Many Grains of Sand

In a world of 7 billion people, with desperate problems and distant leaders, what's the best way to make our voices heard? Studies show non-violent action is the most effective in bringing about change. Many Grains of Sand is a sourcebook of ideas, tried and tested by the Catalan independence movement. "A grain of sand" is a Catalan expression which means doing one's part, making one's individual contribution, which no matter how small, is an essential and integral piece of a much larger puzzle. Millions of Catalans have participated in a variety of ways in their collective struggle to demand independence from Spain. Each and every one of these events has been characterized by its non-violence, good nature, plurality, and emphasis on democratic process. At press time, Catalonia is firmly on its way toward independence, despite continued resistance from Spain, and may well be an example to the world of how to redraw borders peacefully and democratically. The strategies that the Catalan people have designed are innovative and noteworthy and could well be used to inspire other peaceful movements for change. Catalonia's insistence on non-violence and its inventiveness should be shared around the world. The book Many Grains of Sand shows what kinds of actions the Catalans have taken to convince both their own political leaders and those around the world to pay attention to their demands. From candle lightings to marches, from motorcycle rides to informal elections, from human chains to massive million person mosaics, Catalans have created a veritable catalog of attention-getting, mass-mobilization techniques that have been very successful in getting their ideas across to a wider public and attracting support of the politicians who lead Catalonia. This book gives photographic evidence of these events as well as practical information about how they were organized in an effort to inspire and help others around the world to make positive changes in their own communities.