Scientists Rebellion, 50K Brazilians Occupy Vacant Houses & Africa-Wide PRIDE

Editor's Note From Rivera Sun

Most news outlets smack you with a barrage of terror. Nonviolence News provides the solutions and the stories of the people working for those changes. This week’s headlines on the climate crisis show this contrast. In the regular news this week, the United Nations’ Climate Chief warned that we have only 2 years to avert catastrophic climate change. A new report showed that the US is increasing oil and gas production. And the average US tax payer paid nearly $3000 each for war and only $11 for climate transition efforts. This depressing news is factually true – but we need the other side of the story.

In the face of political gridlock and social inaction, climate activists are our only hope for a livable planet. So, three cheers for the Last Generation, hundreds of whom blocked roads in Vienna, Austria, and took action at numerous German universities. German bus drivers also joined climate protests in 57 cities in a show of solidarity. Swiss grandmothers won an important legal case showing that lack of climate action has put them at greater risk of death from heatwaves. Tajikistan mandated that all new buildings should have solar panels – and although they’re doing it for electricity grid stability, it’s also great for the planet.

You’ll find more examples of how people are rising to the challenge – and pushing others to do the same – in this week’s round-up of 55 stories of nonviolence in action across the globe. There’s good news, too. The Ohlone People in West Berkeley, CA, are celebrating the return of a 5,700 year old ceremonial site called Shell Mound. A Mexican town organized to save itself from ‘death by tourism’, putting in place important measures to avoid gentrification, overcrowding, and destructive impacts. Unarmed civilian protection is taking off around the world.

Find more stories in Nonviolence News>>

In more Nonviolence News, tens of thousands of Hungarians protested against their government, worried about corruption and cuts to healthcare and education. South Korea’s president has agreed to meet with the thousands of junior doctors who launched a strike in recent weeks. Indigenous Guatemalans are demonstrating outside a trial on the genocidal war that lasted from 1960 to 1996. An Africa-wide PRIDE movement is seeking to support LGBTQ+ persons across the continent. Meanwhile, US LGBTQ+ activists released 48,000 paper hearts in the Idaho state capital building rotunda in protest of a series of discriminatory bills.

Facing pressure from activists at home and abroad, President Biden issued his sharpest criticism yet of Israel’s attacks on Gaza, telling Netanyahu to work toward a hostage deal and ceasefire, and to take immediate steps on humanitarian aid. Activists want to see more tangible sanctions, however, and have not stopped their direct actions and disruptive protests. Record numbers of US residents are engaging in tax resistance and more than 500,000 people voted ‘uncommitted’ in the Democratic primaries. A flotilla of humanitarian aid ships is headed to Gaza in direct resistance to the blockade and ban. In Yemen, where people have faced famine under US sanctions, 4-5 million people are demonstrating each Friday in support of Palestinians. A #Strike4Gaza has been called for April 15th.

Here’s a story that impressed me this week: did you know that 50,000 people in São Paulo, Brazil, have illegally occupied empty residences in a widespread resistance to lack of affordable housing? Some of these occupations are ad hoc, but many are organized efforts run by committees and social groups. It’s an impressive way to challenge the housing crisis. Could your community use it? Would they dare?

In solidarity,
Rivera Sun