RISE FOR FREEDOM
Be The New World
One Billion Rising’s Rise For Freedom and 10th year anniversary campaign in 2023 saw over 1,200 art and activism Rising events across 100 countries. As in every year, activists across the globe localized the call to RISE FOR FREEDOM and Create the New Culture with self-determined and specific regional, national and community- based issues.
The theme “Rise for freedom” resonated hugely in the contexts of gender, race, war, poverty, environment, youth, indigenous and workers issues – where we see the gravest oppression and destruction, and sustained violent eradications of freedom. The 2023 Risings saw a shared depth, scope, expanse, diversity and inclusion as they continued to usher transformation with fierce creative energy and determination.
In 2024 we escalate the call to Rise For Freedom because of the persistent intensification of violence – ongoing rape, hate, exclusion, killing, discrimination, exploitation, abuse, wars, division, occupation and control. Control over our bodies, minds and resources. Of unprecedented fascism and of fascist governments destroying all freedoms. We cannot stop now.
Rise For Freedom is…
Defining and reclaiming what FREEDOM means within solidarity, democracy, safety, equality, dignity and justice, and in the context of death, war, loss, destruction and separation
It is Rising for peace, compassion, kindness, connection, community and care, and connecting our freedom to someone else’s lack of freedom.
It is..
Reviving unity
Exploring new ways of thinking
Widening the lens
Creating another story
Changing reality
Building another future
It is the EVOLUTION of love
and BEING the new world.
To Rise For Freedom in 2024, we call on the world to hold RISING FREEDOM FESTIVALS
A festival of art, dancing, healing, empowerment, community, connection, planting, touch, music, body, imagination, love, honoring the earth, interconnectedness…..
RISING FREEDOM FESTIVALS are:
Artistic
Experiential
Intersectional
Intergenerational
Located in nature
Accessible
Community based
Youth led
Multi sectoral
Inclusive
Diverse
They are:
Gardens of creativity and compassion
Temples of healing and honoring
Alchemies of connection and imagination
Altars of art and beauty
Experiences of wonder and joy
Circles of listening and storytelling
Expressions of rage and resistance
Havens of love and seeing
Sanctuaries of touch and kindness
Revolutions of body and spirit
Rising Freedom Festivals can be a day, or two or more, and can include….
Dance. Theatre. Music. Poetry. Songs. Painting. Murals. Workshops. Massage. Storytelling. Oral Histories. Testimonies. Drumming. Planting. Talks. Connecting with Nature. Discussions. Bodywork. Rituals. Ceremonies. Circles…and more…
If we saw ourselves as artists, what would we imagine and design? What world would we see?
What new language and expressions for freedom would we find?
How do we create and envision deeper, bigger and bolder?
THE PHILOSOPHY OF RISING – Rising Principles
Committing to:
End violence towards women, gender nonconforming and gender expansive people
End violence towards the Earth
End racism
Understand and Dismantle patriarchy
Support Indigenous women leadership in their call to protect the biomes and diversity and indigenous lands
Cultivate care, community, trust, sharing, interconnectedness and compassion
Uphold cooperation rather than competition
Refuse the inequality of wealth and of injustice
Place people over profit
Actively listen
Engage instead of simply erasing or cancelling
Remove hierarchies of oppression
Know our true history
Make apologies and reparations
Honour the artists, visionaries, seekers, storytellers, shamans, poets, healers
Celebrate diversity
Embrace collective energy
Practice solidarity
Embody the power of art
Place love in the center
Leave no one behind
We are in a state of war. A war against our bodies. Our minds. The Earth. Our FREEDOM now depends on our coming together in unity to IMAGINE it, CREATE it and RISE for it.
JOIN US FOR ONE BILLION RISING 2024
RISE FOR FREEDOM.
BE THE NEW WORLD.
READ about the 2023 Campaign RISE FOR FREEDOM
& the 2022 Campaign RISE FOR THE BODIES OF ALL WOMEN, GIRLS & THE EARTH
