The Craftivist Collective Handbook: Projects, Stories and Methods for Your Gentle Protests by Sarah Corbett

If we want our world to be more beautiful, kind and fair, can we make our activism more beautiful, kind and fair? ‘Gentle Protest’ is a unique methodology of strategic, compassionate and visually intriguing activism using handicrafts as a tool. Since its creation in 2009, the award-winning global Craftivist Collective has helped change laws, policies, hearts and minds around the world as well as expand the view of what activism can be. Award-winning campaigner and founder of the global Craftivist Collective Sarah Corbett shows how to respond to injustice not with apathy or aggression, but with gentle, effective protest.

Dreams inspire positive action, so stitch a Dream Cloud to hang up at home or work and prompt you to think past a problem to the solution. Sew a Gentle Nudge Label to help keep your conscience sharp and your spirit strong. Craft your own Mini Protest Banner to turn heads and influence change, or fly solidarity’s flag for those suffering as a result of the world’s injustices. Stitch a Handmade Hedgerow to champion one of the solutions to the climate crisis or if you are nervous about protesting in public or if there’s a ban on public rallies where you live, let a doll speak your truth by creating a Toy Protest.

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This handbook is for everyone, wherever you are in the world: whether you are a skilled crafter or a burnt-out activist, an introvert, highly sensitive person, or struggling with anxiety or overwhelm. These 20 projects and tools use the slow, soothing and thoughtful process of craft to help channel feelings of sadness, anger or powerlessness into proactive, encouraging effective actions to help make hope possible. Sarah's craftivism has helped change laws and business policies as well as hearts and minds; here, with thoughtful principles and practical examples, she shows that quiet action can speak as powerfully as the loudest voice.

"Strategic, thoughtful and powerful... It's discerning, disarming, an antidote to so much out there, and most importantly, it works!" -- Helen Pankhurst, women's rights activist

"I first worked with Sarah ten years ago, and quickly saw how her gentle-protest approach meshed beautifully with the traditional craft skills that have been handed down over generations and still form a bedrock of the UK's economic, social and cultural life." -- Daniel Carpenter, author and academic

"Corbett's art of gentle protest adds a new dimension to both craft and activism, where she pushes us to stop, work, and think together. This is a much-needed ingredient in a time when the political soup tastes evermore bitter." -- Dr Otto von Busch, Professor of Integrated Design

"Creativity is core to our collective organising and Sarah has created the most inviting place to start finding your power." -- Gina Martin, activist and author of Be the Change

"Everyone involved in craft can see how powerful it can be as a force for positive change. Sarah's approach of using craft as a gentle form of protest brilliantly harnesses this power to give a voice to people from all backgrounds and levels of experience." -- Jay Blades, television presenter