From Bethlehem on Christmas Eve: A Call to Responsibility

Dear friend,

This year we invite you to re-read Dr. King’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, (or you can watch it on here).

“I conclude that this award which I receive on behalf of that movement is a profound recognition that nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral question of our time – the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to violence and oppression…. we will know that we are living in the creative turmoil of a genuine civilization struggling to be born…I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic stairway into the hell of thermonuclear destruction. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.” 

Despite making much progress in alleviating racism, sexism and reducing global poverty, we see violence and injustice growing in wars and occupations that destroy civilian life, in places like Palestine, Sudan, Western Sahara, Burma, Ukraine, Uganda, and the Congo. The world has surpassed 100 million refugees, as militarism and war have accelerated.

We see governments across the world suppress dissent and weaken human rights in the name of “security.” Racialized police violence continues. Mass incarceration that destroys communities. Economic inequality is growing while basic needs go unmet. Voting rights are under attack. Protest is criminalized. Migrants are treated as threats rather than human beings.

In the United States, the home of Dr. King, the US government is abetting genocide, attacking constitutional and international laws and institutions, and throwing the world over the cliff into climate chaos, all for the sake of transferring vast wealth and power to the few.

Nonviolence International exists because we refuse to accept this as normal.

Nonviolence is harder than violence. We are not going to kill or threaten our way to a just and sustainable future. We must use persuasion, nonviolent coercion, the rule of law, global cooperation and governance in order to survive and thrive. And we must bring on board the huge segments of humanity who succumb to greed and cruelty and elect abusive leaders out of fear or coercion.

Nonviolence is a way of resisting violence without becoming it.
It is organized, courageous, and disciplined. It is about telling the truth, confronting power, and standing with those who are most impacted.

Dr. King understood that nonviolence demands commitment. It demands action. And it demands a willingness to be uncomfortable for the sake of justice.

Following Dr. King’s example, we ask you to write or video record your own speech on nonviolence! You can write for the world, but we ask that you do it to your kids, your community, and/or your country and in your native language.

We will help you publish it on our website or tag / collaborate us on Instagram and Facebook!

The arc of the moral universe does not bend by itself. It bends when people choose to act.

Thank you for walking this path with us, today and every day.

In solidarity,
Michael Beer & Sami Awad, Co-Directors

P.S. Register for our upcoming webinar: Beyond Political Illusions: What This Moment Demands of Us, on Jan 21, at 10AM ET / 5PM Jerusalem time. We will have a powerful panel, including Jonathan Kuttab, Huwaida Arraf, and Jeff Halper.

Dear friends,

As we honor Human Rights Day, we recall Dr. King's statement that humanity MUST choose between nonviolence or nonexistence. We need to build global movements that use the tools and values of nonviolence now more than ever. 

Below are 17 leading groups that inspire, train or mobilize nonviolent resistance and social change. Most work multi-nationally and across multiple social movements. Given the rise of dictatorship in the US, this year we are emphasizing US groups. Please consider becoming a consistent donor and ask yourself if you can devote 1% of your income to the global nonviolence movement. Please also contact or visit them and see how you can volunteer.

The groups are listed in no particular order.

Backbone Campaign - 150 Solidarity Brigades nationwide doing overpass banner actions almost weekly, along with light projections and other artful activism. They deployed giant We the People banners to major cities for the No Kings marches. 

Africans Rising - envisions Africa-wide activism, solidarity and unity and that the Peoples of Africa will build the future they want, with a right to justice, peace, dignity and shared prosperity.

Nonviolent Peace Force - Does unarmed civilian protection in Ukraine, Sudan, Philippines, and performs much training in conflict de-escalation. 

CANVAS - with an HQ in Belgrade, Serbia, they operate a network of international trainers and consultants with expertise in building and running successful nonviolent movements. They work to build a more just, democratic, and responsible society.” Srda Popovich and Slobodan Djinovic are brilliant people-power coaches.

DC Peace Team - Provides some of the best and most affordable and frequent online trainings. Led by Eli McCarthy, and operated on a modest budget. 

Beautiful Trouble - great online resource center for creative nonviolent action and training, and a leader in support of artistic activism and social change. It's co-led by the extraordinary Nadine Bloch.

Metta Center & Nonviolence Radio - wonderful podcasts and many Gandhian inspired resources. Michael Nagler and Stephanie Van Hook are a treasure.

Pace e Bene - founded in 1989, the name is an Italian greeting from St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi meaning “Peace and all Good.” The organization coordinates Campaign Nonviolence with the help of the indefatigable Ken Butigan and many others.

Acción Noviolenta en las Américas - provide education, training, leadership development and research in the Americas in Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Nonviolence News - each week, this newsletter brings 30-50 stories of nonviolence in action to readers, illuminating the scope of how nonviolence is actively shaping our world. It is the best site for nonviolent action news and movements, thanks to the superstar Rivera Sun.

Waging Nonviolence - is a nonprofit media organization dedicated to providing original reporting and expert analysis of social movements around the world. NVI fiscally sponsored WN for years before they spun off under the inspired leadership of Eric Stoner and others.

Detention Watch Network - immigrant rights group in the USA doing nonviolent action and training.

Training For Change - training and capacity building organization for activists and organizers. They believe strong training and group facilitation is vital to movement building for social justice and radical change. Founded by none other than our dear friend George Lakey.

Nonviolence Education and Research Center in Turkey - primary resource center for Turkish language speakers supporting all kinds of marginalized communities. Training, research, activism in a challenging environment, based in Istanbul. 

Federal Workers For Democracy - a newly formed coalition of federal workers and allies, mobilizing the federal workforce to directly defy dangerous, illegal orders. They are building networks across every federal agency, from executive to frontline worker, in every state and across the globe. They provide training and support resources to federal workers to equip them to resist, together, and mobilize the public to have their backs. 

International Peace Bureau - global non‑governmental network founded in 1891 that works for disarmament, non‑violent conflict resolution and a “world without war.” 400 member organisations in 100 countries, together with individual members, form a global network, bringing together knowledge and campaigning experience. They do great work with a small staff, led by Sean Conner. 

Rete Pace e Disarmo - coalition of numerous civil‑society associations, trade unions and movements in Italy united since 2020 to promote peace, nuclear and conventional disarmament, restrict arms exports and oppose military escalation.

In peace,
Sami Awad & Michael Beer,
Co-Directors

P.S. Please let us know of more groups that we could highlight next year. If you are really wanting to focus on Palestine, please look at NVI's remarkable partners who are supporting Israelis and Palestinians who seek to build a shared future together.

Dear friends,

We invite you to join us on December 13, at 10AM ET / 3PM Western Sahara, for an important webinar that sheds light on one of the world’s least-known yet longest-standing occupations: Western Sahara.

The event will begin with a clear and concise political–historical overview of the illegal and brutal occupation, providing the essential grounding needed to understand the resistance movement led by the Saharawi people. From there, our speakers will explore how Saharawi communities have nonviolently organized, documented abuses, and sustained resilience in the face of deepening repression.

You’ll hear directly from long-time Saharawi human rights activists Salka Barca, from the Western Sahara Solidarity Committee (WSSC) and Karama Sahara, Nayua Aduh, from the Committee Against the Exploitation of the Saharawi People, and Mulay Sid Ahmed, from the Saharawi Association in the USA (SAUSA). We will also be joined by David Wildman, who will share his experience joining divestment campaigns that combine Palestine and Western Sahara. The conversation will be hosted by Susan Smith, Director of Operations and Community Engagement at the Fellowship of Reconciliation - USA (FOR - USA).

This webinar is a rare opportunity to learn from voices deeply rooted in the struggle.
What we will explore together:

• The political and historical roots of the current occupation
• How Saharawi communities organize and resist through nonviolent means
• Firsthand testimonies from human rights defenders
• How international allies can play a meaningful and ethical role
• Recent developments on the ground, including rising repression and documentation efforts
• Practical advocacy tools and ways to support Saharawi-led initiatives
• Live dialogue and Q&A with speakers

Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding and stand in solidarity.
Register now to be part of this important conversation.

This webinar is sponsored by the Western Sahara Solidarity Committee, and hosted by the Fellowship of Reconciliation - USA and Nonviolence International.

Please share this webinar invitation with your networks. As with many NVI events, we welcome your active participation. A recording will be shared with all who register and also be posted on our Youtube channel.

Peace,
Michael Beer & Sami Awad
NVI Co-Directors 

P.S. We still have a few slots open in our Nonlinear Leadership Training, beginning January 10th. Join us with participants from all over the world.