Making it Real
Non Violent Movements page 2.
3. The Diggers (The True Levellers) 1649-1651
Poor men began to plant vegetables in common waste land in Surrey, England, at a time when food prices reached an all time high. These original “guerrilla gardeners” invited all locals to come in and help them, and promised them meat, drink and clothes. They published literature about their belief in economic equality based upon the Bible passage Acts 4:32 "The group of believers ... shared with one another everything they had." The Digger colonies, of about 100–200 people, spread throughout England, alarming the Commonwealth government. The movement, which was against using violence, collapsed in a few short years due to the efforts of local landowners backed by the State to crush them whenever they arose. They were attacked, beaten, taken to court and forbidden to speak in their own defence, persecuted by clergymen and imprisoned.
QUOTES:
"Was the earth made to preserve a few covetous, proud men to live at ease, and for them to bag and barn up the treasures of the Earth from others, that these may beg or starve in a fruitful land; or was it made to preserve all her children?”
"Money must not any longer....be the great god that hedges in some and hedges out others. We must make use of gold or silver as we do of other metals but not to buy or sell."
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4. The Maori of Parihaka 1867-1881
were a community and non violent movement in New Zealand. The chief, Te Whiti o Rongomai, established an open village where European visitors were welcomed with dignity, courtesy and hospitality. The leaders, who had Christian beliefs, were committed to non violent resistance to European occupation of confiscated Maori land. Their community was described as the most populous and prosperous Māori settlement in the country. Food was grown on the property and large teams worked the surrounding coast and bush to harvest enough seafood and game to feed the thousands who came to their meetings. Because the community attracted hundreds of followers from around the country it was seen as a centre of dissent and opposition to European hegemony. Many white settlers wanted Te Whiti and his followers put in their place. Finally, 1500 government soldiers were sent in to close down the prosperous community. Instead of violent resistance, the soldiers were greeted with hundreds of skipping and singing children offering them food. The leaders were arrested and jailed for 16 months and many were shipped far away from their home to the South Island. Some spent as many as 18 years in forced labour. 1600 Parihaka inhabitants were expelled and dispersed throughout the area without food or shelter and the remaining 600 residents were issued with government passes to control their movement. Soldiers looted and destroyed most of the buildings. Gandhi is said to have based his techniques on this movement.
