Sitting For Survival
Sitting For Survival Starter Pack
Sitting for Survival is an initiative of Awakening For Earth. Our goal is to grow this simple protest that seeks to bring attention to the current climate crisis by a simple act of silent meditation. We bear witness to the destruction of our world and in doing so strive to awaken others to engage in a monumental nonviolent effort to reverse climate change.
We started with one Sitting group in Cambridge, MA. We offer this Starter Pack so that anyone anywhere can form a group. It is intentionally simple. We encourage group-starters to be creative and collaborative in co-creating your own iteration of this action.
Outdoor Sits
What’s needed to get started:
Ideally, minimum 2-3 concerned citizens but also fine to have one courageous soul
Signs that positively express why you’re out there, who/what you’re wishing to protect - family, friends, children, at risk communities, trees, ocean, animal world
A very public spot - near public transportation, town green, etc. - that offers spacious room to congregate and has significant foot traffic
A day/time for a recurring and regular Sitting action
How do these usually go?
Basics:
Wear comfortable clothes and bring any support for sitting - cushion, blanket, etc.
Convene at chosen spot...deploy group, each with sign and distanced (during Covid)
Schedule --1 hour
15 min - arriving, getting situated, getting everything out
35 min - sitting and/or walking meditation, Leaftlet-er interacting with the public
10 min - cleaning up
End with optional hanging out, conversation, getting to know one another. Community building is important!
Roles:
Time Keeper: keeps time, signals when meditation starts and ends; keeps eye out for safety
Leaflet-er: interacts with pedestrians by handing out leaflets, answers questions, and inviting passerbys to sit with us if they want (even if only for 5 minutes)
Meditators: the majority of people. Just meditate holding a sign!
Resources
We have compiled material to help you launch a Sitting For Survival Pod in your area. It includes signs, flyers, social media help, and a sample media alert and press release if you’d like to inform your local press. This folder also includes:
Material to take climate action online from the comfort of your own home.
Some pictures of our sits:
