Strategic nonviolent action gives us three major advantages: a basis for mutual trust, greater public support and less repression.

By setting the limits of our actions, clear agreed-upon guidelines ensure mutual respect (see Nonviolent Action Guidelines below). We know what people around us can and cannot do. No useless provocation that lets the action get out of hand. Solidarity builds on mutual trust.

Secondly, the nonviolent character of our actions helps the public be more receptive to our message.

Precisely for this reason, it can also minimize and restrain repression. Not that strategic nonviolence prevents repression altogether. But repression of nonviolent action will often be less intense and very hard to sustain.

Our campaign can only work if the nonviolent strategy is well understood by everyone taking part in the actions, and everyone supporting the actions. Keeping within the nonviolent action guidelines will be key to our success. This is why training is important. Nonviolent direct action training provides tools to help us plan and carry out well organized and effective actions.

Structures like affinity groups, where people support each other and make decisions together, help ensure collective self-discipline and nonviolent events.

“Nonviolent action is just what it says: action that is nonviolent, not inaction. This technique consists, not simply of words, but of action in the form of symbolic protests, social, economic, and political noncooperation, and nonviolent intervention. Overwhelmingly, nonviolent action is group or mass action. Certain forms, especially those of noncooperation, may paralyze or even disintegrate the opponents' system.”
— Gene Sharp.

Nonviolent Action Guidelines

In our actions, we will…

• bring humour and other weapons of mass distraction
• adopt a dignified, open and friendly attitude towards anybody we encounter
• demonstrate our creativity in the use of new slogans, songs and props
• keep our calm, and our eyes on the prize

In our actions, we will not…

• bring weapons
• use verbal or physical violence
• damage property
• use drugs or alcohol
• hide our identity behind hoods or masks
• risk arrest without the required training
• run, as it contributes to heightening tensions for everybody

Operation Transparency Home - Call for Public Action - Operation Transparency: The Strategy - What We Know - Transparency: A Window on Democratic Power - Secrecy, Fair Trade and Competition - Ultimatum to Canada Post - Action Calendar - Strategic Nonviolent Action - Join Operation Transparency - Write to Moya Greene