AN INCOMPLETE COLLECTION OF IDEAS FOR ACTIVISM
(supplement to blogtalk radio show Sunday January 25, 2009)

* SIGNAGE

Burma Shave type series of signs

Light Boxes for night protesting

Bumper Stickers, personalized license plates

T-shirts

And check out Graffiti Research Lab for inspiration!

or clean and protest at the same time!

* PRESS RELEASE

If you can get the media to take an interest in your subject, that will multiply your outreach. The trick is to supply them with good information easily digested.

* PRESS CONFERENCE

done at annual protests in Clearwater in 1996 and each year through 2000. Remember to expect that Co$ will try to infiltrate, so have security on hand.

Can you imagine a press conference of several ex Sea Org members telling about how they were held
against their will? How they were beaten by David Miscavige?

* WORKSHOP (similar to a press conference but longer, more detailed)

done in Clearwater 1999. Again, assume Co$ will try to infiltrate so have security. Workshops keep giving if you videotape.

* PUBLIC ACCESS TV

It's free. It's fun. They train you.

* MASS MAILINGS

Arnie Lerma would periodically send postcards to all the orgs and missions. Some lower ranking person wound up looking at them, and probably thinking a bit.

* DIALOGUE WITH SCIENTOLOGY

I've tried this a few times and never got anywhere, but it's relatively cheap and harmless, so why not.

* COMMUNICATION TOOLS

Blog Talk Radio - have a "radio" show like mine. Blog Talk Radio is free, relatively easy to do, and automatically archives your shows. There's also Blog TV, but I'm not sure of the advantage of including video.

Twitter - used, for example as an instant organizing tool during protests.

Be creative using other sites - if you can think of how to fit your message into a web site's niche, you'll have a new audience.

New tools arise monthly. Check them out and think how to use them.

* SUPPORT GROUPS - ex-members meeting monthly to help each other understand what they went through
and adjust to the outside world. Also, the ICSA-sponsored pilot program at Venice Family Clinic. A case worker will help with all these and other issues clients may have. The service is free and open to anyone with low income who has left a cult or other high-demand group, no matter how long ago. Call 310-664-7522 for more information or to make an appointment.

* LAWSUITS - like this, and this

* GREENPEACE-STYLE TACTICS

* RESEARCH - self-explanatory

* GOVERNMENT - providing information and pressure for action

speak at local city board meetings

* STREET THEATER

* CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

Civil disobedience is generally used when there is no other way to get the government's attention. It has certainly worked, but it is also what I would consider a last resort.

NOT RECOMMENDED ---

* PRANKS

* INFILTRATION (me onboard the "ship" at Golden Era Studios).

There are enough ex-members speaking out about the inside. Not needed.

* PETITIONS

Maybe my bias, but I don't think they have much impact.

MISCELLANEOUS USEFUL INFORMATION

* National Lawyers Guild Guide to Protesting

* How to Protest Video (ignore step 6)

* Getting Media Attention

* Read the booklet Media Savvy in the Internet Era, by David Henderson

* some tl;dr article that might be useful.

[This is not meant as a complete or original list. It is simply a collection of ideas and hopefully useful links for your consideration.]