The Commonweal Collection is inspired by the idea of a more peaceful world in which all of us can thrive without oppressing or marginalising others. For those involved in movements for nonviolent social change, this means an active engagement with how dynamics of power, inequality, and difference can benefit some at the expense of others, and a commitment to increasing equality and inclusion in all our practices. Continue reading On Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Social Change
Learning about Social Movements
The resources in the collection at Commonweal tell us about the creation, building and strategies of social movements working on peace, justice and human rights across a wide range of campaign issues over decades. But why are social movements so important? And what are they? Continue reading Learning about Social Movements
Unpacking Nonviolence
The Commonweal Collection is one of the UK’s leading resources on nonviolence, but what does that mean and why does it matter? Continue reading Unpacking Nonviolence
The UK government wants to stamp out dissent. Here’s how to stop it.
New book ‘Rebel Verdict’ is a must-read for anyone concerned by the UK’s increasing attempts to curb protest. Continue reading The UK government wants to stamp out dissent. Here’s how to stop it.
Climate change is happening…and we’re all involved!
Professor Rachel Julian, Trustee of Commonweal reflects on COP26 and the action needed. Continue reading Climate change is happening…and we’re all involved!
Ban the Bomb! Michael Randle and Direct Action against Nuclear War
Readers of this blog post may know something about Michael Randle already – not least because he is a Commonweal trustee. I got to know Michael four years ago, when I worked as an assistant in the Special Collections department at the University of Bradford. One of the delights of that job was caring for Michael’s archive, one of the jewels of the university’s collection. Continue reading Ban the Bomb! Michael Randle and Direct Action against Nuclear War
The 9/11 attacks and the start of endless war
When George W Bush won race for the White House in November 2000 his team immediately began to change US foreign and security policies to usher in the much-vaunted New American Century. The United States would now go its own way and provide global leadership as the world’s only superpower, ensuring a new era of peace and stability modelled on the American neoliberal free market model. Continue reading The 9/11 attacks and the start of endless war
Gandhi at 150: a celebration in Bradford
On 2nd October 2019, several Commonweal Trustees past and present joined a variety of peace activists and students at the University of Bradford’s Symposium on Mahatma Gandhi and Peace in the Twenty-first Century, held to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Gandhi. Continue reading Gandhi at 150: a celebration in Bradford
Stop Fuelling War: an interview with Holly Spencer
Holly Spencer works for Stop Fuelling War, a Quaker organisation in Paris that highlights the extensive French arms trade. Continue reading Stop Fuelling War: an interview with Holly Spencer
Designing to thrive: an interview with Ryan Sandford-Blackburn of the Permaculture Association
Ryan Sandford-Blackburn is the Permaculture Association’s strategic communications coordinator. Here he talks to us about what permaculture has achieved worldwide, and the solutions it offers to a range of urgent contemporary problems. Continue reading Designing to thrive: an interview with Ryan Sandford-Blackburn of the Permaculture Association