About STOP

Hi Everybody,

My name is Paloma Ayala and I want to introduce you to my project called “STOP – Society Takes Over Politics”. I just finished my masters in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

During one of my classes we were talking about nonviolence and social action. One of our discussions dealt with the question if nonviolence (or: nonviolent action) works in our days. Surprisingly many of my classmates said it was not working. Some of my classmates shared the belief that no social actions by people who stand up for what they believe is right are taking place. Of course I could not believe this and from that day on I started to collect reports and pictures of common people, organizations and individuals from around the world who were participating in actions against oppressive systems or doing something to stop unfair and inhuman actions.

During this process I realized that there are news on a daily basis about social action and that there is nonconformity with established systems on a global basis. If we as common citizens do not see anything it is because we decide not to see it. We simply cannot close our eyes and ears and pretend that nothing happens.

Finally, this is a not-for-profit project that is intended to show the diversity of actions that people around the world take, their tools and their demands. Hopefully they will provide us with some ideas.

I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for your time.

STOP is a current project of SERPAJ MEXICO and Colectivo Gandhiano Pensar en Voz Alta