Dear future participant in Code Red…Welcome. Please read this action consensus carefully. This action consensus is a binding framework for the this next Belgian Code Red action. This framework should ensure that the action is transparent and that it is clear to everyone why and how we will take action. The consensus should make it clear that we will also look after and support each other during the action. This text is inspired by the action consensus models developed by Ende Gelände in Germany and Code Rood in the Netherlands. Anyone who agrees with this consensus is welcome to join the action.
What is Code Red?
We are planning, together with a large group of people, to disrupt through civil disobedience actions. In view of the growing social and climate injustices, the perpetuation of colonial exploitation and the lack of measures to address the issues at stake, we consider it legitimate, necessary and urgent to move from simple public protest to civil disobedience.
Our forms of action
By deliberately breaking the law, we are part of a long history of social struggles, where legitimate resistance opposes the power of corporations that put shareholders’ profit before people and life. The industries we target inflict irreversible damage to our environment and our livelihoods every day. Code Rouge aims to disrupt these harmful and oppressive systems. Therefore we believe all direct action tactics are legitimate.
Our actions aim to have as much of a political impact as possible. We seek to not cause direct environmental harm. We will inform ourselves about the safety rules in the area of action that are linked to the target’s sites. We will not endanger anyone, and we will respect the physical integrity of every person, in particular the integrity of workers. We will remain calm, assertive and look out for each other. We are resolute to keep going on all the way, we will pass through or around police or security barriers.
Our actions are not directed against the workers in the sector, who depend on their jobs for an income. We stand in solidarity with their social demands and call for a real transition plan for the workers concerned. We are fighting to ensure that, during the necessary transition, there are opportunities for gainful employment for all and a better distribution of wealth, in an economy that respects people and the planet. Now and in the future.
Capacities and end of action
Our action will strive to reflect our values of diversity, creativity and openness. We strive to offer broad opportunities for participation, with different levels of engagement that allow as many people as possible to join us. The trainings for the action will ensure that we are well prepared for blockades and on how to safely reach the action sites. We will decide in advance on the duration of the blockade action together and on the spot, in close consultation with the structures of support. After the action there will be moments to share our experiences with each other. We commit ourselves to solidarity in case of legal or financial consequences.
Solidarity and struggles against dominance
We come from different social and political backgrounds and take common responsibilities for the success of the action. We see ourselves as a part of the movement for social and climate justice and stand in solidarity with all those who are fighting against climate destruction, against the social and ecological consequences of fossil capitalism and neo-colonialism. We fight against all forms of domination, including the social, gender and racist ones. We are aware that we are not immune to these and so we will try not to reproduce the patterns we fight against, both in our actions and within our respective organizations. As a movement, we commit ourselves to continue learning, reflecting and being open to criticism as a way of learning and improving so to co-create and evolve to new ways of being together that can inspire individuals, groups and society in general.
Autonomous actions
We believe that social change comes from a wide range of combined tactics, from mass demonstrations to surprise actions prepared by smaller groups. We will be carrying out a pre-announced civil disobedience action. If autonomous groups (collectives or individuals) who are not members of Code Rouge align with the movement’s political stance, the action consensus and the narrative of the action announced, they can organize their own actions. We invite them to contact us to coordinate actions with the aim of diversifying, combining and strengthening tactics. We will remain in solidarity with these groups and provide legal and communications support depending on our resources.
People and planet, not profit!