Categories Archives: Culture of Resistance » Movement Building & Support

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Late May Report

By Ben Cutbank, Coordinator of Deep Green Resistance Wisconsin

The last few months have seen Deep Green Resistance Wisconsin engaging in much planning, organizing, and participating in important events.

In late March, members of DGR Wisconsin participating in the broader movement’s international members’ conference, which we helped to host in the southeastern part of Wisconsin. Roughly 30 comrades from around the world came to participate in discussions, exercises, and time for strengthening our bonds. Discussed were such important topics as leadership, community, public speaking, current organizing within the movement and visioning for the future.

One member of our group, Val, had the chance to put the public speaking training in action by speaking about aboveground environmental direct action at an event called “Occupy Spring and Beyond” Teach-in, held in Madison, WI. A video of that speech can be viewed here.

Already feeling inspired from time spent with comrades at the conference, we were extremely honored to host writer and DGR Advisory Board member Derrick Jensen in Madison, WI for a speech on civilization and resistance. A video clip of Derrick reading his piece about the ‘man box’ can be viewed here. After his speech, a member of DGR Wisconsin took the stage to give a brief but concise introduction to the Deep Green Resistance movement. It was clear that others who attended this event were also inspired, as we have been contacted by a number of people about getting involved.

In early May, DGR Wisconsin sponsored a “revolutionary music show,” featuring the activist-musician, Dustin and the Furniture, among others. In between the brilliant and political songs, I had the opportunity to recite a piece I recently wrote called “The Story of a River,” which was well received by the audience.

Thousands of protesters gathered in Chicago, IL on May 20th, to demonstrate against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, as it held a meeting to further plot exploitation of human communities and plundering of landbases the world over. Many inspiring revolutionaries and activist groups participated, including an environmental contingent that members of Deep Green Resistance Wisconsin plugged into, and that united on the basic understanding that the planet must take priority over the profits of the rich. Many thanks to members of the Chicago DGR Action Group, who hosted and worked with us. The photos included here were taken at the demonstration.

Currently, the main project of DGR Wisconsin, and several other organizers within the movement, is planning for an upcoming action in solidarity with the Lakota people of the Pine Ridge Reservation against the exploitation of Native Americans by liquor-sellers. The campaign specific to this action is a battle for the town of White Clay, Nebraska, which has 4 liquors stores situated on the outskirts of Pine Ridge, despite it’s human population of under 20. Upon being invited to join the struggle, members of DGR Wisconsin are trying to raise support for the action in the forms of people and funds. As part of this, we are hosting a film screening of “The Battle for Whiteclay” in Milwaukee, WI, coming up in early June.

As always, the resistance needs you, and our group has recently expanded it’s options for getting involved, so please consider joining us in our fight for the future.

Late March Report

By Ben Cutbank, Coordinator of Deep Green Resistance Wisconsin

Now at the end of March 2012, Deep Green Resistance (DGR) Wisconsin is looking forward to a lot of major happenings in our area and involving our Action Group.

Over the horizon are many events that we have helped to plan, including: two Occupy the Machine events with a member of the OTM Coalition, the weekend-long International DGR Members’ Conference, a music show with Big Dudee Roo and Thistle in the middle of the aforementioned conference, and a speaking event with Derrick Jensen.

In addition, members of DGR Wisconsin are working within the Occupy the Machine Coalition, as it plans it’s first action, which involves blockading an oil refinery in Houston, TX, happening in mid-to-late April of this year.

Our group does have much to look forward to, but also are not without reasons to celebrate.

T-shirts with our logo have now been printed and distributed among members. It took the effort of multiple people involved in Deep Green Resistance to make this happen: An International Volunteer drew the logo, I designed what would be printed, a member bought t-shirts, and the Co-Coordinator found a sympathetic friend to print them for us. The end product looks great and gives us a way to identify our involvement in the group at events and other gatherings.

Members of DGR Wisconsin had the opportunity to do just that at a fundraiser event that happened on Sunday, March 25th at the High Noon Saloon, in Madison, WI. The Co-Coordinator of the group, with the help of other members, set up the event which included well-known jazz bands, raffle prizes from local business, and time for us to speak about our group and provide literature to at least forty people. The photos included here were taken at the event.

With all of the activity here in Wisconsin, we’d love to recruit more members to join our DGR Action Group and take part. For all who are interested, you are invited to contact our Recruitment Officer via e-mail, here.

In love and resistance, the time to act is now.

Mid-February Report

By Ben Cutbank, Coordinator of Deep Green Resistance Wisconsin

Here in the middle of February 2012, after about half of a year since forming, the Wisconsin chapter of the Deep Green Resistance (DGR) international movement is thriving. What follows is a report on recent developments from within:

We have a solid core group and have developed membership criteria and a joining process to recruit new members. Members already part of the group have found niches and roles to help focus their gifts and efforts. The group now has a Treasurer, Recruitment officer, Blog Administrator, Coordinator, and Co-Coordinator.

DGR Wisconsin has hosted about 5 events so far, two of which have been an “Introduction to DGR,” using an outline speech that a member of our group put together. The role of speaking at these events has been rotated between members.

Members of DGR Wisconsin have also participated in various protests, events, and meetings representing the group.

Thus far, our members mostly live in two distinct cities within the state, but we are hoping to recruit members from all around Wisconsin and we try to vary the city in which our meetings and events take place.

There is much activity in our group’s near future, especially in the later part of March. Around that time we are hosting: two events for the Occupy the Machine U.S. Speaking Tour, a fundraiser event in Madison with live music and a raffle, and an international Deep Green Resistance member’s conference.

Note: This is a first of what will be continuous reports about the status of our action group.

And We’re Recruiting

DGR Wisconsin is a brand new chapter of the Deep Green Resistance movement. This chapter is very much still in its formative stages. We are optimistic that DGR will attract many allies in the state and our chapter will grow and become more effective and diverse over time.

Until then, DGR Wisconsin is recruiting. We need your help and here’s how:

  1. If you are from Wisconsin and you align yourself with the DGR movement, please get in touch. This Wisconsin chapter hopes to encompass all allies in the state and bring us together to do this work.
  2. Funding. We are an entirely grassroots (and obviously new) organization, and thus we really appreciate monetary donations to help us host events, distribute information, and more.
  3. Attend or help us organize events. Here are some ideas we have for events that could happen around the state:
  • END:CIV screenings
  • Deep Green Resistance book discussions
  • lectures/info meetings
  • a weekend-long DGR conference
  • landbase defense and restoration
  • indigenous solidarity work
  • wide variety of aboveground activism

Please contact the coordinators of DGR Wisconsin if you are interested in getting involved in any of these ways!