. If you already have it in your state, get involved with ballot initiatives and use it to press for further democracy measures.
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center
Initiative & Referendum Institute / Ballot Watch

Democratize Media
The majority of all media in the U.S. is now owned by only six mega-corporations. Join movements to democratize media. Democracy is impossible without being able to hear voices of dissent.
Media Reform Information Center

Democratize your University
Colleges and universities are increasingly being controlled by corporate interests for their own gain. Work with others to pry education out of the corporate grip.
180: The Movement for Democracy and Education

#3 Structural attacks:

Local ordinances which attack corporate rights
Work on the local or state level to exert the rights of people over corporations.
Challenging Corporate Authority (Part of the Alliance for Democracy's Campaign to Transform the Corporation)
Anti-Corporate Success Stories (ReclaimDemocracy.org)
CELDF Corporations & Democracy Program

Getting Corporations out of our Grade Schools
Throughout the U.S., local school boards are the easiest public office to run for and win. Take over your local school board if necessary and work to get corporate influence out of public schools.
Commercialism in Education Research Unit

Fighting Global Corporatization
Think globally, act locally! Build community awareness of "free trade" agreements and hold your congressperson and senators accountable for their votes. Pass "WTO-free zone" resolutions and other local expressions of opposition to trade agreements which would trump the rights of local and state governments to protect citizens from corporate abuses. If you can, act globally as well by gathering people to go with you to rallies and protests against major global corporatization conferences.
Global Trade Watch
Global Exchange
Mobilization for Global Justice
Independent Media Centers
Protest.net

#4 Human/worker rights:

30 Hour Work Week
30 hours work for 40 hours pay! Thanks to union organizing in years past, we now have the weekend, 8 hour work-days and 40 hour work weeks. In 1933, the 30 hour work week nearly became law when both the U.S. Senate and House passed it only to have it vetoed by President Roosevelt (who later regretted doing so). Sharing the work reduces unemployment and gives working people more personal time, which can free people up for move civic engagement.
Center for a New American Dream
Downsizing vs. Timesizing
The Free Time / Free People Project
"The End of Work" book by Jeremy Rifkin

Universal Health Care
Make the 30 hour work week possible by making health care a right (covering all people through one "single-payer" governmental system), not a privilege (where just certain working people are covered through multiple bureaucratic insurance corporations) and removing the incentive for corporations to avoid hiring full time workers.
Physicians for a National Health Program
Everybody In Nobody Out
Universal Health Care Action Network
Just Health Care Campaign (Labor Party)
Health Care Action Group (Alliance for Democracy)

#5 Redesign Corporations:

Take away their personhood; Roll back their rights and definitions;
Revoke corporate charters. Work towards the day when our states attorneys general revoke the charters of offending corporations and when state legislatures change their incorporation codes, rolling back the "rights" of corporations to where they used to be.
Fixing Corporations--Part 1: Legacy Of The Founding Parents
Fixing Corporations--Part 2: Corporations For The Seventh Generation
Program on Corporations, Law & Democracy (POCLAD)
Ending Corporate Governance
Reclaim Democracy
The Divine Right of Capital

"What should I buy??"

FromActionPA.org

How do I avoid supporting so many bad things when I buy stuff??
A mini-guide to a more sustainable lifestyle.

TradeLocal (www.tradelocal.org) puts out a booklet called "A Citizen's Guide to Buying Locally - Positive Alternatives to Global Corporatization." Call them at 804-760-8628 to order a copy. Also, Co-op America (www.coopamerica.org) has useful catalogs and other info on "socially responsible" products.

In general, here's what you can do to avoid consumerism and withdraw support from the worst of corporate behaviors:

* Don't watch TV

* Buy only what you NEED; don't buy things on impulse / don't "shop" - just buy what you went for

* Take your own bag; refuse to take paper or plastic disposable bags (a receipt is all you need)

* Never buy anything in plastic number 3 or 6 (3 is PVC, a chlorinated plastic; 6 is polystyrene, which is also not safe) visit www.ecologycenter.org/iptf/ for background

* Avoid plastic in general; buy things in glass, paper or metal containers when possible; if you must buy plastic, only buy types #1 and #2, for which recycling options are usually available

* Avoid overpackaged goods

* Buy from the most local place possible; avoid stuff from other countries, especially from those with really bad human rights records (basically anyplace but Canada, Japan or Europe)

* Buy from the smallest companies possible (if you've heard of them in advertising, they're probably too big; look on labels to see if they tell you who they're owned by... sometimes they do)

* Observe every boycott you can (visit www.corporations.org/corplist.html to get started)

* Buy recycled/reused goods; buy from dollar stores, flea markets and thrift shops for reused stuff

* Make use of things people throw away (I've obtained some decent furniture, lamps, desks and such by taking home stuff that suburbanites and college students throw out)

* Make major lifestyle choices that minimize the need to consume; help reduce population by choosing not to have kids, to adopt or to stop at one child; live communally

* Look at ingredients in foods and materials in products and avoid anything that you find out is unhealthy or produced in bad ways

* Avoid toxics in products you consume: examples include anti-bacterial (triclosan) soaps, fluoridated water, mercury thermometers, vinyl toys

* Go vegan! (it goes a long way towards saving the environment, your health and the lives of many animals!) If you don't know where to start, try www.veganoutreach.org and www.pcrm.org

* Try to find ways to institutionalize these things (get vegetarian options in your schools, get your local stores to stop carrying mercury thermometers or to start carrying non-fluoridated toothpastes, etc.)

* Sign onto some of the anti-corporate email lists out there, so you can learn what's up and stay on top of corporate activities. You can find lots of good lists at the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) website: www.seac.org/seacnet/ and also at the website of the student anti-corporate movement - "180: The Movement for Democracy and Education" - www.corporations.org/lists/

12 Steps on how to be an Activist

By Stanley Campbell
From Rockrivertimes.com

If you have a yearning in your heart to make life better on this planet, to right some wrong or support some effort large or small, then you are an activist. Instead of feeling frustrated in front of the television set, here's some ways that I've learned to get things done.

1. Speak out about an issue. Don't remain silent, but don't scare people away. Try to express your concern in a positive manner. The world doesn't want you to act, and the rich want you to shop, so God bless the social justice activist! But if you are concerned about the environment, pollution, war, poverty, or the high price of living (or anything else), then speak your mind! Teddy Roosevelt said "do what you can, where you are, with what you have."

2. Find like-minded friends. These won't be your real friends (in fact, your real friends will think you're crazy). Pass a petition and sign people up. Folks who give their name and address may give time, energy and money

3. Find the official(s) in charge. Everything's got somebody in charge, often a chain of command, and you have to find out to whom to address your concerns. Don't demonize them, for often they are as concerned as you. It's not a conspiracy that the world is the way it is. It's just the way it is and it can be changed.

4. A good organizer keeps track of supporters' names, addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, and whatever else comes down the pike. Build that list. Share the work, by sharing your concern. Delegation of work means you trust people to help. That trust will help you get things done.

5. Find people who are working on the same issue. And there's always people working on the same issue who've probably won a few battles, and can tell you a few stories. It's nice not having to reinvent the wheel.

6. Use resources like libraries and the Internet to educate yourself and find national organizations that will support you.

7. Bring in speakers-outside agitators and experts who will enlighten and educate the community as well as the officials. This is a good organizing tool, but don't bust the bank. Find experts who won't demand high fees, but who can share information.

8. Use the media. Make a list of every outlet and try to get personal with the reporters. They are all overworked and appreciate it when someone writes an articulate story for them to use. Don't be afraid of radio talk shows and television cameras. Find spokespeople.

9. Money is no object, but you have to ask for it. Really, this is the richest country in the world, and people will give to a cause if they trust you. So learn how to beg. Find folks who will keep track of the cash. If you need more than $8,000 a year, find a lawyer and set up a tax-exempt organization, or find an existing group that will take on your cause.

10. Get a copy of Robert's "Rules of Order" and learn its spirit. Your meetings will devolve into squabbles or be driven off track unless you learn how to conduct them. Share responsibilities.

11. Celebrate your victories. Use any excuse to have a party, sing some songs, listen to poetry and reflect; all the while, charge admission or pass the hat. Try not to treat people on the other side as "the enemy."

12. Never say no to somebody else's issue. In fact, encourage people to get up from their television sets and make the world a better place.

There's lots of issues. No one thing will bring about redemption, but a whole lot of little steps get us closer to paradise. Good luck!

Stanley Campbell is executive director of Rockford Urban Ministries and spokesman for Rockford Peace & Justice.

What can you do?

From Cool Planet

Oxfam believes that everyone can make a difference – and that includes you!
Here are some ideas about how YOU can work with us to change the world. There are some really simple things you can do to help, or you can get together with your friends and plan something BIG in 2006! Whatever you want to do – it all helps to make the world a fairer and better place.

Things you can do...

> Help every child to go to school with My Friend Needs a Teacher!
> Get involved with C8 and make change happen

> Speak out about why Oxfam's work with poor people around the world is so important

> Buy fair trade

> Wear a white band

> Learn more about what Oxfam wants to change

> Support Oxfam's campaigns

> Bring and buy at your local Oxfam shop

> Recycle your mobile phone

> Raise money for Oxfam

> Tell your teacher

> Be a global citizen!

My Friend Needs a Teacher
Last year, the Send my Friend to School campaign asked people to make paper 'buddies'. Each buddy represented a child who was missing out on an education. The buddies were sent to the world's most influential people to remind them that every child should have the chance to go to school.

A lot of progress has been made but more needs to be done to ensure that every child gets the education they need. One big problem is that there just aren't enough teachers to go round. Find out how you can help to make a teacher!

UNICEF C8 Children's Forum
"We are the world's children… We are children whose voices are not being heard: it is time we are taken into account.”
- Children's Forum - at the UN Special Session on Children

The leaders of the world’s eight richest countries, called the G8, met in Edinburgh on 6-8 July 2005. They discussed all sorts of issues that affect the lives of poor people around the world - issues that ultimately affect us all.

Just before the G8 met, Unicef hosted the C8 - a young person’s version of this G8 meeting. Young campaigners from eight of the world's poorest countries - Bhutan, Cambodia, Moldova, Yemen, Republic of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Bolivia and Lesotho joined young people from G8 countries Russia, France, Italy, Germany and the UK to talk about changes they would like to see the G8 make.

What ideas did the C8 come up with?

What did the G8 promise to do about world poverty?

If you would like to know more about how to get involved, try these links:

Get Active with Unicef

Make Poverty History

Speak out about why Oxfam's work with poor people around the world is important
You and your friends are powerful! You care about things that happen in the world, and you have family and friends who listen to what you think. If you think the amount of pocket money you get is unfair, I bet you tell your friends about it (and maybe even the person who decides how much pocket money you get)… They might sympathise, lend you a little extra money now and then, or maybe you can persuade a parent to give you a bigger allowance!

Speaking out and explaining why you want to change something is the first step to making it happen. If other people agree with you, you are more powerful than if you are on your own. If you care about an issue, talk to your friends and find out if they care too. If you need to, you can use information on Cool Planet to try and persuade them why they should care. And if you can’t convince your friends – speak out anyway! Stand up for what you believe in. It’s the first step to changing the world.

Buy fair trade
You have probably heard of Fair Trade. Fair Trade is when people who grow and produce food (for example coffee and chocolate) and other products (e.g. clothing) are paid a fair price for their work. This helps make sure they have enough money to look after themselves and their families, and also makes sure that they work in safe conditions.

Choose fair trade products if you see them on sale. Look out for the ‘fairtrade mark.’ Find out more about Fair Trade on Cool Planet. Join Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign

Make sure your school canteen sells Fair Trade products, or why not become a Fair Trade school! Check whether your school library has a copy of the Fair Trade School Handbook. If not, get your teacher to order one here. This has all the information you need to make your school Fair Trade.

Or, check out the Fairtrade Foundation website where you can download posters and other materials to help publicise Fair Trade.

If you have your own website, download a banner to show your support for making trade fair.

Wear a white band
In 2005, the white band was worn by over eight million people worldwide! Wearing a white band shows that you care about making the world a fair place. It means that you want to see an end to poverty all over the world.

White Band Day 4 is coming up on 17 October 2006. Do you have your white band ready?

You can either buy the official white bands online, or you could get one from your local Oxfam shop or even make a white band of your own.

Did you get involved with MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY last year? Find out about what you helped to achieve!

Learn more about what Oxfam wants to change
You can’t help change the world unless you understand a bit about the world! Cool Planet contains lots of colourful stories about young people all around the world, and Oxfam’s work in different countries.

Why not explore how children live around the world

Learn about the different countries Oxfam works in

Find out more about Oxfam

Support Oxfam's campaigns
The world is a complicated place – but Oxfam has chosen three issues that we think are very important if we’re to put an end to poverty and unnecessary suffering.

Find out more about Oxfam’s campaigns and how you can get involved.

Make Poverty History– find out why you we’re asking people to work for change in trade, aid and debt relief this year

Control Arms – learn why changes to the arms trade can change millions of lives

Make Trade Fair – global trading rules are unfair and make people poor – learn more here

Bring and buy at your local Oxfam shop
If you live in Great Britain, take your old clothes and books to an Oxfam shop, and get everyone in your family to do the same. Buy things from Oxfam shops. Collect stamps, foreign coins and used phone-cards, and take them into your Oxfam shop.

Many Oxfam shops have recently been given a makeover and have a cool new look. If you haven’t visited yours recently, why not give it a go?

Many of them sell Fair Trade gifts and of course, they still sell second hand goods!

Find out which is your nearest Oxfam shop by using the shop locator on the main Oxfam GB site.

Recycle your mobile phone
Bring Bring! Take your old mobile phone and accessories into any Oxfam shop (please remove SIM cards first). Get your friends to take theirs in too. Each phone recycled makes money for Oxfam.

Or why not organise a collection of mobiles in your school?

Raise money for Oxfam
There are lots of different ways you can raise money for Oxfam, or any other cause you believe in. Get together with your friends and think about fun ways to raise cash!

It could be a sponsored skip, walk, run, lie-down, hop, swim, jump, or whistle…sit in cold gravy for an hour, learn the alphabet backwards, see how long you can keep silent for, make and sell cakes, sweets or friendship bracelets…arrange a disco at your school, persuade teachers to let you have a no-uniform day, charge schoolmates to watch your sports team play against the teachers!

You can probably come up with much better ideas for raising money. Get some more ideas and information about what to do once you have the cash.

Oxfam Unwrapped
Alternatively, you and your mates could get together and choose to buy a gift for a community in a developing country, using Oxfam’s new gift catalogue, Oxfam Unwrapped. Unwrapped allows you to buy cheap or expensive gifts (if you worked together as a school you could afford a massive water tank to provide clean water for thousands of people!). Visit the Oxfam Unwrapped website and find out more.

We have also prepared stories about some of the gifts that people buy through the Oxfam Unwrapped catalogue. Find out more about how Oxfam uses the money it gets from people.

Tell your teacher
We at Oxfam think that you ought to have the chance to learn about global issues at school. That’s why Cool Planet has a special section for teachers, containing lots of free teaching ideas and lesson plans about topics like peace and conflict, environmental issues, clean water, and Fair Trade.

Why not tell your teacher you want to learn more about important global issues, and suggest they have a look on Cool Planet for Teachers to get ideas and support. The web site address is www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet

Be a global citizen!
Being a global citizen doesn’t just mean learning more about the world we live in – but that’s a good place to start! Find out more about other countries and what life is like there. Think about the ways people in other countries are the same as you, and ways in which their lives are different from yours.

It’s always worth remembering that different people have very different lives even in your own street! Around the world there are so many interesting things to discover about people and their lives.

Also remember that people in poorer countries don’t just sit around waiting for people like you to help them. They work hard to get themselves out of poverty. Oxfam always works closely with people living in poverty because we know they have the best solutions to their local problems – it’s just that they may need more money, fairer treatment at work, schools for their children, training and tools, or other support from organisations like Oxfam to help them. Often, what also needs to change are the rules that decide how countries deal with each other.

Being a global citizen is about how you choose to live your life. Do you stand up for people living in poverty? Do you care about whether your actions make life better or worse for other people? Do you think about the products you buy and whether the people who produced them are getting a fair deal? Do you want to get involved, in even the smallest way, in making the world a better place?

We hope the answer is a big YES! And we hope the information on Cool Planet will help you find out more about the world you live in, and how you can change it for the better.

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