small acts of resistance is a list compiled by the Ethical Renewal co-op, with contributions from friends on Twitter. If you’d like to contribute please follow @EthicalRenewal on Twitter (https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal) and Direct Message or add your suggestions in comments against the thread.
Please feel free to copy and share any or all of these suggestions with all and everyone.
Intro
Small acts of resistance: this is our list.
We want it to grow.
Direct Message your suggestions – or add them as comments.
Please retweet, re-message, re-meme, share.
RESIST.
Become the droplets of water that form a tsunami.
#actsofresistance
small acts of resistance
#1 small ACTS of resistance #1
help someone
empathy is the powerhouse of ethical change….
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#2 small ACTS of resistance #2
buy less, buy local or don’t buy at all…
reducing consumption is a revolutionary act
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#3 small ACTS of resistance #3
think
this small act is actually pretty big
question everything said by the powerful; they’d rather you didn’t
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#4 small ACTS of resistance #4
mock the powerful
authoritarians and bullies hate your insight and laughter
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#5 small ACTS of resistance #5
learn
learn as much as you can about as much as you can: knowledge is power
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#6 small ACTS of resistance #6
expose
share as widely as you can the history & actions of authoritarian politicians; they hate it: it shows them for what they are
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#7 small ACTS of resistance #7
subvertise
hijack adverts using graffiti, action, memes or art to deliver a radical message
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#8 small ACTS of resistance #8
use asymmetrical messaging: spray can, leaflet, poster, voice
they have the media & the money; we’ve got graffiti
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#9 small ACTS of resistance #9
communicate asymmetrically: deface, reframe, reposition, refute
they’ve got the cash & the media: we’ve got us
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#10 small ACTS of resistance #10
challenge lies and propaganda whenever you hear or see them
be quick to respond; don’t let the lies gain traction
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#11 small ACTS of resistance #11
tell anyone/everyone about the promise of a better world
why should autocrats and billionaires define what’s possible?
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#12 small ACTS of resistance #12
right-wing mags, leaflets, newspapers? You know what to do….
bung them in recycling, turn them face down on their stands, put better publications on top
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#13 small ACTS of resistance #13
put mocking magazines or books over/next to the images of authoritarians
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
Thanks, @DocMcfly (Twitter)
#14 small ACTS of resistance #14
hit back at the biased media
refute, mute, boycott & block the billionaire news media, e.g. the Liverpool boycott or Twitter’s #IBlockedTheSun
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#15 small ACTS of resistance #15
at election times buy the gutter press to bin it
clear out a small newsagent of The S*n or Mail for a day or two….
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
Thanks, @stylophobia (Twitter)
#16 small ACTS of resistance #16
switch off TV when mainstream news incoming
corporate propagandists hate losing viewers
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
Thanks, @BStott9 (Twitter)
#17 small ACTS of resistance #17
before you back a politician check their record:
Are they decent? Are they consistent? Are they honest?
UK MP’s voting records can be checked here: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#18 small ACTS of resistance #18
visit the timelines or conversations of known populists and bigots; set the record straight
they’ve got a platform…. but so have we
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#19 small ACTS of resistance #19
mute, block, act contrarily to or deliberately ignore advertising
we don’t need more sh**…. and if they’re paying to spread that muck it’s probably bad for the planet
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#20 small ACTS of resistance #20
radicalise yourself
read everything you can about humanism, environmentalism, socialism; they are vaccines against selfishness
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#21 small ACTS of resistance #21
promote ethics and human rights
educate yourself & others re online psychological profiling, data security, voting manipulation and psych ops. Learn from Finland
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
Thanks, @Jojo67460456 (Twitter)
#22 small ACTS of resistance #22
challenge aggression, both in yourself and others
aggression atomises and divides us; empathy and cooperation are our greatest assets
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#23 small ACTS of resistance #23
put your emotional distress into positive creative action
focus on one thing, no matter how modest or how wild; just do it….
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
Thanks, @Jojo67460456 (Twitter)
#24 small ACTS of resistance #24
work-to-rule if your job or pay are demeaning
why ease the way of the establishment or line the pockets of the rich?
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#25 small ACTS of resistance #25
join a campaign/union/mutual aid group; get involved
the biggest threat to the powerful are people acting in solidarity (there’s more of us than them)
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
Thanks, @ValueSurplus (Twitter)
#26 small ACTS of resistance #26
speak to strangers, speak to your neighbours
loneliness and atomisation are a weapon against us
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#27 small ACTS of resistance #27
if someone disagrees with you, don’t insult or block them unless they’re clearly bots or trolls
engage; act the way you want the world to be
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
Thanks, @guyinaredtie1 (Twitter)
#28 small ACTS of resistance #28
go green
for ideas for small steps you can personally take see https://lukeandreski.wordpress.com/2020/02/17/a-short-conversation-about-taking-climate-change-personally/
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#29 small ACTS of resistance #29
grow stuff
anything green uses up CO2
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#30 small ACTS of resistance #30
Grow (some of) your own food
Just one crop (even in a pot) gives you more control over what you eat and how it’s grown
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
Thank you, @sophiejayhudson
#31 small ACTS of resistance #31
plant a tree
guerrilla planting; roadside planting; garden planting…. why wait for the state to act?
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#32 small ACTS of resistance #32
become vegan or as close to vegan as you can manage
intensive animal farming is not only disastrous for the planet, it’s also horribly cruel
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#33 small ACTS of resistance #33
travel less
travelling has become an act of consumption; staying local an act of rebellion
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#34 small ACTS of resistance #34
work from home if you can
save money, protect the planet, stay safe
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#35 small ACTS of resistance #35
buy local produce and goods
keep food and product miles to a minimum and help local communities become sustainable
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#36 small ACTS of resistance #36
when you receive your takeaway at the drive-through unpack & return the excess packaging before you move on
don’t indulge their waste
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
Thanks, @JohnFos00105853 (Twitter)
#37 small ACTS of resistance #37
use your local pubs, cafés & restaurants when you go out for drinks or meals
boycott the mega-chains; give the finger to their greedy owners
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
Thanks, @vikingowl (Twitter)
#38 small ACTS of resistance #38
don’t burn stuff or use transport that burns stuff
gas, petrol, wood, coal, bio-fuels – they all generate greenhouse gases
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#39 small ACTS of resistance #39
avoid/switch off GMB/Lorraine type ‘sales tv’ programmes
they’re pure avenues for advertising, encouraging throwaway fashion; don’t buy anything they promote
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
Thanks, @AOnewith (Twitter)
#40 small ACTS of resistance #40
uninvited pre-paid envelopes for credit cards etc – fill them with something heavy and post them right back
whichever company’s trying to scam you pays the postage; maybe they’ll learn?
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
Thanks, @EthicalUprising (Twitter)
#41 small ACTS of resistance #41
avoid Cruelty TV
Jeremy Kyle is accused of causing a suicide; I’m A Celebrity is accused of animal cruelty https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-55018602
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#42 small ACTS of resistance #42
bear witness to police action whenever you can
police are necessary and often good, but they easily fall prey to establishment values, no matter how anachronistic or outdated
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#43 small ACTS of resistance #43
give up or cut down on a costly bad habit
drugs, smoking/vaping, alcohol all make you poorer and less healthy & the dealer richer and nastier
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
Thanks, @PeterG4NES2019
#44 small ACTS of resistance #44
donate what you’d spend on a film/theatre/lottery ticket to alternative journalism, community support orgs, ethical tech replacement co-ops etc
our small contributions will help bring about the change we need
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
Thanks, @Jojo67460456 (Twitter)
#45 small ACTS of resistance #45
make it plain what you think of drivers of big cars
small is beautiful; so is electric; and bikes and public transport better
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#46 small ACTS of resistance #46
share a simple morality
-nurture those around you
-nurture humanity
-nurture and protect the biological world
simplicity is strength
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#47 small ACTS of resistance #47
love and protect ALL animals
yes, in today’s selfish world love and protection is an act of resistance…
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
Thanks, @tandoreo
#48 small ACTS of resistance #48
teach yourself and others how to see through the propaganda and lies….
digital literacy and a clear ethical focus are essential in our propagandised world
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
Thanks, @Jojo67460456 (Twitter)
#49 small ACTS of resistance #49
Want to help the poor?
Local Credit Unions provide cheap loans, keeping the vulnerable away from loan sharks and banks. Unused cash? Open an account – instant access and fully protected.
https://www.findyourcreditunion.co.uk/about-credit-unions/
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#50 small ACTS of resistance #50
be hopeful
hope inspires; hope empowers; hope is an act of defiance
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
#51 small ACTS of resistance #51
be kind
kindness is our greatest weapon against power-hunger, selfishness and greed
Thanks, @AnneDel81230567 (Twitter)
#actsofresistance https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal
👇 STAY ALERT 👇
https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal/status/1311592536293736448?s=20
Your small act may be the stroke of a butterfly’s wing….
@EthicalRenewal began as a small group of friends and co-workers from different walks of life sharing our views on what it would be like to live in a fairer and happier world. We asked questions like:
- How can people find fulfilment and self-respect in these rapidly changing and unpredictable times?
- How are we to protect our children’s future – or even the future of all life on Earth?
- What sort of morality is needed in the 21st century and beyond if people from every walk of life are to benefit from our science and technology and flourish?
We decided we’d like to apply ourselves to making realistic ethical change happen – creating the content on the website www.ethicalintelligence.org, in the books Ethical Intelligence and Intelligent Ethics and on Twitter (https://twitter.com/EthicalRenewal), in order to share and encourage the sharing of a message of action.
@EthicalRenewal are not affiliated to any political movement, religion, ideology or creed.
Luke Andreski is co-founder of the @EthicalRenewal and EthicalIntelligence.Org cooperatives.
He is author of Short Conversations: During the Plague (2020), Intelligent Ethics (2019), Ethical Intelligence (2019), the novel To The Bridge (2018) and How To Be Happy (2017).
