A Week of Reflection, Learning, and Movement Strategy with Ulex

Why did you decide to join the training?

I had been involved in the climate justice movement for a few years, mostly focusing my energy in organising and campaigning within Scientist Rebellion, which is a group of scientists and academics engaging in direct action. In 2023, with the successful A12 campaign and many other successful actions, our group also grew and expanded a lot, and we had focused much energy on re-structuring the group with the hope of making it more resilient and flexible. Within Scientist Rebellion, I was already involved in thinking about short term and long term strategy, organising strategy days to energise or start new action and campaign groups, but also in building structures for regeneration and connection. The Strategy training came at a perfect time for me: 2024 felt like a year of reflection, looking back, and re-thinking of strategy – both of my own role within the climate justice movement and strategies we have been using in our direct action-focused group. I was therefore looking forward for the possibility to take a week to learn about movement strategies, come together with others engaged in political struggles across the EU, and the possibility to bring the learned insights back to the climate justice movement here in the Netherlands.

What type of training did you follow?

I followed a Strategy Training, with 15 others from different EU countries, including Portugal, Hungary, Italy, and Czechia who are working for or are active in various (nongovernmental) organisations and direct action groups, covering a variety of topics such as tenant support, climate mitigation, civil education and local politics. The participants also use a variety of strategies in their work, including advocacy, direct action and prefigurative politics, including setting up eco-villages in Hungary for example. Using the Strategy Cycle (see Photo) as framework, we learned about many different tools we can use in our local groups – moving from visions to mapping (local) contexts – to theories of change – informing our actions - and reflection, which subsequently inform values and vision – and so on. Working together with people from such different backgrounds was great for reflecting on how groups with different theories of change and strategies can work together more effectively – drawing on each others’ strengths, and capitalizing on changes within the contexts where they are operating in.

What methods were used in the training?

We learned about many different tools we can use to strengthen our own movement, but also to position our group within the contextual factors at play, such as current patterns in our political, economical, and legal systems. We practiced the tools in smaller subgroups based on our organisation, the strategies we use, or the country/region we are active in. The tool I found the most valuable is a pathway analysis, in which one goes backwards from a specific goal and thinks of different paths to reach that goal. Using this tool, a participant who is involved in the End Fossil Occupy movement and I mapped how we could transform universities to be frontrunners in the struggle for climate justice. Critically reflecting on the pathways we came up with the broader group helped us find creative ways that could bring about the change we seek. We also learned valuable lessons directly from an active organiser who is active in the UK and was involved in setting up campaigns such as Plant Based Universities. After giving a short overview of different campaigns and groups he was involved in setting up, we could ask him questions about lessons learned and his strategy insights. One valuable lesson he shared was that we need to empower people who have the drive to set up campaigns, and set up structures to mentor new campaign leaders, especially to scale campaigns.

In the larger group, we reflected on the theories of change our group uses, as well as our values and goals – and how to reach those goals. Working both in smaller groups and reflecting together was extremely valuable as it showcased how much we can learn from groups using different strategies, and how we can align with them in our struggle for positive change. Because of the range of groups present and the various contexts we act within, contextual differences and similarities across European countries, and across topics (e.g., how climate mitigation, civic education and tenant rights are inter connected, especially in the European context), became very clear. This interconnectedness of struggles showcased once more how important it is to be in touch not only with the groups we are most aligned with, but also put effort in connecting with movements using different strategies, operating across different contexts and focusing on other (interconnected) struggles.

How do you plan to apply what you learned? Do you have any practical examples of this already?

I have been using some of the tools for the movement I am active in: We for instance have used a pathway analysis in which we mapped which stepping stones are necessary to reach our goal. This helped us to set tangible goals for our campaign and illustrated what further tools and information we require to make the campaign a success.

We have also recently organised a reflection weekend with others who are active within Extinction Rebellion and Scientist Rebellion in the Netherlands and Germany, in which we applied different tools learned, but also took room to reflect on our own and our group values, goals and strategy. In general, many of the mapping tools have been extremely valuable for me, as I have been able to use them across different contexts – when thinking of what I want to focus on moving forward – but also to reflect on goals, values, and important actors in the spaces we are engaging in to bring about positive change.

Ulex is a training organization that facilitates high-quality, multi-day trainings for social movements across Europe. This training was fully funded by a grant from ErasmusPlus.