[Lekooks] Non-violent civil disobedience training

[Gerald Flakas]

I have been going to 350MKE meetings and events for a number of years. 350MKE is the Milwaukee branch of the world-wide 350.org movement initiated by Bill McKibben to educate and mobilize the people of the world about global warming (aka "climate change"). 350 parts per million is calculated to be the maximum atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide which will limit the greenhouse-effect global temperature rise to a level which is not harmful to human civilization (we are now over 400 ppm and rising).

So far the rest of the world is somewhat on board to the problem, having agreed via the Paris Accord to limit carbon dioxide emissions. However, the United States under the present Administration is denying the existence of the problem, whose root cause has been known for over 150 years, and there is no prospect of legislative action at least until after the 2020 elections. The key to legislative action is to educate the voting public about what is needed, in hopes of electing people to Congress and the Presidency who will take this problem seriously and take serious corrective action.

Very few actions that address major inequities come from the "top down": In our country, the abolition of slavery, women's right to vote, ending "Jim Crow" discrimination against Black people, environmental protection, and ending the Vietnam War, all resulted from mass action of the people, not the good will of "elected leaders".The same is obviously true of the problem of global warming; the "powers that be" are controlled by moneyed interest who are protecting their own wealth and power, not by the people who will be adversely affected. 

So what to do? 350MKE has been hosting public demonstrations around Milwaukee to bring attention to the problem of global warming for at least a decade. One of their leaders, let's say his name is "George", has been on the forefront of these, plus civil rights and peace,  actions as long as I am aware. I can't recall an action in Milwaukee where he wasn't there in a leadership role. "George" is planning to conduct training sessions on Non-violent Civil Disobedience later this month; If you are willing to engage in civil disobedience and want to learn how to go about it from someone who knows, please let me know and I'll put you in touch with him.

Gerry Flakas
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