Nonviolence News: Student Encampments, Tree-Sit Against Tesla & Forest Defenders Save Old Growth

Student Encampments, Tree-Sit Against Tesla & Forest Defenders Save Old Growth

Editor's Note From Rivera Sun

Over 2,000 people have been arrested amidst student encampments calling upon US universities and colleges to divest from Israeli companies or weapons makers due to the ongoing assault on Gaza. Evergreen College divested; Portland State University paused its ties with Boeing. Others (Brown, Smith, Northwestern, University of Minnesota) have made agreements with the students to disclose investments and discuss divestment. University of Texas faculty went on strike in support of their student protesters. Several, including Emory, Columbia, and City College, have called local law enforcement in to arrest students and disperse the encampments. Police in Washington, DC, refused George Washington University's request to evict the encampment. Most (not all) demonstrations have remained peaceful and/or maintained nonviolent discipline during actions.

In other Nonviolence News, Haida Gwaii is celebrating an important step in affirming First Nation sovereignty after the government of British Columbia formally recognized Haida ownership of all its land across 200 islands. In Oregon, forest defenders declared victory in a 22-day tree sit to stop old growth logging. Net Neutrality was restored, yet again, thanks to a long-standing campaign in the US to keep the Internet open and accessible to all. The LA hotel workers have gained 5 more agreements from hotels, bringing them closer to the tipping point for their 100-hotel campaign.

Here's a few stories that you may not have heard yet: a tree-sit in Germany is trying to halt a Tesla Gigafactory due to water and environmental issues. An Indigenous-led effort has gotten the permit yanked on one of the largest industrial sites in New York. Australians marched in the thousands against a spate of killings of women that have people calling for more women's equality and tougher laws on gender-based violence. Niger demonstrated against US troops in its tumultuous bid for sovereignty that ousted French troops last year.

In our Knowledge Section, there are several articles worth lingering over. One is a set of take-away lessons from the 11-year-long struggle to gain justice after a Bangladesh apartment building collapsed, killing and injuring thousands. Another looks inside Tibetan resistance. A third gives you a glimpse inside the electrifying Labor Notes conference that brought over 4,700 workers together.

Find the complete round-up of Nonviolence News here>>

Nonviolence News exists to help us see the breadth and depth of nonviolent action happening in our world. By finding dozens of stories from as many sources, we bring awareness to the courageous actions of people like ourselves who are working to make a difference.There's no other news source that helps us see our world in this way ... even while nonviolent action catches headlines and drives some of the most important news trends of our times. Enjoy the bird's eye view that Nonviolence News offers us on the transformative power of this field of actions, practices, and skills.

In solidarity,
Rivera Sun