Hunter Valley RAG's  Strategy

The Strategy 
In mid September, HVRAG adopted a strategy designed along the lines of advice
found in the "Resource Manual for a Living Revolution".  The strategy was
suggested by James Langley and adopted by consensus two weeks later.  A copy
was circulated to all participants in HVRAG.

The strategy entailed five stages:
1. cultural preparation
2. negotiations
3. preparation for nonviolent action 
4. nonviolent action
5. quit work, go on holidays.

The time frame was three months, September to mid December.  Stage 1 began
two months before the formulation of the strategy.

Cultural preparation
The following describes the progress as of October  24, 1991.  Many of the
components of stage 1 are ongoing, having begun in June '91.
* Banner hanging: This continued until one particularly windy day in late
September tore our banner in two.  It was repaired by October 22.
* Stalls: An interesting experience here.  The only regular market in inner
city Newcastle is mostly a trash and treasure affair.  Stalls at these
markets were particularly unsuccessful for this RAG.  No money was earned,
no-one talks to us and no new participants have come forward.  So, the group
have moved to change the style of the stall.  The aim is to move into more
populated public places.  The regulations regarding the city mall and large
shopping centres preclude any merchandising.  The construction of mobile
displays is underway.
* Library Displays: Displays were sent to all public and high school
libraries last month.  We received, thank-yous from high school librarians.
* Speakers: No invitations to speak have come forward.
* Stamp on building applications: A council election on September 14 has
stuffed up our schedule on this one, but we're still working on it.
* Mailouts: 100 mailouts were posted in early October to architects and
draftspeople.  450 mailouts were posted in early October to building
contractors.  No feedback as of October 24.  No return to senders either.
* T-shirts: Sale of T-shirts has been the primary income for HVRAG.  One
activist generated $250.  A mailout to other RAG's has attracted interest in
a further $200 worth. 
* Media: 'In Touch' column in local free newspaper has been advertising HVRAG
meetings.  No actions, no media.

Negotiations 
The real sting in this campaign, we hope, will be with the direct actions on
timber retailers who refuse to "cooperate with our campaign to minimise
rainforest timber consumption in the Hunter Valley."  We will use the direct
actions to raise the level of conflict publicly.

We will begin negotiation with rainforest timber traders with a letter.  The
letter is to be posted two weeks after the last mail out to all the building
contractors, etc.  As of October 24, the letters are in their envelopes ready
to be accepted by activists.  There are twenty-nine timber retailers in the
Newcastle area.  The letters offer retailers the opportunity to cooperate
with our campaign by choosing one or all of these options: 1. Display our
information on the timber counter; 2. Stock alternatives; 3. Do not trade in
rainforest timber.

Negotiations are not conducted in a power vacuum, and so the letter informs
suppliers that we will be making a register of cooperating suppliers and
sending it to all building contractors, etc.

The letter tells suppliers they will be contacted for their response by a
particular activist.  Each activist will have four to seven suppliers to
contact.   Seven activists are participating.

A guide to what to say when calling suppliers has been drafted.  Similarly a
data record to record information about all contacts with suppliers, has been
set up.  The activist must take responsibility to not only phone, but
physically visit each supplier in the course of compiling data for the
register.  HVRAG is moving through stage 2.  The hard work shall soon begin.

Preparation for N.V.A.
(We hope to be in this stage by November).  A supplier that refuses to
cooperate with our campaign shall be selected and targeted for direct action.
Preparations, including specific negotiations will begin.  Tactics shall be
discussed.

Nonviolent direct actions!!!!!
The targeted supplier that refuses to cooperate, will be acted upon.

Quit work, go on holiday
But what of protracted struggle? Aren't we shirking the hardest stage of all?
Or are we recognising that there have been no new participants in HVRAG in
the last three months?  That the wind has gone out of the sails of the
imported rainforest timber issue nationally?  The group feels we'll get
through what's on our plate and worry about protracted struggle later.  Note
that if direct actions proceed and the likelihood is of more than one redneck
timber supplier, then there are many more targets for the group if it wishes
to continue in '92, with a precedent to look back on and much more checking
up and updating of registers to do.  So the actions would be consistent with
the long term struggle, if there is anybody left who wants to do them.
James Langley