Australian Nonviolence Gathering 1993 Following the work we did in 1992, we chose to continue to pursue three aims: 1. To Network: to build and improve the Australian Nonviolence Network 2. To Outreach: to spread understanding of, support for and involvement in nonviolent action. 3. To Develop a "Culture of Nonviolence" that integrates theory, practice and spirituality. Working with these three aims we evaluated last year's objectives and set new objectives based on current priorities. We tried to take into account available energy and enthusiasm. There is a transcript of all the gathering's proceedings but we present in this article a summary of the objectives decided upon at the Gathering held at Commonground in April. Aim: To build and improve the Australian nonviolence network Objective: Get organized * by having a Nonviolence Resource Centre based at Commonground. Staff the Nonviolence Resource Centre with two Resource Coordinators who work between them one day per week. This position will be supported by the Nonviolence Resource Collective, a management group of six to ten people including the two Resource Coordinators, one person from Commonground, and other Victorian Network participants. The financial needs for this project include a separate phone-line, phone, postage, stationery, travel, general on-costs. As well there may be costs for purchasing resources and interstate travel. The Resource Collective will negotiate with the Resource Coordinators to meet their needs (to free their time for that one day per week) in whatever form that takes e.g. financial, food, housing, emotional etc. Money for the project is to be raised by: 1. personal pledges from people within the network; 2. levy on newsletters; 3. levy/pledges from gatherings and fundraising nights. * by structuring the Network around affinity groups. The long term expectation is that all people in the movement are part of an affinity group for consistency, coordination and accountability. The people in the movement have a common set of basic agreed principles. And affinity groups have their own sets of agreements in addition. The affinity groups form themselves into a cellular model of organisation; i.e. where the groups are linked a) through bioregional gatherings, b) through national gatherings, c) through shared skill-sharing/workshops, d) through social/tribal events which involve the whole network, e) through activist exchanges, f) via the Resource Coordinator. * by forming a common set of principles on which to base the Network to be discussed over the next year through NvT (initiated by Glen) and decided at the 1994 Gathering. Individuals to take responsibility to try out affinity groups within the next year. If possible write stories in the Web or NvT about how our affinity group forming is going. Objective: International networking * by investigating and thinking about connecting more formally with international networks and perhaps affiliating with International Fellowship of Reconciliation (or PBI or WRI) and to discuss further at the 1994 Gathering. Overseas visitors to be organised by interested individuals (as opposed to "hosted by the nonviolence network"). Information about visits to be circulated via NvT. Objective: Support each other * by developing a leaflet with guidelines on how people can support each other in affinity groups. The guidelines will be developed from a discussion at the 1993 Gathering of people's support needs and expectations. (Glen and Margaret to write.) Objective: Develop our skills * by holding a two day workshop concentrating on the development of conflict resolution skills for people within the network. Diana Pittock will facilitate. (Kate and Kay will organise.) * by holding a workshop of a minimum two days length to learn debriefing skills. (Glen to facilitate. Kate and Kay to organise.) * by drafting and circulating an outline of an activist exchange and cobber system and some proposed agreements. (Louise and James to initiate.) It was felt that we need to develop a more systematic apprenticeship system for developing skills within the Network. This would include more honest feedback but needs to include sensitivity for the younger crew. Individuals should think about a particular skill they want to share. Make it something you enjoy. In addition we wanted to combine activist exchange with a cobber system, e.g. an activist from Sydney might come and work with the Resource coordinator for a week and someone from the Melbourne would take responsibility for coordinating their learning experience. * by each bioregion organising evening gatherings (Knights of Nonviolence) to discuss nonviolence issues relevant to their own needs. * by investigating newcomer inclusion evenings. * by developing an Australian nonviolence resource manual only in the long term. At this stage we will just continue contributing to NvT and use it as a resource. Objective: Communication * by one person (a key contact person) in each active bioregion developing a list that will record, 1) name and address phone/other number, 2) what people have to offer including skills and resources, 3) whether they have interest in billeting or cobbering other participants in the network. (See education/skill development.) * by continuing the promotion of NvT in workshops and campaigns. * by continuing phone link-ups once every six weeks. * by having a yearly three day gathering. In 1994 from the evening of Friday 22 to the evening of Monday 25 April. * by those interested in Pegasus seeking assistance in using it effectively. Aim: Outreach - To spread understanding of, support for and involvement in nonviolent action Objective: Outreach * by running a workshop for journalists, educating them about nonviolent action, how to recognise and best report it. (Robert Burrowes.) * by restarting the Nonviolence Workshops Collective in Melbourne. * by activists becoming involved in community radio and work for radio slots. There will be two by 1994. * by collating, publicising and increasing the resource base. By publishing in NvT. * by documenting and publishing the activities of the various groups in the Australian Nonviolence Network in NvT and in this way supporting research into nonviolence. * by maintaining links with unions as appropriate. * by implementing a Strategy Education Experiment in Victoria This will include setting up a linked network of action groups with various specific campaign agendas. The action groups will involve people with an explicit commitment to principled nonviolence. (Robert Burrowes will initiate this) Aim: Develop a culture of nonviolence which integrates theory, practice and spirituality Objective: Develop a culture as part of affinity groups. * by actively incorporating more creative and spiritual aspects into our events e.g. song, dance, rituals.