Shifting The Narrative

EcoFaith Recovery invites individuals and communities to partner in Harnessing our Power to End Political Violence through our partnership with the 22nd Century Initiative and the Horizons Project. They designed this model based upon research done by Brian Martin and others who identified examples around the world in which effective communication and organizing caused political violence to backfire and compared them to examples when it did not. Through this research, Martin identified five methods perpetrators rely on to reduce outrage so they get away with targeting and scapegoating victims.

The goal of the “Backfire” model of nonviolent social change described below is “to make sure that when any kind of political violence takes place, perpetrators face high costs for their actions. When their actions are counterproductive for them, their actions can be said to backfire.”

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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:

• • Signing up for EcoFaith’s monthly e-newsletter at this link.

• • Attending EcoFaith’s weekly Awakening Leaders gathering. (This is the EcoFaith group that is sponsoring this initiative.) Please join us any week for mutual support and accountability. 

• • Listen to this podcast about the Harnessing our Power to End Political Violence (HOPE-PV) initiative.

• • Consult this HOPE-PV facilitation guide if you will be mentoring others in using this approach.

• • Find even more resources at the bottom of this HOPE-PV webpage.