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Nov 2020
Issue 20

Commons News

It's been an intense month! We hope this newsletter finds you well. Here at the Commons the librarians have been busy crowdfunding, contributing to training sessions, and gathering resources relevant to the rollercoaster of the US election.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the crowdfunder! Your support is heartening and humbling. We are heading into 2021 with a strong sense of the Commons Library as a collective project, supported by many and benefiting many.

Our community pulled together to raise $8091 for more resources, more inspiring stories, and a stronger Commons for everyone. The crowdfunder has closed but of course you can still donate - every dollar is appreciated and will be well used. We've also decided to make one of the crowdfunding perks available just a little longer, the Commons calendar. See the bottom of this email for details.

Warm wishes and solidarity

Holly Hammond, Antje Dun and Iain McIntyre
Commons Librarians

NAIDOC

The Commons recognises and celebrates NAIDOC week. This year's theme is Always Was, Always Will Be.

"NAIDOC 2020 invites all Australians to embrace the true history of this country – a history which dates back thousands of generations.

It’s about seeing, hearing and learning the First Nations’ 65,000+ year history of this country - which is Australian history. We want all Australians to celebrate that we have the oldest continuing cultures on the planet and to recognise that our sovereignty was never ceded."

More information and details of NAIDOC events.

See First Nations Resources on the Commons Library for resources to support First Nations campaigning and solidarity work.

Person dressed in costume as State of Liberty wearing blue plastic glasses holding American flag by ArtistOperations/Pixabay

US Election Resources

A collection of links relevant to the US election for participants in social movements, continually updated.

Includes analysis of election results, social movement responses, campaigning and organising lessons, and resources related to wellbeing and safety.

Creative Action Planning

Holly Hammond from the Commons presented as part of a recent ChangeMakers Organising School session. View the 12 minute video and the Tactic Star and Action Star tools.

Alternatively, view the whole COS session complete with action case studies (scroll down for session 4: Creative Action Planning).

Reset Recommended Reading

How do we keep going, adjusting to change, and fighting for a better future? Part of it has to be reflection, inquiry, and the generation of new ideas.

In this quick update we bring you some reading recommendations from Reset folks Alex Kelly, Tim Hollo and Holly Hammond. Get reading!

Environmental Blockading in Australia

Learn from this timeline of blockades in relation to logging, mining, development and First Nations rights, from 1974-1997. Includes background on blockading as a campaign tactic, tactic details and outcomes of Australian blockades, and an international timeline.

The Commons 2021 Calendar

Looking for a Christmas present for friends and family? Or ready to get planning your year with months of activist inspiration?

To order your calendar donate $30 or more to The Commons by18th November.

Let us know the postal address by replying to this email or via the contact form. If the calendar is a gift you can also tell us what message you would like written in the card.

The Commons pays respects to the traditional owners of the land in which we operate and wherever this site is accessed. We recognise the central importance of struggles for Indigenous self-determination and justice within the broad project of creating a progressive future.

Image credits:
F Muhammad/Pixabay
Changemakers
Reset - Antje Dun
Man with recorder - Care of Earth First Journal
Mahatma Gandhi, Dinhin Rakpong-Asoke/Flickr

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