With our Show the Love day of action for divestment not far away, get inspired by these awesome actions from across the UK in 2015…
1. Film Screenings
With the release of This Changes Everything in September came film screenings up and down the country. Over 50 screenings of Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis’ documentary took place in just a couple of months – happening in living rooms, community centres and cinemas everywhere.
Film screenings are a great mobilising tool – they provoke discussion and debate, and bring lots of new people in to our movement. If you’re interested in screening a film as part of Show the Love, email ellen@350.org for advice on what to screen and how to organise it.
2. Occupations
2015 saw some serious escalation from university campaigns across the country. After Edinburgh University rejected divestment, students went into occupation on their campus for ten days, sparking a reversal in the university’s decision.
We also saw occupations from Oxford alumni and, most recently, UCL students who used their occupation to host workshops and talks, and still made it to D12 straight afterwards. Check out this blog from the UCL students explaining why they chose to occupy.
Although occupations aren’t always appropriate, at their most powerful they can be a real game-changer. If you want some advice about whether now is the time to escalate, check out our Divestment Campaigning Guide for handy tips.
3. Street Theatre
Global Divestment Day last year saw flashmobs and protest theatre take off in the movement globally. Here in the UK, there were die-ins, an oily Boris flashmob and multiple weddings, producing some of the best (and occasionally most embarrassing) visuals of the year. Street theatre is powerful stuff when done right – the videos and photos can go viral, and using humour is a great way of conveying your message simple and effectively.
Check out this awesome video of a piece of street theatre from Oxford University Fossil Free for an example:
4. Big Banner Drops
Want to put your message out to the world? How about dropping a ginormous banner from a public landmark…
Banners are a ubiquitous part of activism, and for good reason – there’s nothing like a white sheet and a catchy slogan to spread the word about divestment. 2015 saw some particularly ambitious and beautiful banners.
Handy hint: to make a really neat banner, get hold of a projector and trace the design onto your material, rather than drawing it freehand!
5. Inflatables
Last but not least… who could forget inflatable activism! 2015 really was the Year of the Inflatables, with giant cobblestones invading the streets of London and Paris, and (literal) carbon bubbles visible across the world.
Artúr from Tools for Action – the organisation behind the infamous cobblestones – explains that inflatables are, “a secret weapon of tactical frivolity: they transform a protest in a highly interactive and playful event, make it hard to control and all at the same time, they can physically protect people from a police baton.”
Want to make your own inflatable for an action? Check out this tutorial on making a ‘carbon bubble.’
Get involved with our Show the Love day of action by registering or joining your local event – see you in February!