EcoFaith Recovery invites individuals and communities to join us in Harnessing our Power to End Political Violence, a campaign developed in partnership with the 22nd Century Initiative and the Horizons Project. Rooted in research, and nonviolent social change, this initiative offers a transformative path for people of faith and goodwill to respond powerfully and nonviolently to rising political violence.

The campaign is grounded in a model inspired by scholar Brian Martin and others who studied how organized, principled resistance efforts around the world have caused acts of political violence to backfire—revealing injustice, mobilizing public outrage, and strengthening movements for change. Their research uncovered five common strategies perpetrators use to downplay violence and suppress response—and five counter-strategies that communities can use to expose harm, protect victims, and build lasting resistance.

Together, we’re reclaiming our collective power to interrupt cycles of violence and nurture the moral imagination needed for a just and life-giving future. The “Backfire” model of nonviolent action, introduced below, shows how every act of truth-telling and organizing can shift the balance—so that when harm is done, those responsible are held accountable, and their violence becomes their undoing.

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Partner with EcoFaith to “Shift the Narrative”

Here is an overview of the model that will enable us to do this together!

Those engaging in Political Violence towards a vulnerable target populations usually do this: We cause targeting to Backfire using these 5 “R’s” of Nonviolent Social Change:
1) Cover-up – Hide the unjust actions, deny they ever happened, and prevent word from spreading about them. 1) REVEAL – Expose the injustice by sharing stories and/or evidence in a credible way. 
2) Devaluation – Try to lower the social standing of the target. 2) REDEEM – Humanize those being targeted and harmed.
3) Reinterpretation – Downplay the amount of damage caused by the injustice, portray the injustice as unavoidable or for a greater good, and/or deflect blame to others. 3) REFRAME – Interpret the event as an injustice. Explain why it was unjustified, who should be held accountable, & why action is called for.
4) Official channels – Set up inquiries and investigations that move slowly, limit public visibility or input, rely on technical rules, and provide only the appearance of justice. 4) REDIRECT – Mobilize support for real justice and find additional channels if official channels are being used to slow or stall.
5) Intimidation and rewards – Threaten people who speak against injustice. Reward those remaining silent. 5) RESIST – Prepare to resist intimidation and bribes. Share these strategies with others.

The entire approach is described at this link at the The Commons Social Change Library. You can download the entire manual here.

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Daily Practice to “Shift the Narrative”

Here is a checklist for helping you get started

Step 1: Make your commitment and/or gather your team

_____ Consider your personal interest in channeling your own anger at injustice into action instead of just “venting” with others which wastes that energy and perpetuates the status quo.

_____ Consider whether there is an existing group, organizations or group of friends or family who you could invite to join you. 

Step 2: Sign up for mutual support by emailing office@ecofaithrecovery.org with the date you will be starting your daily practice and how many days you will be committing to this practice. Also let us know whether you would like to be

_____ added to the listserve of others who want to be able to share their successes and struggles with using this model

_____ notified of trainings or practice groups you could join with others using this model, and/or

_____ have EcoFaith publicize your group or organizations if you are open to others joining you (only possible if the group is not an explicitly political or partisan organization).

Step 3: Begin your daily practice.

  • Start your daily practice of reading the manual and/or practicing “shifting the narrative” in 
  • any conversation, 
    • a phone call to a public leaders, 
    • an email to somebody else,
    • a social media post, 
    • a letter to the editor, 
    • a speaking opportunity, or 
    • any other context in which it might make a difference
  • Let EcoFaith know what additional support you and your group would find helpful.
  • Share your stories of successes with using the “Backfire” model and/or training others so we can share them with the broader EcoFaith community. This is how we grow the movement for strategic, grassroots nonviolent social change across the country! (Email office@ecofaithrecovery.org)

For additional support or resources, please consider: