Introduction

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This section is a collection of stories and strategies on the use of nonviolence around the world. Stories help us learn from past experiences, and many of these describe how people learned strategies from campaigns in other parts of the world and strengthened their campaigns through international cooperation.

The motivation to act can be influenced by what has been done in another place, inspired by their creativity and success. We have collected a number of experiences where contact with activists from other regions has been inspirational. In some occasions the visit of a member of another group can do the trick, in others reading materials produced elsewhere or attending an international event that gave them ideas for their campaigns.

While the contexts of these stories differ, they all have nonviolence as a common denominator. Some cases focus on education and promotion of nonviolence within the activist scene in their country as in Turkey and South Korea. Solidarity work, such as with South Africa during the anti-apartheid movement can be a model for other situations. Learning across borders took place between Seabrook, Whyl and Markolsheim; Israel and South Africa. International participation is key to the International Antimilitarist Marches, Bombspotting campaign and 15th of May activities. The work of building alternatives to violence and against human rights violations in conflict areas are key contributions from the nonviolence movements of Chile and Colombia.

While planning your campaigns it is always good to research if someone else has done it before, and learn from their successes and errors. And remember to document your own campaigns, sharing your stories. We hope that the following stories can help as an inspiration for your nonviolent strategies. War Resisters' International, which played a role in connecting people in most of these cases, supports the exchange and support among nonviolent and antimilitarist movements, believing it is crucial to create an international movement against war and for peace and justice.

• International solidarity campaign with South Africa

• Seabrook - Wyhl - Marckolsheim - transnational links in a chain of campaigns

• International Antimilitarist marches

• Chile: Gandhi's Insights Gave People Courage to Defy Chile's Dictatorship

• Israel - New Profile learns from the experience of others

• Turkey- Building a nonviolent culture

• South Korea - Challenges and successes of working in nonviolence

• Peace Community of San José de Apartadó,Colombia : A lesson of resistance, dignity and courage

• Bombspotting - towards an European Campaign

• 15th of May - International Day of Conscientious Objection