"From Dictatorship to Democracy" Appendix 1

At the end of Gene Sharp's seminal work, "From Dictatorship to Democracy",  he provides a list of 198 nonviolent actions that can be used to initiate societal change.  This crucial list can be an amazing reference guide to those here in America looking to challenge the status quo.

The Methods of Nonviolent Protest and Persuasion
Formal statements
1. Public speeches
2. Letters of opposition or support
3. Declarations by organizations and institutions
4. Signed public statements
5. Declarations of indictment and intention
6. Group or mass petitions
Communications with a wider audience
7. Slogans, caricatures, and symbols
8. Banners, posters, and displayed communications
9. Leaflets, pamphlets, and books
10. Newspapers and journals
11. Records, radio, and television
12. Skywriting and earthwriting
Group representations
13. Deputations
14. Mock awards
15. Group lobbying
16. Picketing
17. Mock elections

"How to Start a Revolution" Documentary

  Current TV will be airing the documentary "How to Start a Revolution" tonight at 8pm.

Originally appeared in The Telegraph on Oct. 21 2011:

By Louise Gray 
From his shabby town house in Boston, Massachusetts, an octagenarian American university professor grows rare orchids – and inspires revolutions. The writings of 83-year-old political scientist Dr Gene Sharp are credited with providing the blueprint for the overthrow of governments in Serbia, Ukraine, Guatemala and Indonesia and, most recently, with revving up the activists who launched the Arab Spring.

Police arrest 27 at Occupy St. Louis Friday, 11/11/11

[Video of Kiener Plaza 11/11/11 by 99% of St. Louis]

Kiener Plaza has been the central hub and encampment site for the Occupy St. Louis movement since the first day on 10/01/11. The seed of genuine participatory democracy was planted, and grew into a network of coordinated efforts and voices in St. Louis. Our encampment has found solidarity with the other Occupy movements globally.  On the evening of the 42nd day of our occupation, Veteran's Day 11/11/11 around 11:30pm, 25+ police cars arrived at Kiener Plaza and police were ready to enforce the municipal order on curfew hours of the park. The video above captures the integrity Occupy St. Louis displayed as 27 citizens were arrested for breaking curfew hours. 

Study Student Power

People march during a protest bystudents demanding access to free quality public education in Santiago, Chile,on August 7, 2011.
(AP Photo/Aliosha Marquez)

Looking into National Bank Transfer Day - Banks Vs. Credit Unions

In this uphill battle of the working class to take back their financial freedom, it's important to know who dictates the oppressive nature that our current financial system looms over us. Insurance agencies, pharmaceutical companies, financial advisers, and the big banking industry often work together to maximize their profits, with no thoughts of their customers as people, just accounts. This further widens the gap between corporate heads and the employees that make their companies run on a daily basis. In recent years the big banking industry ran their business so horribly it nearly crumbled our entire economic structure. Whether it was greed or lack of business sense, it's unacceptable. After the billions of dollars spent by the tax-payers to bail out these banks, the CEO's gave themselves millions of dollars in bonuses and continue the same practices as before the bailout. How would you rate that customer service?

Exploring the Adjacent Possible

Steven Johnson’s book “Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation”, recently released in paperback, is a wonderful read that attempts to describe the conditions that produce innovative ideas. With chapters including serendipity, liquid networks,exaptation and error, the concept that really stuck with me was the adjacent possible.